All motor carriers operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle in interstate or foreign commerce must be assigned & display a USDOT Number before interstate operations begin. This includes all interstate private, exempt, for hire and passenger motor carriers. Motor Carriers operating intrastate transporting any placarded hazardous materials must also comply.
Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle as per Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Part 390.5 for the purpose of compliance with DOT Marking Requirement 390.21:
- Commercial Motor Vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more;
- Is Designed to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation;
- Is designed to transport 16 or more people including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation;
- Is transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring the vehicle to be placarded. (There is no weight threshold for placarded vehicles and applies to both intrastate or interstate operations.)