The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) issues USDOT (United States Department of Transport) Numbers to commercial vehicles that are in the business of interstate transportation, whether it is cargo as in the case with household or business moves, or transporting passengers. According to the FMCSA website, the USDOT Number is unique and identifies a company enabling the Department of Transport to monitor and collect safety information, including information used for auditing, compliance reviews, accident investigations and vehicle inspections. In addition, the following states require companies to have a USDOT Number even if their business remains within the state borders: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Companies who newly acquire a USDOT Number must pass a safety audit and maintain acceptable roadside safety performance over the first 18-months of operation. Only after they pass this program are companies given permanent registration status.
For more information, go to the FMCSA website.
