Commercial Truck required stickers/permits?

clodhopper

clodhopper

Get off my lawn, punk!
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Out on the plains, Colorado
I am figuring someone on here has experience with this. My research suggests we don't need any permit or truck labels, but looking for a verification. Corporate is risk adverse.

We have begun travelling between states to perform testing work at construction sites. All equipment being transported is our own, and we will not be doing commercial transport for others. F350 (diesel, extended cab, flatbed) with company logo. Gooseneck trailer 24' long. Total trailer plus load is about 16,000lbs. Truck and crew based in Colorado, but will be travelling to Cali, Texas, North Dakota and possibly further.

Do I need any DOT permit/number or truck stickering to be legal?
 
Call
c dot yet?

:flipoff2:yes:flipoff2:no:flipoff2:maybe:flipoff2:
there are the rest of the answers yer gunna get here:lmao:
 
Company logo is a magnet for needing dot numbers in Utah. They have clamped down hard on that here.
 
Under 26k is not the standard for determing whether or not you need DOT numbers. 26k is the standard for CDL licensing.

Any individual unit over 10k will require DOT numbers for commercial use, therefore the truck and the trailer both need them. If you want to legally get away with no numbers, truck needs to be 9999 or less and trailer needs to be 9999 or less.
 
FC4X4 said:
Under 26k is not the standard for determing whether or not you need DOT numbers. 26k is the standard for CDL licensing.

Any individual unit over 10k will require DOT numbers for commercial use, therefore the truck and the trailer both need them. If you want to legally get away with no numbers, truck needs to be 9999 or less and trailer needs to be 9999 or less.
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Where would I find reference to that? or is it based on your experience trying to avoid problems?

I am not calling shit on ya, I just need to show reasoning one way or the other.


But it shows why I am asking you guys the question. FMCSA and other govt info sites suggest that based on what we are doing that we wouldn't need a number. Sorry, but I know what kind of incompetents work at the govt and I am just not going to trust it and end up with a guy stuck in another state with an impounded rig.
 
FC4X4 said:
Under 26k is not the standard for determing whether or not you need DOT numbers. 26k is the standard for CDL licensing.

Any individual unit over 10k will require DOT numbers for commercial use, therefore the truck and the trailer both need them. If you want to legally get away with no numbers, truck needs to be 9999 or less and trailer needs to be 9999 or less.
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This.

And to note, it’s based on rated / registered / plated weight. This has had empty goosenecks left at scales because of licensing/DOT number issues waiting for the paperwork to be fixed or a buddy with a CDL to drive the pickup. My previous job had this issue with a particular DOT cop, and it was a state fleet owned pickup and trailer!

I have to be very careful when sending crews interstate by pairing drivers, pickups, and trailers to make all the numbers work (I have a couple pickups running DOT numbers because it can’t always be avoided.)
 
clodhopper said:
Where would I find reference to that? or is it based on your experience trying to avoid problems?

I am not calling shit on ya, I just need to show reasoning one way or the other.


But it shows why I am asking you guys the question. FMCSA and other govt info sites suggest that based on what we are doing that we wouldn't need a number. Sorry, but I know what kind of incompetents work at the govt and I am just not going to trust it and end up with a guy stuck in another state with an impounded rig.
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https://ask.fmcsa.dot.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/109/~/who-needs-to-get-a-usdot-number?

You’d hit the first bullet point: vehicles over 10,000 lbs.

Where it could get tricky is if you’re interstate commerce. You’re traveling to be compensated for work in another state, most DOT cops would see that as interstate commerce. One could argue that the company is transporting company property to a company worksite and the vehicle movement itself isn’t commerce (a 3rd party isn’t paying you for the movement). I wouldn’t want to try and have a hired hand argue that at a scale, especially if you do charge a customer to drive to their location.

Easy way would be to have some DOT numbers put under the company logo. The number is free, assuming you don’t need operating authority (pretty sure you don’t)

F0E1AFA7-5716-4204-B006-9539DD6EF6F3.jpeg
 
clodhopper said:
That makes sense to me. Will having a DOT number on the truck in any way trigger the need for a CDL driver? I appreciate the help Lowrollin!
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Nope. They are two separate things.

To further complicate things, there is a third thing I just remembered: DOT medical cards are required for interstate commerce over 10,000lbs. CDL drivers will already have this covered, but your non-CDL drivers would need to carry their medical card after a DOT physical.

Edit: the medical card is not triggered by having the DOT number, but kicks in at the same limits as DOT numbers required, if that makes sense.
 
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Lowrollin70gmc said:
Nope. They are two separate things.

To further complicate things, there is a third thing I just remembered: DOT medical cards are required for interstate commerce over 10,000lbs. CDL drivers will already have this covered, but your non-CDL drivers would need to carry their medical card after a DOT physical.

Edit: the medical card is not triggered by having the DOT number, but kicks in at the same limits as DOT numbers required, if that makes sense.
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Last job dealt with this. Most of the mangers/supervisors working in CA needed to get Medical Cards. Cause hook any trailer to any pickup and you’re over 10 combined rating. Already had all the DOT Number and CA Numbers from moving equipment with Lowboys.
 
clodhopper said:
Under 26k. More like 23k. :rolleyes: Does that mean lube allowed or is Cali sandpaper covered pegging no matter what?
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23k combined gross weight, or combined gross weight rating? Even without that if you are at 16k on the trailer (greater then 10k rating) you are in CDL territory.
 
