Application for Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ ICC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority

Most interstate loads that are picked up in one state, transported across state lines and delivered to a point in another state require Federal Motor Carrier Operating Authority. Some items/ commodities/ loads are exempt from Motor Carrier Operating Authority/ DOT Authority/ MC Authority/ ICC Authority/ Trucking Authority such as livestock, bulk grain, logs, hay and straw. You must have Motor Carrier Authority/ Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ DOT Authority/ ICC Authority to transport bagged grain across state lines. The application process for this authority usually takes 21 - 24 days to complete and MC Authority/ ICC Authority issued. The application process includes obtaining a DOT number/ USDOT number and filing a list of Process Agents with the Feds in Washington. Proof of personal injury/ property damage liability insurance is required with a minimum of $750,000. Once your DOT Authority/ Motor Carrier Authority/ Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ ICC Authority has been granted, you will be required to take the DOT-mandated New Entrant Safety Audit. The audit usually takes place three or four months after a DOT number/ USDOT number is issued and Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ ICC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority is granted. Whether you have a pickup truck, pickup truck and trailer, large truck, large truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer, you are referred to as a 'Carrier'. The carrier can haul loads across state lines from the time the authority is granted up to the day the New Entrant Safety Audit is conducted. At that point, the auditor will determine if the carrier passes or fails the audit. If the carrier fails the audit, the carrier could have the DOT number/ USDOT number suspended and the MC Authority/ ICC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority/ Trucking Authority shelved. The carrier will then lose their authority and be unable to operate. Statistics show that 50% of all the carriers that take the DOT-mandated New Entrant Safety Audit fail the audit - half pass the audit and half fail the audit. -  Call us. We will apply for your authority and help you with the audit. Once you have been granted your Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ ICC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority and are above 26,000-lbs, you will need an IRP license plate/ FRP license plate/ Apportioned license plate on the power unit to cross state lines. The trailer can be issued a DMV license plate/ BMV license plate or an IRP license plate/ FRP license plate/ Apportioned license plate. The plate costs are about the same, but will expire at different times. You will also need to register for IFTA fuel tax credentials and be issued a set of IFTA decals for each power unit. The annual UCR filing needs to be done before you jump in your truck and start rolling, otherwise you may be issued a $400 ticket at the scales for non-compliance. When a USDOT number is issued, the driver is required to keep a log book for hours of on-duty status if the truck is driven beyond a 100-mile radius of the base of operations. Tri-axle, Quad-axle and semi-tractors usually exceed 54,999-lbs when loaded. When a truck is plated at 55,000-lbs or more, or when a truck weighs 55,000-lbs or more loaded, the owner is required to file the annual IRS 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax. The IRS requires the filing of the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax tax with an EIN/ Employer Identification Number/ Federal ID number. The 2290 tax year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year and is pro-rated both by date of filing and by weight category. If a commercially plated truck travels 5,000 miles or under within a 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax year, an exempt filing can be done. For farmers with farm-plated trucks, the exempt filing is increased to 7,500 miles within each tax year. Even when trucks qualify for the tax exempt status, the 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax must be filed each year when the plate renewal time comes around, otherwise the license branch or IRP/ FRP/ Apportioned license plate office will not renew the plate. They will need a copy of the 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax form to be handed over before renewing a license plate. We can apply for an EIN/ Employer Identification Number/ Federal ID number and file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Taxes for you. We can also assist you with the IFTA quarterly fuel tax filings with the state. If you would like to register as an LLC or Corporation with your state, call us. We will assist you with that process. If you need a DOT number/ USDOT number or MC Authority/ Trucking Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority/ ICC Authority, call us. We will set you up with that authority and lead you through the DOT-mandated New Entrant Safety Audit.

Register for a USDOT number / DOT number to cross state lines

If you cross state lines in any power vehicle (pickup truck; straight truck; van; box truck; flatbed truck; twin-axle, wrecker truck; tri-axle;  quad-axle or semi-tractor) used in your business (including farming) with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or combination of a truck and trailer with Combined Gross Weight Ratings of 10,001-lbs of more, you will need a USDOT Number.  -   Call us and we can set you up with a USDOT Number and file the Unified Carrier Registration for you.

