New to the forums here, hoping to get a couple of questions answered. I work for a European vehicle repair shop. The owners recently purchased a Freightliner sport chassis with a 25500 GVWR, the trailer is a triple axle stacker trailer rated for over 10k. They didn't think the truck required someone with a CDL, but I explained to them the requirements. So they are paying for me to get my CDL again. I had it about 10 years ago, but for some reason I can't remember, I let it expire. It will be used to haul our companies 2 race cars to tracks in multiple states by me as an employee of the company. Trying to understand whether the truck requires a DOT number. I believe it does based off of what I've read, but the owners said we're not doing interstate commerce since we own the truck and cars being transported. The cars are being "rented", which in my mind makes it interstate commerce, but the owners say, the customers are paying for a subscription to drive the cars. Either way, to me its commerce. So my questions. Do you think it needs a DOT #? Whether it requires a DOT or not, will I be required to keep a log book? Thanks Sal
The Federal definition of a commercial vehicle (CMV) is 10K or higher (ignoring Hazmat). Ergo, DOT number, logbooks, medical card, all that jazz.
It is commerce, your company's purpose is there to make money, no matter what the reasoning the owners have, it is commerce. There is a question that was brought up about an authority needed for pickup and delivery of cars a while back on another forum. It seems that is needed but I would ask your state's trucking association.
I tend to agree. In my opinion, for rent/for sale, it's a company moving a product for business, profit or financial gain. Its over 10K. It's commerce. I can't really show you a specific rule, but it's how I understand it in general. There maybe loop holes etc.
I'll give an example. My son-in-law owned a mulching business one time. The truck, trailer & mulcher was his. Daughter called me & said he was put out of service by a trooper. Wanted to know if I could go get his truck etc & get it home. He told me the reason he was stopped was because a dually was pulling a trailer with a mulcher on it with no markings. He stopped him to check it out. He owned his equipment too. Not even renting or selling etc. His business was a service... just like your bosses. Again, I can't show you the regulation & there may be loop holes etc, but, in my opinion........ EDIT: I went back & looked up the pics I took of his violations: No CDL (OOS) No medical certificate No DOT inspection on truck No DOT inspection for trailer No Log Book (OOS) No break away on gooseneck (electric brakes) (OOS) Not sure if he gave him a break for no numbers or if its not required, but I'd assume if there's a violation for no DOT inspection, it comes under DOT/FMCSA & it required numbers.
Thanks for the replies. That's pretty much what I've been trying to tell them. I told them for as little that it cost to get the DOT number, isn't it worth it?
It ain't just the cost of getting the numbers......... he'll have to get with ALL the regs. All the little stuff.
You will need a DOT number in most cases IF the company is being paid to transport aforesaid mentioned cars then that is interstate commerce and the hours of service will apply. You will need an ELD. You will have to have interstate authority which requires a MC number AND you will need to set up an IFTA account in your state for fuel taxes. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registrat...t=Apart from federal regulations, some,Alaska