Even though the DOT number is free, there's some admin/records keeping required with having one, and you will get a safety audit after about a year-ish where they want to see it all.

Also, from personal experience, if you apply for a DOT number be careful what phone number you put on it, because you WILL get at least 10 calls per day for the next year from companies trying to get you to buy compliance services from them, which basically means they maintain some paperwork for you..
 
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sdmuleman said:
Even though the DOT number is free, there's some admin/records keeping required with having one, and you will get a safety audit after about a year-ish where they want to see it all.

Also, from personal experience, if you apply for a DOT number be careful what phone number you put on it, because you WILL get at least 10 calls per day for the next year from companies trying to get you to buy compliance services from them, which basically means they maintain some paperwork for you..
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Truth..

We have commercial personal use DOT numbers. You can look up the filing forms online. We also have them registered as an RV. It all really helps if you have them on the side of any vehicle as we have found out that DOT or state troopers will know your Private Use status and won't bother .
 
What we've found is,
Truck over 10K GVW = DOT
Trailer over 10k = DOT
Combination over 10k = DOT
Basically easier to just put the stickers on all our trucks and deal with the annual inspections and not worry about getting a citation when one of our guys decides to pull a skid steer down the road with a 1/2 ton.
 
ironman_gq said:
What we've found is,
Truck over 10K GVW = DOT
Trailer over 10k = DOT
Combination over 10k = DOT
Basically easier to just put the stickers on all our trucks and deal with the annual inspections and not worry about getting a citation when one of our guys decides to pull a skid steer down the road with a 1/2 ton.
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in addition to all of this any trailer over 10k requires a CLD class A
any truck over 26k (class B) , combination over 26k (Class A) or trailer over 10k (Class A)

you will hit you with a big fine and put the truck out of service for a CDL violation
 
Bax said:
in addition to all of this any trailer over 10k requires a CLD class A
any truck over 26k (class B) , combination over 26k (Class A) or trailer over 10k (Class A)

you will hit you with a big fine and put the truck out of service for a CDL violation
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This is wrong as a blanket statement. This varries by state.

in my state u do not need a cdl if the combo does not exceed 26k. My dodge 2500 and my 14k goose together dont require anything other then a standard class d.
 
Bax said:
in addition to all of this any trailer over 10k requires a CLD class A
any truck over 26k (class B) , combination over 26k (Class A) or trailer over 10k (Class A)

you will hit you with a big fine and put the truck out of service for a CDL violation
Click to expand...

In my state you don't need any special license until your combination is over 26k. 12k truck and a 14k trailer is perfectly fine on a Class D license as long as the truck and trailer are up to date on inspections and we have the DOT numbers.
 
sdmuleman said:
Also, from personal experience, if you apply for a DOT number be careful what phone number you put on it, because you WILL get at least 10 calls per day for the next year from companies trying to get you to buy compliance services from them, which basically means they maintain some paperwork for you..
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Spot on there. USComplianceServices.org called my phone within a minute after submitting the app to FMCSA and launched right into steamrolling me. Impressive if not also aggravating.



On another note.... Anyone able to direct me to a software or app to track the documentation necessary for the audit? I am sure I can strongarm my way through the process, but not sure my time is worth it. Am leaning toward paying my part of someone else's brain damage effort.
 
Are DOT numbers required on non-commercial vehicles? My setup is over 26k rated, and I have a non-commercial class-A license in NC, but it's hard to tell if DOT numbers are also required when non-commercial.
 
I think most everybody has already answered your question, but I'll give a rundown in one post of what all you will need to haul equipment legally from State to State.

Company name
DOT number
Apportioned tag that covers the states you plan on running through and to. Or you can get permits for each state each trip.
Driver will need a medical card
You will also need an e-log for each driver

I got stopped in TN and wrote up for not having a company name and dot number on a Dodge 3500 flat bed hauling batteries, no trailer just the truck.
 
MoparMan said:
I think most everybody has already answered your question, but I'll give a rundown in one post of what all you will need to haul equipment legally from State to State.

Company name
DOT number
Apportioned tag that covers the states you plan on running through and to. Or you can get permits for each state each trip.
Driver will need a medical card
You will also need an e-log for each driver

I got stopped in TN and wrote up for not having a company name and dot number on a Dodge 3500 flat bed hauling batteries, no trailer just the truck.
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That's the part that's confusing though. Hauling equipment (of any kind) commercially, requires this stuff. Personal property carrying is a solid no from what I gather.
 
That is correct. If you're hauling your own personal equipment for personal use you're good. But if you are hauling equipment to make money then you are suppose to have everything I mentioned above.
 
Don't forget. Your guys will also qualify for DOT Drug testing. It also means if any of your guys are in an accident things heat up quick and those drug tests have to be done within 2 hrs. Not always easy on some of our highways.
 
Dejeeper said:
This is wrong as a blanket statement. This varries by state.

in my state u do not need a cdl if the combo does not exceed 26k. My dodge 2500 and my 14k goose together dont require anything other then a standard class d.
Click to expand...

It does vary by state for non-commercial applications.

Once you start crossing state lines for commercial purposes you get into all the fed CDL and DOT rules.

I got hit in ND crossing from MT. Company wasn't happy after they got an audit and realized nearly every truck needed DOT and every trailer needed a class A.
They pulled all the decals and got away with that for quite awhile.
 
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