What is The USDOT Number?

by docgate

USDOT stands for the US Department of Transportation. A usdot number is a unique identifier, which is appointed to those institutions or organizations which are involved in interstate as well as intrastate commerce. When your vehicle or group of ships are routinely engaged interstate and also in intrastate commerce, then you must get your USDOT number, which is provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If your automobile is rarely engaged in interstate commerce you still need a USDOT number. A person who is related to any institution or organization must need a USDOT number if his vehicle is engaged interstate and, in some cases, intrastate commerce, then USDOT number is essential as it is illegal if your automobile does not have a USDOT number. When do you need a USDOT number? if your automobile is engaged in these following activities:

  • If your vehicle is engaged in transporting types of hazardous material which require the intrastate commerce safety permit.
  • If your automobile has a whole weigh rating or whole incorporation weight rating, or the whole automobile weighs or the whole incorporation of the weight of 10,001 pounds or more whichever is greater.

There is one thing to be noted that if you are operating an institution or organization and many automobiles and all are involved in interstate and some cases intrastate commerce then, all your automobiles need USDOT number to legally commerce. If you are operating automobiles without a USDOT number, then you have to pay a fine for operating illegally.

The DOT mission is to establish a secure, well-organized, and newest transportation route for the Americans. Having a USDOT number also helps the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to have information about automobiles who are operating and can reduce the crashes, injuries, which is caused by large buses and trucks.

Why is the USDOT Number Crucial?

A USDOT number is very crucial for institutions that are engaged in interstate and in some cases intrastate commerce. Without a USDOT number, you cannot take part in interstate or intrastate commerce. It is against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) law to operate the automobile in interstate and intrastate commerce.

If you have many automobiles, and some of them are engaged in interstate and intrastate commerce then only those automobiles which are involved in interstate and intrastate commerce need a USDOT number to operate legally.

You cannot function as an interstate for-hire motor carrier until you get the operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can get your USDOT number by mail in four to six weeks. You don’t need a USDOT number if you are transporting more than eight passengers including the driver for remuneration.

DOT certification is given to those people who have the skills and ability to drive commercial automobiles safely on the American road and Highway. It is crucial to know that you cannot transport regulated commodities in interstate commerce without both operating authority and your single state registration.

●    What is MC Number?

A Motor Carrier (MC) number is an interstate operating authority and ideal appropriator appointed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to moveable companies functioning in interstate commerce, in other words hauling cargo across state lines.

It is crucial to know that not all companies need an MC number. Who needs the MC number? Some interstate moving companies need an MC number in inclusion to a USDOT number. Many institutions or organizations which are engaged in interstate and some cases intrastate commerce typically have both a USDOT number and MC number.

For many reasons, the institution or organization may only need to have a USDOT number, but there are some cases in which if your institution or organization is involved then you must have an MC number to legally operate in the US. MC number is also given by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A law-abiding institution must have an MC number and USDOT number if they are engaging in interstate commerce. The companies that do the following are necessary to have interstate operating authority (MC number) in inclusion to a dot number.