I was thinking that you had to get a DOT number as a Registrant only and the company you lease to will be responsible for safety of operations. Like when you get your plates, it says if your number is not responsible for operations of truck, you have to enter carriers DOT numbers. The registrant part may have changed tho, not 100% sure
thru my research of questioning people personally and online forums like this one I've gotten I need a ein#, and register a business for my truck which will allow me to lease on to a company under their authority/plates.: I think the DOT/MCN #'s play a more vital role when obtaining my own authority. My Ooida account is closed so I haven't confirmed anything just yet
I hope this comes thru: > Owner-operators and US DOT numbers Owner-operators and US DOT numbers If you are an owner-operator, do you need a US DOT number? The answer is "maybe." The DOT number is used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the States to identify motor carriers and monitor their safety performance. To better monitor motor carrier safety, the FMCSA and the States are developing a program that links safety fitness to state vehicle registration: Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM). Not all states have completed implementation of PRISM; jurisdictions that are involved in PRISM are able to issue US DOT numbers to interstate carriers. PRISM requires the entity registering the vehicle to have a DOT number before International Registration Plan (IRP) credentials will be issued. If a registrant does not have a DOT number at the time of registration in a PRISM state, an MCS-150 "Motor Carrier Identification Report" must be provided so the state can issue the US DOT number necessary to complete the vehicle registration process. How does this affect owner-operators? Historically, owner-operators leased to a carrier operated under the carrier’s authority and US DOT number. There was no need for the owner-operator to have a separate DOT number. Now that PRISM has entered the picture, it is always that simple. The answer depends upon the state of registration (PRISM or non-PRISM) and who is actually registering the vehicle (the owner-operator or the carrier). If you are an owner-operator leased to a carrier, and the carrier takes care of the IRP registration on your truck, you don’t need a US DOT number, whether registration is in a PRISM or non-PRISM state. If you are an owner-operator leased to a carrier, and registering your truck in your own name in a PRISM state, the state will require you to file an MCS-150 and receive a DOT number before your registration will be issued. If you are an owner-operator leased to a carrier, and you are registering your vehicle in your own name in a non-PRISM state, you won’t be required to provide the MCS-150 or have a DOT number. If you are an owner-operator not leased to a carrier operating under your own authority as a carrier, you must have and display a DOT number on your vehicle. The US DOT number issued to owner-operators leased to carriers is a "registrant" number, identifying you as an entity who registers commercial motor vehicles. It does not mean you have the operating authority to function as a carrier. This "registrant" number should not be displayed on your vehicle; when you are leased to a carrier, you are operating under and must display the carrier’s DOT number. So you need to decide how you want the truck registered and if you want to get your own plates, or be captive to the carrier you lease to
I did some more digging and found this. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is eliminating the "Vehicle Registrant Only" option on the Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150 form), effective September 1, 2012. Our records indicate that you selected the "Vehicle Registrant Only" operation type when you filed the MCS-150 form to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Number. Action may be required on your part to update your MCS 150 form. If no action is taken, your USDOT Number will be made inactive on or about October 13, 2012. Hope it helps. This tells you how long it's been since I got my numbers.
