Re-activating old DOT number, anyone done it?

Shoot Snowman I am not sure, but a couple of years ago I applied for my new authority for the current business. It seems like they asked if I had had authority before, which I did and let go in 1994. They asked what company name it had been under, which I told them and they pulled the old number up and asked if I wanted to reinstate it. I said this is a different company, and they proceeded to grant me a new number. It really surprised me that they still had record of the old number, and that it had not been given to someone else.
Anyway, I sure don't know the answer, but I believe that if he can re-activate pending current BOC-3 filing (or whatever it is...insurance).

 

If memory serves, @nightgunner might have some insight here.

 

With that much of a break in time, you will have to start over again. They may allow to use the original number, but most likely will not.
Best bet is to contact the FMCSA directly.

 

You should be able to contact the FMSCA and get it reinstated. In 2003 the local DMV office in NC had me file for a DOT# even though I did not need one and had my truck leased onto a carrier. I never used it or ever had insurance for it. I guess the lady working there knew more than I did about the future.

Fast forward to 2017 and I decide to get my own authority and still had the paperwork with my assigned DOT# from 2003. I called FMCSA and the number was still assigned to me in my personal name but inactive. I was able to activate it and change it to my LLC name and am using that DOT# now. Of course had to get MC# which is new but using the old DOT#

The only issues will be I believe it looks like your a new MC# with some brokers because the lapse in insurance.

They told me that they don’t reassign DOT numbers. Once it is assign to you it is yours. It will just show inactive if you are not using it. Not sure if that is the case but seemed to work that way for me.

Not sure if this helps

 

I have a buddy who says he used to have his own authority, but when we try to pull up his DOT# it just says inactive. (I know he's not lying, but I've been giving him a hard time, telling him he's making it up and it never happened -lol - he gets so ticked off). But then I got to thinking... is there a way to look up old DOT#'s? To see what company USED to have that #?

 

You should be able to reinstate your inactive DOT and MC #'s. I believe DOT is free, MC is $80, and must file insurance paperwork. As long as it is just inactive, and not revoked, you should be fine. I let mine go inactive in 2012, and reinstated it in 2017 or 2018.

 

From an insurance standpoint it’s viewed as a new entrant, if insurance hasn’t been active the whole time. So no massive savings to be had from that standpoint.

 

I just had mine reactivated 3 months ago. When you call to get a dot number they will pull it up by your name or you can contact the state you got it from and once you have a dot number it’s your from now on I’m in Ms and got mine in Arkansas 20 years ago so you will never lose it. But also if you have a hiccup you’ll always have that to! Good luck