When evaluating or comparing different movers, one of the most important things to be on the lookout for is a USDOT Number. In this page, you will be able to find out what the US Department of Transportation is and why is it so important that your mover holds a USDOT Number registration.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT), established in 1966, is a federal cabinet department of the US government concerned with the country’s road transport. The department’s mission is to ensure the country enjoys the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system to improve the quality of life of all American citizens.
The USDOT Number serves as a company’s unique identifier used by the government when collecting and monitoring the company’s safety information obtained and assess during:
All companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce must have a USDOT Number. This number is issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an important subdivision of the US DOT in charge of preventing commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
When a company applies for this registration, it will be enrolled into the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, which lasts approximately 18 months. During such, companies are taught about carrier safety and hazardous material regulations. To obtain a permanent USDOT number, the carrier must pass a safety audit and comply with all FMCSA safety regulations consistently.
The main reason why it’s crucial for you to be on the lookout for this registration is the fact that it will guarantee that you’ll steer away from scams and rogue movers. As we mentioned before, all interstate movers (and some intrastate movers) are obliged to register with the FMCSA to obtain this number. If this isn’t the case, you should take it as a sign that the moving company you’re assessing isn’t very trustworthy.
To find out whether or not a moving company holds a USDOT Number you can simply check out their website for it, as such is usually listed at the bottom of the site. Once you locate it, you can introduce it along with the company’s name in FMCA’s search tool to obtain information such as:
We hope that this article managed to give you a better understanding of what this registration entails and why is it so important within the moving industry. In case you’re interested in finding out more information about other relevant licenses and associations to be on the lookout for, we recommend that you check out the pages linked below.
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