When you register with the state for an IFTA fuel tax account, you will need the following

You will be required to file quarterly IFTA fuel tax reports following each quarter. This entails keeping accurate records of all trips made - loaded, empty or bob-tailing - for miles traveled and fuel purchased.  We can process and file your quarterly IFTA fuel taxes with the state -  Call us. We can send you trip sheets for accurate record-keeping of miles traveled and fuel purchased. By completing these trip sheets, this should keep you out of hot water with the state auditor in the event you get audited for IFTA fuel taxes and IRP plate filings - these state audits can result in expensive penalties being imposed on you if you don't keep adequate records of all trips made!

The IRS 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax is required on vehicles plated at 55,000-lbs and heavier.

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This tax needs to be filed each year on power units (trucks & semi-tractors) plated at 55,000-lbs or higher. The tax year runs from July 1 of each year through June 30 of the following year. You will need an EIN / Federal ID Number to file this tax. Call us. We can set you up with a Federal ID Number and file this tax for you. The 2290 tax needs to be filed and paid by the month following the purchase date of your truck or tractor. The tax is pro-rated both by month of use and by the plate weight shown on the registration. Your 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax then needs to be filed with the IRS in July or August of each year. 

State DOT number required by your state

If you are a contractor, owner of a van, pickup truck, truck, box truck, flatbed truck, dual axle, tri-axle or quad-axle truck used in a business, or own a semi-tractor that operates within the state and does not cross state lines, you may be required to register for and get a DOT number / USDOT number. You will be referred to as a 'Carrier'. Each state has its own requirements for a DOT number / USDOT number. States do not issue these numbers. a USDOT number/ DOT number is issued by the Federal Government in Washington. You may be a 'Private' contractor, 'Private Hauler hauling your own items, products or loads, or a 'For Hire' operator and need to get a DOT number /USDOT number. Call us. 

After you have been issued a DOT number / USDOT number to cross state lines, you need to register for UCR

Anyone, or any company that has been issued a USDOT number registered as an Interstate carrier that crosses state lines is required to register and pay UCR/Unified Carrier Registration fees. This applies to both Private and For-Hire Carriers; from pickup trucks and vans to semi-tractor operators. UCR states are shown in green and states that do not require the UCR registration are shown in yellow. If you are based in a non-UCR state, you are still required to register and pay UCR fees if you cross state lines. Any Highway Patrol/State Police officer keying a USDOT number into his/her laptop computer on a vehicle showing it is registered as Interstate will then check to see if UCR filings have been done.  If a UCR filing has not been done, you will receive a $400 ticket from the friendly police officer. You do not get any warning tickets for failing to file UCR! - Call us and we will register you for UCR

A Kentucky KYU number is required when you travel into Kentucky at 60,000-lbs or greater

When you travel into Kentucky with a vehicle or combination of truck and trailer, or semi-tractor and trailer that weighs or is plated at 60,000-lbs or more, you are required to register with Kentucky for a KYU number. You are required to have this number before you go into Kentucky. If you are plated below 60,000-lbs and weigh less than 60,000-lbs, you are not required to register with the state for a KYU number. The Kentucky KYU number is referred to as a Weight/Distance Tax as the tax rate is 2.85 cents for each mile you travel in the state. Weight/Distance Tax filings are made with the state in the month following each quarter.  -  Call us to register for a KYU number and do the filings for you.

Register for a New Mexico card. Crossing the state without the card is expensive.

The state of New Mexico requires owners, operators, and registrants of intra and interstate commerce vehicles with a declared gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000-lbs. to pay a Weight-Distance Tax on the use of roads in New Mexico. This tax is based on vehicle weight and miles traveled. Typically, interstate carriers plated above 26,000-lbs crossing into New Mexico will first stop at a Port of Entry set of scales. If the carrier is not pre-registered with the state, the carrier will pay at the Port of Entry to travel to a delivery point within the state and then return. If the carrier is crossing the state on, say, I-40, with an 80,000-lbs tractor and trailer, the carrier will pay around $60 when arriving at the Port of Entry. If the carrier has pre-registered for the Weight-Distance Tax with the state, then the tax is a mill rate based on the plated weight of the truck and an 80,000-lbs truck will pay roughly $16.50 to cross the state. The tax is collected at the end of each quarter. 

Farmers operating within the state without crossing state lines can scroll up this page to the section 'State DOT numbers and State Operating Authorities' to see what you may need to operate within the state. Farmers crossing state lines with their dual-axle, tri-axle trucks or semi-tractors and trailers need to obtain a DOT number / USDOT number, register for fuel tax and pay UCR fees.

