Next Steps After Getting a USDOT Number: New Carrier Checklist
So, what are the next steps after you get a DOT number anyway?
We work with carriers every day who have no idea what a Drug and Alcohol Consortium is, or don’t know what steps they need to take to ensure the authority they paid for gets authorized. If you recently applied for a DOT number and are wondering what you need to do now, or are planning to start a company with commercial vehicles and want to be prepared, this guide is for you.
Before We Begin
Knowing what state & federal regulations apply to any given operation takes years of working for or with carriers of all shapes & sizes. Luckily, we’ve done the hard part for you. This checklist condenses over 20 years of knowledge into a few short paragraphs.
With that being said, covering every nuance of every regulation or requirement isn’t feasible in one guide, so we’ve done our best to ensure we’re hitting the broad strokes without making it seem like you’re reading the Code of Federal Regulations.
As compliance experts, not only can we tell you exactly what is required based on your specific operation, we help ensure you’re complying with all applicable requirements. Virtually everything you see listed below is available on our services page.
All it takes is a quick call to determine your compliance requirements and get started on ensuring everything is in place for you to operate legally.
Now, let’s dig in.
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Intrastate-Only & Non-CDL Vehicles
In this section, we’ll assume you’re already aware that your State requires a USDOT for the vehicle you plan on operating. If you’re not sure - contact us, and we can give go over your State’s commercial vehicle requirements.
What you need:
USDOT Number
DOT Physical & Medical DOT Card
Driver Qualification File
Intrastate Authority (Requirements vary by State)
Commercial Insurance Policy
Annual Vehicle Inspection
Electronic Logging Device (Exemptions Apply)
Vehicle Decals (USDOT# + State Abbreviation, Company Name)
Intrastate-Only & CDL Vehicles
What you need:
Everything Listed Above &
Commercial Driver’s License
Drug & Alcohol Testing Consortium
Employer FMCSA Clearinghouse Account
Driver FMCSA Clearinghouse Account (N/A to Owner-Operators)
Clearinghouse Queries (Pre-employment & Annual)
Supervisor Training Certificate (N/A to Owner-Operators)
2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (If 55,000lbs or more GVWR/GCWR)
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Interstate & Non-CDL Vehicles
What you need:
USDOT Number
Operating Authority | MC Number (N/A to Private-Property Carriers)
BOC-3 Blanket of Coverage (N/A to Private-Property Carriers)
UCR Unified Carrier Registration
DOT Physical & Medical DOT Card
Driver Qualification File
Intrastate Authority (Requirements vary by State | Many states still require one for Interstate Carriers)
Commercial Insurance Policy
Annual Vehicle Inspection
Electronic Logging Device (Exemptions Apply)
Vehicle Decals (USDOT#, Company Name)
Interstate & CDL Vehicles
What you need:
Everything Listed Above &
Drug & Alcohol Testing Consortium
Employer FMCSA Clearinghouse Account
Driver FMCSA Clearinghouse Account (N/A to Owner-Operators)
Clearinghouse Queries (Pre-employment & Annual)
Supervisor Training Certificate (N/A to Owner-Operators)
2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (If 55,000lbs or more GVWR/GCWR)
IFTA International Fuel Tax Agreement (Fuel Stickers)
IFTA Quarterly Reports
IRP International Registration Plan (Apportioned Plates / Registration)
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Weight & Distance Permits
If you are based in, or crossing through the following States with a vehicle or vehicle/trailer combination that is at or above the specified weight, you’ll need to obtain a permit before operating in that state.
New York (NY HUT): Required for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of 18,001 lbs or more.
Kentucky (KYU): Required for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of 60,000 lbs or more.
New Mexico (Weight-Distance): Required for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more.
Oregon (Weight-Distance): Required for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more.
Connecticut (Highway Use Fee): Required for vehicles with a GVWR/GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more.
Common Intrastate Authorities
Several states have stand-alone requirements for carriers operating within their borders. If you are operating point-to-point within these states, you likely need the following:
California: CA Number & Motor Carrier Permit (MCP). Required for intrastate trips (10,001 lbs+) or any for-hire vehicle regardless of weight.
Texas: TxDMV Number. Required for intrastate operators of CDL vehicles, household goods movers, school buses, & heavy farm vehicles
Ohio: PUCO Number. Required for for-hire carriers.
Michigan: CVED Authority. Required for for-hire carriers.
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What’s next?
If any of the requirements above sounded like a foreign language, don't worry - that’s what we’re here for.
Transportation compliance is a complex system with many moving parts, exceptions, and often vague definitions. Not only are there the federal requirements to keep track of, the State requirements are usually the ones to bite people when they don’t see it coming. Don’t play guessing games with what your company needs to have in place to start operating, stay legal, and pass any audits & inspections that come your way. Work with the experts who have made compliance simple for thousands of carriers and counting.
Review our available services today and make worrying about compliance a thing of the past.