So I donbt know about other states but ALABAMA passed a law saying if your over 10000l.bs combined weigth you have to have a DOT number visible on your truck. So i call the state they sighn me up give me my number i asked aight what do i do with them. They said make sure this visible and that is all. SO whats the point? It cost me $75.00 bucks and they said I dont have to carry a daily log either??

my understanding is that it is a federal DOT law that was passed and it is a requirement in all 50 states. I also have been told by state troopers that it is the last thing on their mind when working traffic enforcement.

I tow all the time over 10K combined....it's not hard to get to 10K gross combined when the truck weighs 6500 empty, I would say it is just another tax.

First I've heard of this...anywhere. Doesn't sound right to me.

the federal law says any commercial rig over 10k lbs unladen weight or a non commercial combined weight over 26k lbs

Friend of mine who is an electrical contractor drives an Isuzu 19' box truck got nailed for no DOT#s, no back-up mirror in the rear, no back-up alarm and no log book. The ticket for no log book was tossed out, the back-up alarm and mirror tickets were fix it tickets and were dismissed and i beleive he paid a $125 fine for no DOT#s. I tow a 14' V-nose enclosed trailer for my business and i have been told that as long as my truck is not lettered then i dont need DOT#s, i am just going to buy door magnets instead.

Another way for Uncle Sam to take more money out of our pockets!

All the small businesses on my route now have put their business names and a USDOT number on their trucks.

I think the business name is also a requirement.

I mean If I had to keep a log or something It make sence to me.

I mean If I had to keep a log or something It make sence to me.


You should do what I did last summer. Find and down load the commercial truck regulations for your state and read them. Then go to the local state patrol station and talk to a trooper about it and have them explain the applicable laws to you and give you a copy of the laws (or web link).

It took our local troopers about 2 1/2 hours + a call to the state capital by the trooper to figure it out. I was specifically asking about farm tags and USDOT numbers.

The local DMV was 100% dead wrong on the topic by the way. So, don't trust anything except the written law. The DMV also had a printed flyer telling of the need -> referencing the wrong statutes.

If you need the USDOT number, you ARE required to get the truck and trailer inspected yearly, have a log book, triangles, spare bulbs, reflector tape, etc etc. The USDOT numbers are FREE by the way. From the federal government. You may be talking about a State DOT number ?

jb

Yes, DOT numbers are free, had one for several years,
but two years ago we got a yearly renewal fee of $35.00.
Last year it was $37. or $38., I forget. Fee varies with
number of trucks you have. It's just another fund raiser,
it's not about saftey or anything else they tell you it is.:(

I don't know if its Minnesota or if its Federal Law, but I was told by my DMV that DOT numbers are only required on commercial vehicles. If you're towing your camper, it obviously doesn't apply to you.

i have a hard time believing that DOT numbers are free or anything from the DOT are free. but i have been wrong before for sure. anybody have the link for the free DOT numbers?

Dot numbers are free. Any vehicle/s 10,001lbs by weight or GVWR or combinded CGVW in interstate commerce needs dot#. Every state is different for intrastate. Do a search for FMCSA and you can find all the info. I have been a dot inspector for 13yrs.

good to know but i they asked for my credit card then 75 dollors was gone. ???? I havea receipt i thought it might be a set up fee. it was the state

Landscaper,

was that the DOT website are a private one?

In the communistic state of California, if you tow a bumper pull over 10k or a fifth wheel above 13.5k (I think), you have to have a non-commercial class A license.
In the past, this has not be enforced that much, but because of a few accidents, I have heard that they will start checking drivers and as well as weighing trailers with portable scales in the very near future.
I'm sure they will do this at the start of desert season.

Technically any vehicle with a GCVW over 10,000 lbs is supposed to run a log book, have a DOT number, and cross weigh station scales. Basically the USDOT regs only are applied to commercially labeled vehicles (or a dually pulling a 5er would have to run a log). The 19' Isuzu box truck is considered a commercial vehicle whether it is labeled so or not. Some states are more strict with enforcement than others. There were some states which required registration numbers in order to run a "commercial" vehicle through their state, however I'm reasonably sure that those restrictions have been lifted (at least temporarily). I know Ohio requires an intrastate (within Ohio) permit (PUCO #). Another thing to watch out for is the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) which is there to make sure each state you run in gets their "fair share" of the fuel taxes on each mile you run.

It is federal law over 10,001 lbs,any combination,and you are commercial,you need a dot # they are free from the dot site. you also need a medical card, log book, and other safety devices like a fire extinguisher,flares,etc. I've been through, and they can and will fine you.if you have a duellyand trailer they have you in their sights more and more. some states don't look as hard,but others take a hard look. if they catch you over the gcvwr,plan on parking for a while.

By the way as stated above the website is FMCSA. they even show you pictures.