Farmers who do not cross state lines with trucks or semi-tractors plated with farm plates are not required to obtain a DOT number/ USDOT number or register for fuel tax. Hold your horses! That's true in some states, but other states require farmers to register for and obtain a DOT number/ USDOT number when the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or the Gross Combined Weight Ratings of both the power unit and the trailer exceed 26,000-lbs. To find out your DOT number/ USDOT number requirements, go back up this screen and click on the map under the heading 'State DOT Numbers and State Operating Authorities'. This should bring you to the listing of 48 states and their DOT number/ USDOT number requirements. Once you have keyed in your state, scroll on down the screen to the image of the combine harvester loading the Kenworth and trailer with grain like the one above. This website is in the process of being developed with the gazillions of pieces of information being entered on an ongoing basis. We get a lot of calls from farmers and are now trying to get most, if not all of the Federal USDOT number and state DOT number requirements entered into this website to assist farmers operating throughout this country. When a farmer crosses state lines with a commercial vehicle or farm plated truck that has a Gross Vehicle weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001-lbs or greater, or with a combination of power unit pulling a trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,001-lbs or greater, a DOT number/ USDOT number is required as well as UCR registration. If the truck or truck and trailer/ semi-tractor exceed a GVWR or GCWR of 26,000-lbs, in addition to a DOT number/ USDOT number, IFTA fuel tax registration is also required by the state. The farmer will also need to go through a DOT-mandated New Entrant Safety Audit required by the Federal Government, but conducted by the state. As long as the farmer is transporting his/ her own items/ commodities and is not getting paid to haul on a For-Hire basis, the farmer can use a farm plate on the power unit. When crossing state lines with a vehicle or vehicle combination exceeding 26,000-lbs, the driver has to have a valid CDL license and be 21 years old or older. When the farm-plated truck exceeds 150 air-miles (roughly 172 actual miles) from the base of operation or farm, a log book is required to be kept by the driver. As long as the farm-plated truck remains within this 150 air-mile radius, the driver is exempt from any on-duty hours record-keeping and will not be required to keep a log book. When the farm-plated truck crosses state lines, will the driver be required to have a pre-employment drug test and be part of a random drug-testing program? Probably not. If the farmer decides to start hauling on a For-Hire basis and obtain a commercial plate but operate within the state without crossing state lines, the driver will then be required to have had a pre-employment drug test (at the time the farmer obtains a DOT number/ USDOT number) and be part of a random drug-testing program. The operating radius then decreases to 100 air miles from the farm or base of operations for the log-book requirements. If the farmer crosses state lines on a For-Hire basis, then a DOT number/ USDOT number is required and the truck/ tractor needs to be plated with an IRP license plate/ FRP license plate/ Apprtioned license plate as well as have IFTA stickers on both sides of the truck. The driver needs to have a valid CDL driver's license, have had a pre-emloyment drug test and be part of a random drug-testing program. The farmer will also be required to go through a New Entrant Safety Audit. If the farmer is going to haul grain, livestock of logs across state lines on a For-Hire basis, then Federal MC Authority is not required. If the farmer hauls anything else on a For-Hire basis, MC Authority is required. Call us.

If you live in Indiana or have an office in Indiana and will be crossing state lines with a commercial motor vehicle avove 26,000-lbs, contact us to register for an Indiana IRP plate/ FRP license plate/ Apportioned license and register for an IFTA fuel tax account. We will also get you a DOT number/ USDOT number and MC Authority/ Trucking Authority/ Operating Authority/ DOT Authority/ ICC Authority if you need it. If you haul grain, livestock or haul logs across state lines, you will need an Indiana IRP plate, IFTA fuel stickers, a DOT number/ USDOT number and register for UCR. You will also get involved with the DOT-mandated New Entrant 

If you are based in Indiana and will be crossing state lines with a commercial motor vehicle above 26,000-lbs, contact us to obtain an Indiana IRP license plate, register for Indiana IFTA fuel tax and obtain a USDOT number/DOT number. If you need MC Authority/ Trucking Authority/ ICC Authority/ DOT Authority to cross state lines, call us and we will set you up with that Authority. If you haul grain, logs or livestock across state lines with a truck, or tractor and trailer above 26,000-lbs, you will need a DOT number/ USDOT number, an Indiana IRP license plate/ Indiana FRP license plate/ Indiana Apportioned license plate and register for Indiana IFTA fuel taxes. You will also need to register for UCR fees and will be involved with a DOT audit called the New Entrant Safety Audit.

