US DOT # questions

[bdog]

Drug tests are not required until GVWR exceeds 26k. I do them because I drive the semi but my other employees who are over 10k under 26k do not have to. Basically if you need a CDL you need to drug test if you don’t need a CDL no drug test.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Drug and Alcohol Brochure for Drivers.pdf

Yes there are many ag exemptions but op mentioned nothing about ag he said he was commercial.

There is a form you can get from your state dmv and the driver signs it and you mail it in along with the fee and you get the record back. It is stupid. There is no pass fail criteria you have to examine on the record but you are supposed to get it every year and have it in your files. Along with this you need employment applications and have to contact prior employers and get driving history on the drivers and have this in a file for everyone even yourself.

Logs are not required if your are local and exempt but you have to maintain I think six months of time cards showing they didn’t go over on hours.

UCR is another racket that does nothing. Basically you pay a fee each year based on the number of trucks you have. It is supposed to help them cover the cost of maintaining records or something.

 

[bdog]

Texas requires a dot number for intrastate commerce once you exceed 26k. Until then they do not.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . UCR is another racket that does nothing. Basically you pay a fee . . .

That just about covers all of it!

Can't take credit for this one, but I like it: "A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing right."

A little off topic, but the one that I just LOVE is the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax. You pay the IRS $550 a year just because you OWN a big rig. :hissyfit:

 

[Bigfoot62]

To bdog and others,
Please don't think I'm trying to correct you, or start a fight. I am just stating the rules as I have come to understand them. And, that's not an easy task. You can ask 10 different DOT enforcement officers the same question, and get 10 different answers! (or maybe more) It's a stupid mess, and one that I deal with daily. And, this mess gets worse as time goes by. It doesn't help that Gov't regs are written by bureaucrats who probably wouldn't recognize an 18-wheeler if it ran over them, much less know how to drive one.

 

[bdog]

To bdog and others,
Please don't think I'm trying to correct you, or start a fight. I am just stating the rules as I have come to understand them. And, that's not an easy task. You can ask 10 different DOT enforcement officers the same question, and get 10 different answers! (or maybe more) It's a stupid mess, and one that I deal with daily. And, this mess gets worse as time goes by. It doesn't help that Gov't regs are written by bureaucrats who probably wouldn't recognize an 18-wheeler if it ran over them, much less know how to drive one.

No offense taken.

I too deal with this daily. Aside from having the DOT number for hauling my own equipment to job sites for the past three years or so I have had a MC number and operating authority to haul for hire across the US. The way a lot of the laws are worded leads to a lot of confusion and yes many officers do not know the law. I get my information straight from the laws posted on the FMCSA website and state DMV web sites. I just try to share the correct information to help others.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Thank you for your comments and please feel free to correct me if I am wrong I am going to put it in my own words. I have read the FMCSA and state websites. They can be rather inundating but I don稚 believe it is that hard. Big pain. All the unsolicited mail and phone calls I have gotten since signing up is a bit much.
There are two magical numbers 10,001 and 26,000
10,001 GCWR to 26,001 GCWR
ALL CMV Crossing state lines must have dot number, in Wisconsin we must have for in state travel.
Drivers must pass annual DOT physical have card on their person? Employer must maintain copy on file?(no CDL drivers licence required)
Driver log must be kept, in my case employee time sheets will work.
DMV record needs to be requested and filed.
Still trying to figure out what happens when there is violation on record. Not an issue, as if it comes up i am in control any way and I personally have none.
Annual DOT inspection must be performed.
If you cross state lines and are a CMV you must have UCR(bigfoot 62 thanks! Did not know)
Want to deal with just above for now but need to keep below in mind.
26,001 GVWR (straight truck)
You now must have CDL and stuff gets a tad more complicated to say the least. I have class B now.
You are considered a straight truck as long as your trailer is less than 10,000 lbs.
Once the trailer goes over 10,001 you are a tractor and trailer and CDL goes from B to A, which in future is issue for me. So, I will be registering the trailer under 10,000 lbs.
I will be asking more questions doing more research when I get over the 26,000 lbs number; I have school bus I am turning into dump truck, long story. Thanks again for responses.:cool2: