Trucker News

The business entity, individual, partnership, corporation, or religious organization responsible for the transportation of the goods, property or people. A motor carrier is the legal entity that directs and controls the operation of one or more commercial vehicles. A motor carrier can be a trucking company, a bus company or any entity that uses vehicles for commercial purposes.

Motor carrier companies are either for hire or private. Motor carriers are either Intrastate or Interstate

For Hire Motor Carrier means: An entity engaged in the transportation of goods or passengers for direct compensation for that activity. In other words, its business is hauling persons or property. Examples include companies such as Swift and Any Bus Service.

Private Motor Carrier means: An entity that provides transportation of property or passengers, by commercial motor vehicle, but is not a “for hire” motor carrier. Examples include Amazon delivering products to its stores in vehicles it owns and operates for this purpose or a Hilton hotel providing complimentary airport shuttle bus service for its guests.

Displaying your USDOT number and other regulation numbers that are applicable to you are very important when engaging in business. The FMCSA has the authority to fine and sanction unsafe interstate truck and bus companies. USDOT & other regulation numbers are used to identify potentially unsafe motor carriers when analyzing crash sites. The identification numbers (found on each side of the power unit, assigned by the USDOT & By The State) is a key element in the FMCSA database for both carrier safety and the regulatory process. In the image below, you can see that the semi-truck is destroyed, but the USDOT number is clearly visible for authorities to run an investigation and issue fines.

BOC-3 - Bureau of Compliance Form #3

Process agent form with a list of agents should a legal dispute arise

CA Number - California CHP Number

A California Issued Regulation Number issued by the CHP (California Highway Patrol) for commercial vehicles doing business within the state

DOT (US DOT) - United States Department of Transportation

Also known as USDOT Government Regulation Agency.

ELD’s - Electronic Data Log’s

Where carriers must input their worked time rather than old paper logs. Also known as Electronic Driver Logs

FF - Freight Forwarder

Freight Forwarders arrange transport of goods By FMCSA Licensed Carriers. Freight forwarders issue bills of lading to shippers and are responsible for the loss of or damage of goods

FMCSA - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The government agency that regulates the entire transportation industry.

GVW or GVWR

Maximum weight truck can weigh depending on the sector

HAZMAT - Hazardous Materials

IFTA - International Fuel Tax Agreement

Required for trucks over 26,000 lbs. You must obtain license and decals from your state

KYU - A number issued by the state of Kentucky to regulate tax miles

MC Number - Motor Carrier Number

A Number required for-hire carriers and bookers traveling interstate (property & passengers)

MCS-150 - Motor Carrier Safety Form #150

A form to update your USDOT Number

MX Number - Mexican Carrier

NY HUT - New York Highway Use Tax

Required for trucks operating in the State of New York weighing over 17,999 lbs.

TXDMV - Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Agency that governs inter state operations within Texas.

TXDOT -Texas Department of Transportation

Vehicles operating within the state of Texas are required to have a TXDOT number

VIN - Vehicle Identification Number

A unique 17 digit numeric code assigned to your vehicle. When displaying on your commercial vehicle you are only required to display the last 8 of your vin number.

If you have any questions, our customer service representatives would be more than happy to assist.

When it comes to USDOT Lettering, there are many options to displaying your US DOT & other important regulation numbers such as MC, KYU, CA & GVWR. In this short blog, we’ll go over the basics of each.

Vinyl Lettering

Vinyl lettering is great since it’s easy to place, it looks professional and it’s customizable. Vinyl lettering will also last a long time and will withstand all of the elements. You don’t have to worry about your important regulation numbers falling off and failing a USDOT inspection. Another great feature is that when you are ready to sell your commercial vehicle or go out of business you can easily take off the vinyl lettering and the vehicle will look like before. It won’t damage the paint and it will not leave any residue behind.

Magnets

Magnets are another method of displaying your regulation numbers. This method is a bit riskier since your magnets can be easily stolen (yes this happens quite often) or your magnets tend to fall off at high speeds (60 MPH +). A lot of truckers have been fined heavily when they have lost their magnets. Let’s say you are doing business and you get stopped at a truck scale by a DOT officer and your magnets are nowhere to be found. Do you think the DOT officer will believe you? No! It is your responsibility to display all of your lettering on your cabin at all times. Magnets are good for individuals who use their personal vehicle for business and vice versa. In our opinion, magnets do not look very professional. Do you ever see law enforcement vehicles displaying magnets? Never!

Spray Paint Lettering

We have seen hundreds of people display their US DOT regulation lettering with spray paint (stencils). This is by far the worst thing you can do as it will damage the paint and it will not look very professional. This is an immediate solution, but we recommend against this method. Getting spray paint off vehicle paint is extremely difficult and will hurt the value of the commercial vehicle.

Pen & Paper Method

We’ve seen hundreds of carriers displaying their regulation numbers on a piece of computer paper taped on their cabin. While this is technically compliant, we strongly recommend against this method. Rain will destroy the paper and you’ll be out of compliance immediately. Besides, it’s your business, would you really want to display your carrier name and USDOT on a piece of paper?