Russian
English
What is a USDOT number and why is it needed?
A USDOT (United States Department of Transportation) number is an identifier, a unique number for every company that wants to do trucking in America. The USDOT number provides quick access to your company's safety information. This way, potential customers who are concerned about the safety of the shipment being delivered will be able to verify information about your company and its reliability before ordering. In addition, this option is available for all US government agencies.
This will allow to secure the client and avoid fines for the company itself, because all roads in America are toll roads and have certain restrictions. Accordingly, a loaded car moving without authorization will be stopped, and in case of failure to provide all the necessary documentation - fined, and further passage will be prohibited. To avoid negative consequences, each eligible vehicle must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and assigned an individual number that will be displayed on the license plate of the vehicle owned by the trucking company.
As a general rule, all vehicles that exceed the weight limit set forth in the Act must be registered with FMCSA. This rule also applies to vehicles carrying a certain number of passengers or engaged in domestic and international transportation.
In addition to federal regulations, some states also require mandatory registration with FMCSA and a USDOT license plate. Only 37 states out of 51 have such a requirement. The most popular of these are:
| California | New York |
| Florida | Nevada |
| New Jersey | Wyoming |
What is an MC number and who needs one?
The MC (Motor Carrier number) is a unique identifier that FMCSA assigns to trucking companies that operate in the trucking industry. Vehicles of a company with an MC number must be licensed to transport freight across state lines.
The purpose of obtaining an MC number is to be able to legally cross state lines. Neither the manual nor the law requires that this number be displayed on license plates, but it is an absolute necessity when crossing the border into any state.
Who should get this number?
Generally, companies meeting the following criteria are required to obtain an MC number in addition to a DOT number:
- Companies that act as for-hire carriers for a fee (for a fee or other compensation);
- Companies that transport passengers or engage in transportation in interstate commerce.
- Transporting federally regulated goods or arranging for their transportation in interstate commerce.
If you have analyzed your company's operations and concluded that you need a U.S. carrier license, you should submit a form to obtain these numbers. Typically, a USDOT number, if approved, is issued within one hour of submitting all the appropriate documents. If you are considering an MC number, it will take a little longer to get it, approximately 20-25 days. The entire procedure does not require your personal presence.
When sending the application, you will need:
- Company Tax Number (EIN);
- Name of an officer of the company;
- Dun & Bradstreet number (if available).
Once you get your license plates, the most important step left is to send your insurance to activate them. When FMCSA license plates are first received, they will not be active: even if you use them, they will not give you a legal basis for doing business. Activation - sending in valid insurance - is a prerequisite.
The insurance must be taken out directly with an insurance company in America that provides coverage for the activity. FMCSA will not accept copies of insurance or any other documents.
By contacting Law&Trust International, you will receive a range of services in corporate, tax, immigration, labor and contract areas. The company's lawyers take an exclusively individual approach to any task and put the interests of the client and his business at the center.
