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Someone’s been using my dad’s DOT...

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by greypick, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. Mar 21, 2021 #1
    greypick

    greypick Bobtail Member

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    Hello, sorry if this isn’t the right place to post. Would be happy to move it to another forum thread if needed!

    So recently my dad has been getting texts about updating his DOT.

    But here’s the thing:

    It was his full name AND another person’s name… but not his company name, which should be the only one he has.

    He currently runs one truck and drives a truck in California.

    The person who’s “using” my dad’s DOT under his full name has probably been doing so for TEN YEARS.

    My dad used to work (around 2009-2010) with this guy and had a DOT set up for their smaller cube/box truck. And it’s now 2021.

    After going on FMSCA, and looking up the DOT under my dad’s full name, it’s active. And the person using my dad’s DOT also has his own DOT using my dad’s number there as well.

    So what I’m wondering is… what should I be doing to help my dad out?

    He doesn’t speak English well and works a ton like many of you do, so I’ll have to help him out on this.

    I called the U. S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) hotline today and they gave me another number to call on Monday.

    I’m honestly kinda pissed at the person my dad used to work with. At this point, this counts as identity theft/fraud right?

    The person probably has an agent taking care of the paperwork and allowing this to go on as well, since the guy doesn’t speak the best English either (from what I remember).

    How is he even renewing the DOT? I hope he doesn’t just get a slap on the wrist in the end…

    And apologies if I made any errors or sound unclear. It’s my first time dealing with these trucking and legal stuff.

    Any inputs would be greatly appreciated!
     
    greypick, Mar 21, 2021
    greypick, Mar 21, 2021
    #1
    D.Tibbitt, Mattflat362, slow.rider and 1 other person Thank this.
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  3. Mar 21, 2021 #2
    Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I'm a little confused.

    So he was in business with this person and that person is still using the DOT number?

    Do you mean he has his own MC number and is using your father's DOT number? Is this person using that DOT number for two separate businesses?
     
    Dino soar, Mar 21, 2021
    Dino soar, Mar 21, 2021
    #2
    greypick, Flat Earth Trucker and Bean Jr. Thank this.
  4. Mar 21, 2021 #3
    greypick

    greypick Bobtail Member

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    Ah, sorry for the confusion. I'll try my best to explain.

    So yes, they were in business together and the person is still using the DOT number, which is under my dad's full legal name.

    And I'm not sure about the whole MC number thing. But under the single DBA name, there's a DOT with my dad's legal name and the person's legal name active.
     
    greypick, Mar 21, 2021
    greypick, Mar 21, 2021
    #3
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  5. Mar 21, 2021 #4
    Mattflat362

    Mattflat362 Road Train Member

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    I am 99% this has happened to me as well. During a inspection a officer implied that my DOT was being used in Cali and wanted to know why. I literally laughed out loud at him and said that sounds like something you should be explaining to me! He shrugged it off and at that point I knew what a BS house of cards all of this is! I never heard another word about it.
     
    Mattflat362, Mar 21, 2021
    Mattflat362, Mar 21, 2021
    #4
    greypick Thanks this.
  7. Mar 21, 2021 #5
    kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    There have been threads that guys have found out that someone was using their numbers and they didn't find out until their CSA score was in the crapper. When they hadn't had a bad inspection. Don't know the hows that this could happen but I know it has and is a good reason why O/Os should check their CSA scores periodically.
     
    kemosabi49, Mar 21, 2021
    kemosabi49, Mar 21, 2021
    #5
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  9. Mar 21, 2021 #5
    baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Run a ck. of your mc. dot. # at the gov. web. site that's free to see if any insp. have been done under your dads # that are not insp. that he got in his truck??
     
    baha, Mar 21, 2021
    baha, Mar 21, 2021
    #5
    greypick and Mattflat362 Thank this.
  10. Mar 21, 2021 #6
    Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Did your dad sell out to the other person..?


    Or just walk away and closed the partnership...?.
     
    Cat sdp, Mar 21, 2021
    Cat sdp, Mar 21, 2021
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    greypick Thanks this.
  11. Mar 21, 2021 #7
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Was this a carry over from the previous business relationship?
     
    Ridgeline, Mar 21, 2021
    Ridgeline, Mar 21, 2021
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    greypick Thanks this.
  12. Mar 21, 2021 #8
    dunchues

    dunchues Medium Load Member

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    Sounds like the original partnership was never properly dissolved? I'd look into that first, maybe what's happening is legal but like you I'd want it sorted.
     
    dunchues, Mar 21, 2021
    dunchues, Mar 21, 2021
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  13. Mar 21, 2021 #9
    Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    It sounds as though your father had a partnership years ago and he was the person that applied for the d o t number. Apparently this other person continues that business and continued using the d o t number.

    If your father left that business without doing any paperwork involving that number then that number would stay associated with the other business. There's always paperwork when business is dissolved or things of that nature, and if he wanted to retain that number purely for himself he would have to have separated it from that business.

    What you do now? You have to talk to FMCSA and see what they tell you. If it's really important that you feel you need to continue to keep that number then you'll have to see since it's under his name if they can do that.

    I think from what you're saying you're going to find that all those years ago that number was associated with that business and if the other person still is running it is still is associated with that business.
     
    Dino soar, Mar 21, 2021
    Dino soar, Mar 21, 2021
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    greypick Thanks this.
  14. Mar 21, 2021 #10
    Jacoooooooo

    Jacoooooooo Heavy Load Member

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    If it worked for 10 years maybe better leave it alone tbh
     
    Jacoooooooo, Mar 21, 2021
    Jacoooooooo, Mar 21, 2021
    #10
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