The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires most commercial drivers to obtain a unique identifying number from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Drivers involved with interstate transport must have a USDOT number if they meet certain conditions. These include driving a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds, transporting at least nine but no more than 15 passengers for compensation, transporting 16 or more passengers with or without compensation, and transporting hazardous materials.
The FMCSA may deactivate your USDOT number for several reasons. The most common ones include not submitting the required biennial update and not finishing the New Entrant program. However, it does allow you to apply for reinstatement if you meet the criteria and follow the specific instructions for doing so. (This can allow you to reactivate your DOT Number.)
Steps involved to reactivate your USDOT Number
You can fax or mail a completed MC-150 form to the FMCSA in the following situations:
- You are applying to reactivate your USDOT number because you failed to complete the biennial update and submit it on time. To ensure correct processing, you should check Biennial Update or Changes in the Reason for Filing box.
- You are reapplying for your USDOT number due to revocation of your New Entrant status. In the Reason for Filing section, check Reapplication After Revocation of New Entrant.
Be sure to check the expiration date on your forms before mailing or faxing them. The FMCSA and USDOT stopped accepting expired MCS-150, MCS-150B, and MCS-150C forms as of February 4, 2018.
How to find out about the status of your USDOT Number.
You might also wonder how you can find out about the status of your USDOT Number. You can use the public Company Snapshot page from SAFER to check the status of your USDOT Number, and if you need more information you can log in to your account through the FMCSA’s registration website. (However, a USDOT PIN Number is required in order to sign in this way.)
Other situations.
If you have questions about a deactivated or revoked USDOT number, you may contact the FMCSA directly at 800-832-5660. Should you need to reinstate your operating authority (MC number), you will need to pay an $80 application fee unless you had a recent out of service order. The fee is $300 in that case.
Don’t let your insurance policy expire, either
Depending on the types of goods you normally haul and what kind of business you have, you may need one or more of these types of coverages:
- Cargo
- Driveaway
- Garage keepers coverage
- Hazardous materials and pollution
- On-hook and/or in-tow
- Physical damage coverage
- Truckers general liability
- Wrongful repossession
Our team of transportation insurance agents can help you get the insurance you need for your business – and we can help you save money, too! You could save considerable money just by comparing rates and going with a company that gives you a more competitive offer. Get started with truck insurance quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.
Source:
https://ask.fmcsa.dot.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/108