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If you are based in Indiana and need to cross state lines with a truck that is 26,001-lbs or heavier, or with a truck pulling a trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings that are 26,001-lbs or more, or with a semi-tractor and trailer, or a 3-axle truck, you will need an Indiana Apportioned license plate/ Indiana IRP license plate/ Indiana FRP license plate and register for Indiana IFTA fuel tax. The truck owner will also need to register for a DOT number/ USDOT number. Farmers with farm-plated trucks hauling their own commodities are not required to obtain an Indiana IRP license plate/ Indiana FRP license/ Apportioned license plate to cross state lines, but are required to obtain a USDOT number/ DOT number, register for Indiana IFTA fuel tax and file and pay the annual UCR fee. Indiana requires that you are either a resident of Indiana or you have an office in the state before they will issue an Indiana IRP plate/ Indiana FRP license plate and register for Indiana IFTA fuel tax. If you are based in Indiana, or if you have a valid office in Indiana, call us to set up an Indiana IRP license plate/ Indiana FRP license plate/ Indiana Apportioned license plate account and register for Indiana IFTA fuel tax. If you need to set up an office in Indiana, call us and we should be able to help you with this process. Once you are registered with, and have been issued an Indiana IRP plate/ Indiana FRP license plate/ Indiana Apportioned license plate and registered with Indiana IFTA fuel tax, we can look after your Quarterly IFTA fuel tax filings with the state and do your annual Indiana IRP license plate/ Indiana FRP license plate/ Indiana Apportioned license plate renewals. We can obtain an EIN/ Federal ID number that is required for the 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax and do the annual 2290 filings on your tractor. If you are hauling exempt commodities across state lines like grain, livestock or logs, you will not need MC Authority from Washington, but you will still need a DOT number/ USDOT number and file and pay the annual UCR fee with the state. If you need MC Authority/ Motor Carrier Authority/ DOT Authority/ Trucking Authority to cross state lines, call us. We will apply for that authority, obtain a DOT number/ USDOT number and do the annual UCR filings for you.

Anyone or any company/ business that  is issued a DOT number/ USDOT number to cross state lines anywhere in the country is required to go through a DOT 2- to 3-hour DOT New Entrant Safety Audit. Failure to pass the Audit could result in your USDOT number/ DOT number being suspended. If your DOT number/ USDOT number is suspended, you will be unable to operate. Passing the DOT New Entrant Safety Audit is a requirement to operate with a DOT number/ USDOT number.

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Anyone, any company or farmer that is issued a DOT number/ USDOT number to cross state lines will be subject to a DOT New Entrant Safety Audit. When a company, or an individual, or a farmer crosses state lines with a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or pulling a trailer where the power unit and the trailer together have Gross Combined Weight Ratings of 10,001-lbs or greater, that compay, individual or farmer will be required to have a DOT number/ USDOT number. Once a DOT number/ USDOT number has been issued, the company, individual or farmer will then be required to go through a DOT-mandated New Entrant Safety Audit. The audit is conducted by the state, usually by the State Police or Highway Patrol, Motor Carrier Dept. The audit usually takes place three or four months after either a USDOT number/ DOT number is issued by itself, or after Federal Motor Carrier Operating Authority/ MC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Trucking Authority is granted. Passing this audit is critical to continue operating with either a DOT number/ USDOT number or with your MC Authority. Failing the audit could mean the DOT number/ USDOT number could be de-activated. If the application is for both a DOT number/ USDOT number and Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ DOT Authority/ Operating Authority, the DOT number/ USDOT number will be de-activated and the Trucking Authority/ MC Authority/ Operating Authority/ DOT Authority will be suspended. After the DOT number/ USDOT number has been de-activated, or MC Authority is cancelled, trying to re-activate the DOT number/ USDOT number or re-instate MC Authority is a long and arduous process as the Feds in Washington do not like to re-activate USDOT numbers or re-instate MC Authorities after the company, farmer or individual has failed to pass the New Entrant Safety Audit.  Call us for assistance with the New Entrant Safety Audit.

If you have a Tri-Axle or Quad-Axle truck operating within the state, or if you will be crossing state lines, call us for requirements. 

Contractor Requirements

If you are a contractor with a truck, or a truck and trailer, call us to see if you will need a DOT number for In-State operations, or if you will be crossing state lines, what you will be required to comply with.