This is actually a question my dad had but I figured someone here would know. He has been hauling his own cattle for years with a pickup and goosneck stock trailer. Just a couple days ago he ran into someone he knew at the stockyard and was told that he better get his truck and trailer checked out for a DOT sticker because he could recieve a $500 fine if he doesn't have a sticker by August 1st. He has an 09 2500 crew cab and I think the trailer is 28 feet. He also has a 28 foot flatbed gooseneck trailer that we use to haul bales and small equipment. The reason we question this is because we have always been told that because it is for farm use it is exempt from dot inspection? Did things change this year?

Not sure about Minnesota, but they are cracking down in other states, Ohio and Pennsylvania to name a couple. any combination over 10,000# gross you need DOT numbers, Inspection sticker, Company name ane city and state on the door in at least 2" high letters, driver must have a DOT medical card, truck must have a fire extinguisher that is fastened down and a set of triangles.

This includes farm use, anything that is not for personal use, and I think that is coming soon. Big brother has found a way to make more money.

I'm afraid that from what I'm hearing it's prolly true :(. The goverment is looking for more money so they are hitting us as best as they can :mad:. I had to get a DOT number and I'm in process of getting my CDL now :rolleyes:.

From looking at their site,I don't think Dad has to worry as long as he can prove it's for himself and is staying intra state[within MN's borders].Anyway,here's the deal.Enjoy:
Minnesota DOT

Call us at (765) 742-2610 for a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT MN, Minnesota DOT, DOT State MN US, and MN DOT Number

A Minnesota DOT Number: You are not required to register for a Minnesota DOT Number (Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US) for a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000-lbs and under. When you look on the doorframe of your vehicle, you should see a chrome tag with the letters GVWR and a number. This is the maximum weight the vehicle is designed to weigh. You are required to register for a Minnesota DOT Number (Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, MN DOT Number, DOT State MN US) on a vehicle used in your business on a commercial basis such as a pickup truck, a van, a truck or a vehicle pulling a trailer where the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is 10,001-lbs or more, or the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings (GCWR) of both the power unit and the trailer is 10,001-lbs or more, when the vehicle or vehicles remain in the state. We will register you with Minnesota for a Minnesota DOT Number (Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number) for your business operation. If the truck is plated above 26,000-lbs, or the truck and trailer combination / semi-tractor and trailer loaded weights are more than 26,000-lbs, you will be required to register for the state fuel tax. Click on the state fuel tax phone number down the left side of this page. When you cross state lines with a commercial vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001-lbs or more, or a commercial vehicle and trailer with a GCWR of 10,001-lbs or more, a USDOT number is required. Call us to get either a Minnesota DOT Number (Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number) or a USDOT number to cross state lines. When you cross state lines and your truck is plated above 26,000-lbs, or your truck and trailer combination weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, or your semi-tractor and trailer weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, you will be required to register with the state for IFTA fuel tax. If your vehicle or power unit and trailer gross more than 26,000-lbs crossing state lines, read more about crossing state lines below. Again the reference is to a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT MN, Minnesota DOT, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number.

Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority: If you carry loads for delivery in your van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer inside the state of Minnesota - these loads are picked up and delivered in Minnesota without crossing state lines, you may need to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority. This is also refered to as a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT Minnesota. DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number.

Private Carrier with Gross Weight / Combined Gross Weights up to 26,000-lbs: If you are a Private Carrier hauling your own products inside the state of Minnesota without crossing state lines in a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer and the loaded weight of either the vehicle or vehicle and trailer combination is 26,000-lbs or under, you are not required to register for a Minnesota DOT Number (Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number) or USDOT number. As a Private Carrier, you will also not be required to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority at these weights, but compliance with financial responsibility is required (you are required to carry Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance).

Private Carrier with a Gross Weight / Combined Gross weights 26,001-lbs and above: If you are a Private Carrier hauling your own products inside the state of Minnesota without crossing state lines in a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer and the loaded weight of either the vehicle or vehicle and trailer combination is 26,001-lbs or greater, you are required to register for a Minnesota DOT Number (also known as Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number). As a Private Carrier, you will not need to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority, but compliance with financial responsibility is required (you are required to carry Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance). If the truck has a gross weight for 26,001-lbs or more, or the truck and trailer, or semi-tractor and trailer have gross weights of 26,001-lbs or more, you will be required to register for the Minnesota state fuel tax.

