USDOT number - What it means?

[Farmwithjunk]

Well, actually your dump truck probably needs USDOT numbers too as I imagine it is over 26,001 and you probably are towing over 10,001.

Remember, it's not just the ticket for not having the DOT numbers. They can then also ticket you for not having the rest of the DOT stuff! (safety inspections, log book, medical card, commercial insurance, etc). Sort of like piling on in football. I have no idea of what all they can do, as every trooper I spoke with had a different take.



On edit----------------

I think you may need to look into your requirements a little more. Unless your dump truck and trailer combine to less than 17,000.

PENNSYLVANIA-BASED COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Pennsylvania is one of 59 jurisdictions in North America who are members of the International Registration Plan (IRP). Except for Alaska and Hawaii, all other states and the District of Columbia are members of the IRP. In addition, the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitola, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan participate in the plan.

The IRP applies to vehicles that operate through (interstate) or within (intrastate) any of the member jurisdictions and that are used for the transportation of persons for hire or are designed, used or maintained for
transportation of property. The plan covers motor vehicles with a gross weight or registered gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, combinations with a gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds and motor vehicles
having three or more axles, regardless of weight.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-pacv.pdf




Also-

INTRASTATE DRIVERS operating a commercial motor vehicle with a GVWR - gross vehicle weight rating or GCWR - gross combination weight rating of 17,001 pounds or greater must have on their person, a medical examiners certificate or photographic copy stating they are qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. The driver must have been medically certified within the previous 24 months
Motor Carrier Assistance Program

DOT requirements are the same nationally. DOT #'s are part of that grand scheme. By the letter of the law, these numbers are required for INTERstate and INTRAstate commerce vehicles (in excess of 10,001lb GVWR) . BUT... STATES enforce the "law of the land". Some states choose to interpret and enforce the DOT regs, and then their individual state requirements as they see fit. Quite possible Pennsylvania chooses NOT to enforce DOT # posting. In that sense, they aren't "required". If the cop isn't going to look for them, nor write a ticket, and the judge isn't going to hand down a fine for not having the numbers posted, then there isn't a "punishable offense" that needs compliance. States are SUPPOSED to enforce federal guidelines, along with their own rules of the road. DOT regs are SUPPOSED to be a minimum with states allowed additional laws as they see fit. Some states interpret that differently than others, picking and choosing what regs they want to enforce. In recent years, Kentucky has decided to intermittantly enforce various rules that have been ignored previously. (DOT#'s being just one example) I'm sure any state can and will do the same from time to time.

I personally believe in being more than barely legal when hauling/towing. Even if a law isn't strictly enforced, I try my best to comply. Catch a cop on a bad day or get involved in a traffic accident, or a dozen other scenarios while skirting the rules and you might just get a different interpretation of the law than what is "normal". Don't leave any cracks in the armour.

 

[john_bud]

Now how can you complain about a guy that saved you that much money? (by not slamming you with all the violations, after all he could have let you wait on the side of the road until he put in more paper.)

jb

 

[Builder]

Just got off the phone (again) with PADOT. I explained to him that I was intrastate ONLY with a 33,000 GVWR/58,000GCWR dumptruck with my CDL & med card and he informed me that I am NOT required to have a DOT number.

He reiterated 3 times that DOT numbers are only required for interstate commerce only. He went on to tell me it is simply a way of tracking interstate commerce vehicles only. He said you must meet the requirement for conductin interstate commerce FIRST, before you need to have a DOT #

I've been pulled over by DOT before. Never even asked me about a lack of DOT # on my truck.

Sooooooo, there ya go. Liitle more confusion in my life & your life.

 

[john_bud]

Builder,

I personally strongly agree with the person from PADOT and think that should be the way it is. I also strongly feel that he is not correct based on Federal regs and the state regs posted. If you have been stopped and let off, it can mean that the officer isn't enforcing the regs or that the PADOT guy is correct. Let's hope the PADOT guy is correct.

I would do most anything to avoid the USDOT number and requirements, but I am not a business just small time tree farmer with tiny equipment. Fortunately for me, there is a farm plate exlusion that keeps me DOT free and still legal.

I am so befuddled by the exlusions. I mean if I were to have the regular plates, I would need the DOT number and the associated hassles. But, if I pay LESS money for the Farm plates on the truck and pay LESS money for the farm plate on the trailer, I can haul more weight (12,000 vs 8,000 truck) and not need the DOT number. Now, why does that seem strange?

