When I 1st came to the force washing industry, I was leaving over 20 several years as a business driver. I was considering how nice it would be to be totally free of all these motor carrier laws that experienced been this kind of a grinding element of my vocation.
I could not have been extra mistaken. Not very long following beginning, I was executing a residential cleaning for a legislation enforcement officer. As I was rolling hose immediately after ending, he questioned me how substantially my truck and trailer weighed.
“I don’t know, I accredited for further tonnage so I would not be overweight,” was my straightforward respond to. I was absurdly happy of having taken the time and produced the work not to cheat on my licensing and anticipated fat limitations.
“In which is your DOT variety?” was his upcoming uncomplicated concern.
I, like so numerous other strain washing service companies in my spot, experienced not even presented a assumed to this essential requirement for running industrial automobiles. Immediately after a $100 great, I produced certain to rectify the predicament. I acquired my DOT number.
Making an attempt to decide irrespective of whether or not you have to have a DOT number can be a challenging query, and there are some condition unique specifications of which to be knowledgeable, but my consumer said it is quite essential, “If you have a truck or trailer with organization indicators, and/or a trailer with extra than a person axle, I will be crafting you a ticket if you do not have a USDOT selection.”
The actual requirements can be identified on the United States Office of Transportation internet site. There is a massive system of information and facts there, and means to aid comprehend it all. There is even an on the net questionnaire to guide you as you try out to ascertain whether or not or not you are expected to have the DOT range in the initial position.
The specifications are really primary, and are as follows. You require a USDOT selection if you:
o Work motor vehicles that are about 10,000 lbs,
o Transportation amongst 9 and 15 passengers (together with the driver) for payment,
o Transportation 16 or a lot more travellers, or
o Haul harmful elements in interstate commerce.
You must be informed that after you have a USDOT number, there are some file-keeping demands that go together with it. For instance, if you have hazmat, such as sodium hypochlorite in significant quantities, or flammable liquids like your machine’s fuel and a spare gasoline tank or two, you will want to notice that. You will also have to register as a HAZMAT provider and preserve documents of products and quantities carried. You will have to carry out a basic safety plan and a driver qualification document, as very well as records of your driver’s hours of company records.
This seems like a terrific deal of crimson tape, but it is what is expected to be a genuine force washing small business that operates machinery that falls under the Office of Transportation’s regulated suggestions. It is a price tag of doing business enterprise, and desires to be portion of your business program. It is practical to try to remember that these information are somewhat easy, and can be based mostly on documents you by now preserve.
In my practical experience, motor carrier safety laws are open to several interpretations, so it is in all probability a great strategy to test with your point out DOT as perfectly as with the regional Provider Enforcement division in your condition. They are intended to have the present-day information important to help you in remaining compliant. The USDOT site has links to all the state DOT internet sites.
Again, the information can be contradictory, so discover the most proficient people today you can, the fines ramp up steeply from my paltry hundred dollars. Never guess the corporation on the phrase of some functionary, ask the inquiries you have to have to, in purchase to get the clearest solutions achievable.