For-Hire Carriers: If you haul items or products of any kind as a For-Hire Carrier (you are being paid to haul these items or products) inside the state of Minnesota - picking up and delivering loads inside Minnesota without crossing state lines - in a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer at any weight, you are required to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority and a DOT number (also known as a Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number). You are required to carry a minimum of $300,000 in Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance if the Gross Weight of the vehicle or Combined Gross Weights of the vehicle and trailer combination is 10,000-lbs or under. If the Gross Weight of the vehicle is 10,001-lbs or greater, or Combined Gross Weights of both the vehicle and trailer are 10,001-lbs or greater, you are required to carry a minimum of $750,000-lbs in Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance. If the truck has a gross weight of 26,001-lbs or more, or if the truck and trailer, or the semi-tractor and trailer have combined gross weights of 26,001-lbs or more, you will be required to register for the Minnesota state fuel tax.

Crossing State Lines as a Private Carrier hauling your own products: If you cross state lines as a Private Carrier hauling your own products, you will need a USDOT number and will be subject to the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. But you will not need to register for ICC Authority, MC Authority, DOT Authority or Trucking Authority (they all mean the same thing). If the vehicle crossing state lines has a Gross Weight of 26,000-lbs or less and has 2 axles, you will not be required to register for an IRP license plate, nor for IFTA fuel tax. If the truck crossing state lines has 3 axles or more with a Gross Weight of 10,001-lbs or higher, or is pulling a trailer, you will be required to register for an IRP license plate and for the IFTA fuel tax with the state and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If the truck or truck and trailer combination / semi-tractor and trailer weigh 26,001-lbs or more crossing state lines, you will need to register with the state of Minnesota for both an IRP License plate and for IFTA fuel tax and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you are crossing state lines as a Private carrier in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or a vehicle pulling a trailer where the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings are 10,001-lbs or greater, you will be subject to a New Carrier Entrant Safety Audit. If you are both crossing state lines with loads and picking up and delivering loads inside Minnesota without crossing state lines with these loads, you may need to register for a Minnesota DOT Number (also known as Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number)

Crossing State Lines as a For-Hire Motor Carrier hauling loads for pay: If you are hauling Exempt or Non-Exempt products for pay across state lines, you will need a USDOT number and will be subject to the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you haul loads for pay inside the state of Minnesota - picking up and delivering these loads without crossing state lines, as mentioned above, you will need to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority (also known as a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number). If you haul loads across state lines for pay as a For-Hire Carrier hauling Non-Exempt loads, you will also need to register for MC Authority / ICC Motor Carrier Authority. If you haul Exempt loads (grain, livestock, logs) across state lines as a For-Hire Carrier, you will not need to register for MC Authority / ICC Authority. If the vehicle crossing state lines has a Gross Weight of 26,000-lbs or less and has 2 axles and is not pulling a trailer, you will not be required to register for an IRP license plate, nor for IFTA fuel tax. If the truck crossing state lines has 3 axles or more with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 10,001-lbs or higher, or is pulling a trailer with Combined Gross Vehicle Weights of 10,001-lbs or more, you will be required to register for an IRP license plate and for the IFTA fuel tax with the state and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If the truck or truck and trailer combination / semi-tractor and trailer weigh 26,001-lbs or more crossing state lines, you will need to register with the state of Minnesota for both an IRP License plate and for IFTA fuel tax and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you are crossing state lines as a Private Carrier in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or a vehicle pulling a trailer where the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings are 10,001-lbs or greater, you will be subject to a New Carrier Entrant Safety Audit. Contact the Minnesota State Police with the phone number shown on the right.

Just out of curiosity, the above post doesn't address recreational vehicles.
Inquiring minds need to know:D.

In my experience, Private Not for Hire Carriers hauling own goods (such as McDonalds hauling hamburgers to their own stores) are considered commercial and plated as such.

Are recreational vehicles another class?
How about farmers hauling to or from a farm? Or hauling for another farmer, to/from a farmer?

Michigan, IIRC farmers have to register their hauling vehicles as commercial, with DOT numbering and Farm names. Was a big push on it a couple years ago.

I wish I could read english...I'll have to call. Still not sure on my situation. I've been told by friends in MN that I need one too.
I guess talking direct is the best way to go?