Compliance
DOT Number
A DOT number is the unique identifier the FMCSA assigns to every interstate commercial motor carrier in the United States.
Issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a USDOT number is required for any company that operates a commercial vehicle interstate, transports hazardous materials in commerce, or has a vehicle over 10,001 lbs GVWR that crosses state lines. Several states also require DOT registration intrastate.
The number is the key under which the FMCSA tracks safety audits, inspections, crash data, registration, and insurance filings. It's permanent — it follows the company, not the truck.
Carriers should run a quarterly self-check via the FMCSA SAFER system and verify their MCS-150 update is current (required every 24 months, sooner if size or operating area changes).
Run compliance & dispatch in one place
Hayes combines a DOT-aware ATS, dispatch, EDI, and document compliance — built for carriers who don't want five logins.
Related terms
Compliance
MC Number
An MC (Motor Carrier) number is the FMCSA operating authority required to transport regulated commodities or passengers for hire across state lines.
Safety
CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability)
CSA is the FMCSA's safety scoring program. It rolls roadside inspections and crashes into seven BASIC categories that shape audits and insurance.
Compliance
FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse is the FMCSA database of CDL drivers' drug and alcohol program violations. Carriers must query it before hiring and annually.