All commercial carriers in the U.S. are required to register with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). For convenience, a Unified Registration System has been created, in which all operations are carried out electronically.
How quickly and for how much you can get a DOT number
Let’s just say that carriers do not need to pay for getting a number, although many people are sure of the opposite. This view was created for one reason: companies must pay for operation authority associated with obtaining an identification number.
It is also not true that DOT can be got very quickly. In fact, the procedure lasts from 3 to 8 weeks.
Conditions for obtaining an identification number
Carriers are subject to a number of requirements for the right to get a DOT number. Along with the application, the company must provide local insurance. There is another important condition for obtaining a document: insurance must cover certain minimums in order to be able to register with the FMCSA. The amount should reach $ 5,000,000. It is needed to cover possible costs for:
- compensation for damaged property;
- restoration of health in case of bodily injuries;
- compensation for environmental damage in an accident during the transportation of dangerous cargo.
All drivers must have documents confirming civil liability insurance.
In addition to those listed, companies must provide the following documents for the application:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- THE DUN and Bradstreet number of the company about the credit status.
This information is needed to identify the company applying for a DOT number.
What makes getting a number difficult
If the relevant documents are not submitted to the security department within three months, the request to the operational body will be rejected. In this case, the number will remain active, and all information will need to be sent directly to the FMCSA.
Before obtaining a number, the carrier must be sure of fulfilling the requirements of the native state. Local regulations do not always coincide with those adopted by the FMCSA. You need to pay attention to this fact.
If you submit all the documents on time, the application can be issued in one hour. Therefore, you need to take a responsible attitude to the collection of documents. You also need to provide contact and other details:
- Address and phone number of the applicant.
- The main address of the company, its name, fax and contact phone number.
- The total mileage of all vehicles of the carrier for the previous year.
- Types of goods transported.
If the company transports dangerous materials, additional documents will be required. When all the necessary information is collected, the DOT number will be issued immediately.