How to avoid a USDOT number fine… it’s simple… abide by the rules, which means you first need to know the rules. One of our most visited blog posts is When USDOT Numbers Are Required and Where to Display Them – or Pay the Price. Since publishing the post, people have asked more questions about DOT stickers, including how to avoid being fined. So, here’s more on how to avoid a USDOT number fine.
How to Avoid a USDOT Number Fine
USDOT Number should be displayed preceding the company name, and the name should be exactly as listed on the MCS-150 form. Any changes, including abbreviations of the name, could lead to a fine. Besides correctly displaying the USDOT Number to remain DOT compliant, your company will also need to develop, document, and stay current with maintenance and safety programs or risk fines.
Most inspections aren’t random but are usually the result of a traffic violation or accident. However, an expired USDOT Number could lead to an inspection and a fine. Keep in mind that USDOT Numbers require biennial updates, which means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires entities to update their information every two years.
Fines for operating a CMV (commercial motor vehicle) without a USDOT Number or improperly presenting the number can range from $3,000 to $100,000 dollars. It’s not something to fool around with, especially considering that it currently only costs $300 through the FMCSA for a standard USDOT number. You can also hire outside vendors to expedite the process. However, they do charge a fee.
Do You Need a USDOT Number?
If you’re uncertain if you need a USDOT Number, we cover that in the first post linked above, but how do you know if you don’t need a number?
You DO NOT need a USDOT Number if…
• You transport only your materials that aren’t hazardous
• The hauled material is not for sale and you don’t get paid for them
• Your vehicle is less than 10,000 pounds
Then, you probably don’t need a USDOT Number, but to avoid inspections, a Not For Hire sticker is a good idea.
The DOT also levies fines for not carrying required safety equipment, including a fire extinguisher, spare fuses, and warning devices for stopped vehicles, such as three (3) bidirectional reflective emergency triangles, six (6) 30-minute burning flares, and three (3) one-hour liquid burning flares.
The answer to how to avoid a USDOT number fine for some companies is to hire a third-party provider to help them avoid common USDOT number mistakes and infractions. Here’s what the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shares on the topic.
“While it is not necessary to hire a third-party compliance service for your DOT registration, for companies that want assistance in staying compliant, it can be beneficial. Third-party DOT registration assistance will allow you to focus on your business and leave the tedious navigation of DOT regulations to the professionals. In addition to getting your company registered, they can keep your company filings up to date, and they stay up on all the rules and regulations, and this will help you to avoid costly fines or penalties.”
The requirements listed here are the most common mistakes CMVs make on DOT Numbers. However, there’s more. If you’d like to learn more about how to avoid a USDOT Number fine go to, FMCSA DOT Registration.
How Can We Help You?
If you’re thinking about branding your fleet vehicles with decals or fully wrapping them, TKO Graphix has you covered. We are a full service fleet graphics manufacturer and offer design, digital printing, screenprinting, and graphics installation by expert certified installers. By the way, we can produce your USDOT Numbers with your graphics package too! That’s how to avoid a USDOT number fine.
If you’d like further information or advice, be sure to contact us.
Would you like a free estimate for your fleet or vehicle graphics? If so, you can Request A Quote.
TKO Graphix is a national fleet graphics and vehicle wraps company. Since 1985, we’ve been helping businesses, large and small, brand their fleet of tractor-trailers, service trucks, and company vehicles with our full-service solutions, including print production, design, graphics installation, removal, project management, and inventory fulfillment.
As a result of our high standards in quality products and production, we are proud to be certified by 3M™ and offer the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, the gold standard in graphics warranties. This warranty demonstrates our commitment to excellence and gives customers a greater peace of mind.
Whether you have a fleet of a few or thousands of vehicles, we are here to lead you through the process.