 

[IllMarty1]

john bud,

If you were to get a USDOT #, you would have to provide, upon demand, a log book for all hours worked, not just driving hours, per week. This is to ensure that you have not worked/driven over the alotted amount of hours in any 7 day period. You must have these records for the past 6 months.

These fellas from USDOT are real fun to deal with when they walk into your office and start demanding to look at your driver records.

Marty

 

[john_bud]

IllMarty1,

More reasons to stay with the exemption category.

I actually was going to "do the math" on buying tractors for each plot of land. Wouldn't take too long to break even, If commercial insurance + all the other stuff was needed.

jb

 

[Marcussen]

I have been trying to figure this out, my truck has a GVWR of 9600 lbs, and if
I am pulling a gooseneck trailer GTWR rating of 10500 lbs.
Or I am pulling a tag along rated at 5000 lbs. (both of those put me over 10001 lbs)
I don't have a CDL or DOT number, but my truck has farm tags on it. Does that mean I am commersial and need a CDL etc.
I read the part stating a farm vehicle is only a farm vehicle if operated within 150 miles if the farm.

 

[Rara Avis]

I have been trying to figure this out, my truck has a GVWR of 9600 lbs, and if
I am pulling a gooseneck trailer GTWR rating of 10500 lbs.
Or I am pulling a tag along rated at 5000 lbs. (both of those put me over 10001 lbs)
I don't have a CDL or DOT number, but my truck has farm tags on it. Does that mean I am commersial and need a CDL etc.
I read the part stating a farm vehicle is only a farm vehicle if operated within 150 miles if the farm.

Here's a scare story...that doesn't refer to the exemptions at all...

AdaEveningNews.com - Ada, Oklahoma - Farmers question commercial vehicle laws

To give you a little more complete coverage of your exemption....

Farmers transporting farm supplies or farm machinery, or transporting agricultural products to or from the first place of storage or processing or directly to or from market, within 150 miles of their farm...

So You could haul your 15,000 lb tractor to the dealership that is in EXCESS of 150 air miles of your farm and be LEGAL...

You could deliver 10 Tons of HAY to a location that is in EXCESS of 150 air miles of your farm and be LEGAL...

You could go to an auction that is in EXCESS of 150 air miles of your farm
and BUY a 10 Ton Piece of equipment and haul it back to your farm and be LEGAL...

If you were hauling a heavy backhoe to a construction site to dig a foundation for a home...THAT's COMMERCIAL and your exemption does NOT apply...

 

[Builder]

I have been trying to figure this out, my truck has a GVWR of 9600 lbs, and if
I am pulling a gooseneck trailer GTWR rating of 10500 lbs.
Or I am pulling a tag along rated at 5000 lbs. (both of those put me over 10001 lbs)
I don't have a CDL or DOT number, but my truck has farm tags on it. Does that mean I am commersial and need a CDL etc.
I read the part stating a farm vehicle is only a farm vehicle if operated within 150 miles if the farm.

In MOST states, just because the trailer is over 10K, it doesn't mean you need a CDL.

MOST states, like mine (PA) require a CDL if the combination (truck & trailer) is over 26,001 lbs. You're not even close.

Apparently, a few guys here live in states where a trailer over 10K requires a CDL. I still think they're incorrect and just buying into some sort of urban myth kind of BS, but I digress.

If you want the answer, just drive down to your local driver licensing center and ask for a CDL handbook for OK. Read it. Then you'll get the answers you require.

Asking here will get you a lot of helpful responses, but you'll get a lot of confusion, too.

 

[RayH]

In MOST states, just because the trailer is over 10K, it doesn't mean you need a CDL.

MOST states, like mine (PA) require a CDL if the combination (truck & trailer) is over 26,001 lbs. You're not even close.

Apparently, a few guys here live in states where a trailer over 10K requires a CDL. I still think they're incorrect and just buying into some sort of urban myth kind of BS, but I digress.

.

Builder, good luck. Ive tried several times to convince people they dont need a CDL to pull a 10001 lbs trailer. Ive even quoted from their state manuals, and still they insist they need it (not everyone, but most). I'll say no more, I just want you to know you arent alone when they come out of the woodwork and tell you their uncles girlfriends dad got pulled over for towing a 12000 trailer.