There are two reasons why a moving company should meet USDOT number requirements.
Any commercial vehicle transporting passengers or hauling cargo interstate (over state lines) requires a USDOT display number and be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Certain states (38 to be exact) require a USDOT number for intrastate (inside state borders) moves by commercial motor vehicles.
What is a USDOT Number?
The FMCSA, or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, enforces several regulations to ensure road safety.
One of their requirements is:
- Moving companies must register for a US Department of Transportation number.
The USDOT number is a way for the government to identify a particular carrier when collecting information from audits, compliance reviews, inspections and other data sets.
It's also used as an organizational tool for enforcing and monitoring safety regulations.
When do you Need a USDOT Number?
You need a USDOT number if you:
Operate interstate commerce (across state lines) and your vehicle
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more (GVWR, GCWR, GVW, or GCW).
- Is used to transport 9–15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation, or 16+ passengers not for compensation.
- Transports hazardous materials that require placarding under FMCSA regulations.
Operate intrastate commerce (within one state) and your state requires it
- Many states require intrastate-only carriers to have a USDOT number (e.g., Texas, Florida, New York, California, New Jersey, etc.).
Who Needs a USDOT Number?
The following entities are required to have a USDOT number.
- Moving companies (household goods carriers)
- Trucking companies and freight carriers
- Commercial delivery vehicles
- Any business that operates qualifying commercial vehicles for business purposes
Which States Don’t Require a USDOT Number?
There are 12 states that do not require a USDOT number for intrastate commercial vehicles. Those are:
If a company fails to comply with this regulation, they will be in violation of federal law.
Under federal law, companies transporting hazardous materials that require a safety permit must register for a USDOT number for their vehicles regardless of whether they are crossing state borders or not.
What are USDOT numbers for?
When applying for a USDOT number, a company will be enrolled in a program called the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program.
- During this 18-month education program, companies will learn all about carrier safety and hazardous material regulations.
- In order to get a permanent USDOT number, the carrier must maintain safe operations during the 18 months of the program and pass a safety audit.
- The safety audit will occur within 12 months after beginning operations.
In order to maintain USDOT number, moving companies need to comply with all FMCSA safety regulations.
This involves keeping detailed logs of all trips, attending safety training meetings, having vehicles inspected and undergoing annual log audits.
How Can You Find a Mover's USDOT Number?
If you are moving a long distance, you should use a company with a USDOT number, regardless of whether or not you are crossing state lines.
Choosing a company with a valid USDOT number will ensure that your belongings are in the hands of a trusted and reputable moving company that complies with all industry and safety regulations.
There are a few simple ways to see if your mover has a USDOT number:
- Check the FMCSA SAFER system
- Look for the USDOT number printed on the mover's fleet
(doors of the cab and again on the rear tractor)
- See if they have it listed on their website
- Call up a representative and ask
While your?moving company should be registered with the DOT in its home state, the DOT number should also be registered in any additional states they operate in.
Therefore, if you are making a long-distance move and will be traveling through multiple states en route to your new home, make sure that your movers are?meeting all the USDOT number requirements in your home state, the state of your destination and all states in between.
For more information about choosing a trusted and compliant mover — explore our detailed guides. Likewise, if you’re moving now— you can compare movers with a free moving estimate.
