When working with commercial movers, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number is a term you’ll come across frequently. Knowing the USDOT number of your moving company can come in handy in different situations.
Continue reading to learn more about this number, how to find it, and why you should look for it.
A Brief Explanation of the USDOT Number
The USDOT number is a unique string of numbers that is assigned to a company or a business that performs transportation services/activities.
The purpose of the USDOT number is to identify the company or business in question when the need arises for any type of record checking or legal proceedings, etc.
The USDOT number is issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The moving company gets registered in the FMCSA database, where it can be referred to at any time when required.
Which Companies Should Obtain a USDOT Number?
Keep in mind that the USDOT number is needed by businesses that meet any of the following conditions:
- Conduct commercial transportation within a state (intrastate) and between states (interstate).
- Drive a vehicle that weighs more than 10,001 pounds.
- Transport hazardous materials.
Reliable and reputable long-distance movers will most-likely have a registered US DOT number.
How to Look Up a USDOT Number
Here are some steps you can take to find a USDOT number:
1. Call the FMCSA Information Line
You can call the FMCSA information line for details like USDOT numbers, Safety Ratings, and Operating Authority Information. The number you can call is 1-800-832-5660. Simply calling the FMCSA can be quicker and more direct than the other methods listed below.
2. Visit the Official FMSCA Website
By visiting the FMCSA website, you can do the following:
– Check which business a particular USDOT number is associated with.
– Find out the USDOT number of a business by providing a its name or a Motor Carrier (MC) number of a particular commercial vehicle.
You can visit the official website through the following link: safer.fmcsa.dot.gov
Once you get to the website, the rest of the process is simple and easy to go through.
3. Visit the Official FMCSA Website and Submit an Email Query
If you can’t figure out how to find the USDOT number from the online searching feature provided on the official website, you can try submitting an email query.
This is also the route you should take if you do manage to get your head around the searching process, but are unable to find the number for your required company/vehicle.
The email query works like a standard “ticket” system that you can find on typical business websites. When your email is submitted, you’re given a reference number that you can use to keep track of your query.
4. Ask Your Moving Company
If you’re on the lookout for a reputable cross-country mover and decide to hire us for the job, we’ll make sure to provide you all the relevant information from the get-go. You will be able to get our USDOT number – and any other data – just by getting in touch with us.
Why Does the USDOT Number Matter?
1. Checking and Verifying the Credibility of the Company
Right before you get moving quotes from your company, you have to determine whether the company involved is legitimate or not. This is what the USDOT number is for. You can check their number against the DOT number database either by visiting FMCSA’s website or calling them up.
If the records indicate that the number is really associated with the company, you can proceed with the hiring process. Afterward, you can finalize the small details, including the cost to hire the movers, the moving day, etc.
On the other hand, if records prove that the USDOT number is not associated with the company or if it doesn’t exist at all, you should stop doing business with it. Furthermore, you should report it to the FMCSA.
2. Verifying Safety Ratings and Past Compliance Records
Looking up the USDOT number can give you access to the Safety and Compliance Records of the company. You can review these records to see how compliant they are with safety rules and regulations.
A competent moving company will have a clean record.
3. For Use During Legal Proceedings and Disputes
The USDOT number is also an important tool because it allows you to identify a moving business as per the official FMCSA records in the case of legal disputes. The number will make company necessary records and information easily accessible to the concerned parties.
It can also be helpful on a smaller scale, such as if you just want to file a complaint against the company to the FMCSA. You’ll just need provide them with the USDOT number.
All Clear on the USDOT Number?
Your movers’ USDOT number is one of the many details you should obtain and keep in your records. In various situations and circumstances, having the number at hand will be extremely useful.
Should you successfully pick a trustworthy company for your move, you won’t have to worry about finding it out yourself. It will be provided to you by the moving company itself.
Moving APT falls exactly into this category. If it’s us you end up hiring, we’ll make sure the entire moving process goes as smoothly as possible.
