D.O.T. NUMBERS

Does anyone here have trucks that need a D.O.T number? If so, are you iner or intra state? How much paperwork in involved for the interstate with the quarterly filing? Open to all thoughts. Mike In-line Wilmington, Delaware

You have to have a dot number if you cross state lines. If you are transporting over 1000lbs of haz mat , IE oil based paint, you have to be plackarded. FMSCA (Federal Motor Safety Carrier Admin) issues the numbers. You can do it on line just google it. You have to keep driver records and repair records. Also need to keep a log book with you. I have been through all this. I was visited by a inspector and she was very intense with her inspection. She did help me develop some policies and files to be in compliance. DOnt get busted in a weigh station. Ingorance for the law willnot get you out of thousands of dollars in fines. Do your research and if I can help just email me through my profile. Ben there done that! Jon

One other item that you will need is each driver of these register trucks and one ton and over within your fleet must have a medical card. And possibly a CDL not necessarily a class A CDL. Then you have the problem of Random Drug Testing as well. RF Elwell

The numbers are free from DOT, and the form takes five minutes to complete on-line. I think my sign guy charged me $10 for the stickers. It's just another form of ID for DOT to see what you should, or might be carrying. As far as I know in my area, they don't really enforce it that much, but they consider it more of a sign of repect towards them that you would go the extra little bit to get one. I don't know anyone that has been pulled over just for the lack of one. But, that's in my area....Like I said it's free, you can do it online, and it only takes about five minutes. So, there really isn't a reason not too. Whitey---->

I think the most important thing to remember is it is the law. If you are involved in a accident, lets say a real bad one, and your vehicle is not up to par, it could be disasterous for your company. It is not hard to do this and like White said, it gives a demonstration of your knowledge and respect for the rules of the road. We put tens of thousands of miles on every year, we get stopped in check stations at least 10 times a year. The main reason for the number is a way to track all of the vehicles owned by teh same operator. It keeps track of all your accidents and violations in a central data base. One of my fellow stripers in my area got hist a few years back and ended up with 3k in fines and a impounded truck for 2 days.

are we talking about a guy with a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup truck pulling a small trailer with 40 0r 50 gallons of paint ?

I just purchased a 2007 Isuzu NQR with a 22' "Vanscaper" box on the back. GVW is 17,500 so under CDL is not an issue. I just did not want to open a Pandora's box if I did not need the DOT numbers and have to file quarterly reports, ect. to be complyant. I only cross state lines maybe 2/3 times a year so it may not be worth it....... I can carry about 14 / 5 gallon cans of paint and be under 1000#. Mike IN-LINE Wilmington, DE

If you have a DOT number do you have to stop in the weight stations?? All of our vehicles are under the CDL weight limit. For example, a truck with a 500 gallon sealcoating tank on it or a trailer.

In delaware anything 10,001 and over must stop Mike IN-LINE

If you have commercial plates you have to stop. Chances are the small trucks get waived on. But I have been stopped. I usually only have latex on board but they always want to see my medical card and flares/triangles, fire extinguisher, chock blocks ect.... As long as your not driving a POS truck you will be fine. But you have to have the dot number

In-line, Sooner or later you will have to stop at a weigh station and the state trooper will either write you a ticket or let you go as he did me. Told me to get a DOT or else the fine is 100.00 bucks. The number is free and easy to apply for online as mentioned earlier. I also had my lettering guy put some nice vinyl numbers on the cab for me. No paper work audits or anything like that. You just apply for a number as a "Registrant" not a motor carrier or anything like that. They just want you to have a number over 10 thousand lbs . My truck is 14 k lbs so i also was required to get a physical for a "Medical card" which is good for 2 years.

Heres the link: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/online-re… Jim

Technically if anyone is driving an 05+ F350 you're supposed to have DOT numbers if its for work., even if the truck is empty. GVW is 11,400. If the GVW is > 10K then you need them. also need them if you're pulling > 10K with a truck under 10K GVW