so I applied for DOT number yesterday....and then today I get a call......

The same way you did it before they started requiring it in 2002. Show them your lease and get your plate. If your not running an authority right now, your DOT number is inactive, just like mine.

 

So you're not planning to be "for hire"?

Forgive me if you already know this, but a private carrier hauls only their own goods. Like Walmart or Ace Hardware local fleet. If you're doing what most of us do (hire to the highest bidder), that would be common carrier. BTW, no need anymore to pay double to get contract carrier added.

 

A company I worked for a few months back needed a US DOT number on their trucks, the state makes them get one which is stupid in my opinion.

BUT within 20 minutes of me ending my phone call with the company owner he got three calls in a row about setting up all these things he "needed" which confused the poor guy even more.

He had them call me and they sounded official to me, each of them explained what the company needed, and then would not tell me who they were at first. I had to keep on that question and ask it a few times to get any answer. Each of these guys strongly hinted that they were US DOT representatives so when I got their names and numbers I explained to each of them that impersonating a government agency is felony and I will be contacting the FBI and passing their contact info to the FBI for investigation - then hung up the phone on them.

It is one thing to offer a service but to act as if they are an official government agency, that's where it should be stopped.

 

Then the only things you need are the totally free DOT numbers, UCR ($100), and Drug testing consortium (about $100 through OOIDA). Then of course the driver qualification file, maintenance reports, trip logs.

 

We received tons of paperwork from the likes of Raul. At Athens very bottom in very tiny tiny font it states he is not the dot and you should contact contact the dot to make sure you don't actually owe anything. If you were to send him t he money hey would probably just send you a copy of the fmcsa rules and regulations.

 

When your application is made it is published in the Federal Register, and then the phone starts ringing off the hook from people who want to "help" you do things you can do yourself. IFTA, IRP, the only thing you need assistance with is the drug consortium.

 

I don't understand. I thought to get a dot# was $300, I was getting ready to get mine on the FMCSA website the other day and it said I had to pay $300 for the dot and mc #. Can you provide some links on where to get these things for free please?

 

Your vehicle registration (plate) is issued by your state gov., not the feds. So yes, give them the MC # you will be operating under.