Under 9,000 lbs. GVW DOT Number Question...

maeganmarie · Sep 9, 2019

Hi everyone! I have a 2017 Transit 150 LWB Medium Roof that I will be using to transport some small goats every few months up the East Coast of the USA. I have read sooooo many pages about whether or not I need to register a DOT number. I'm leaning towards no, as I am not over 10,000 lbs GVW and I'm not transporting passengers or hazardous material.

HOWEVER, I occasionally see that if you are transporting anything "for hire" over state lines, that you need to have a DOT number. People are paying me to move these goats between farms. I have an LLC and EIN, and I am going to be carrying commercial insurance on the van I think (though it doesn't cover the goats so.. ::shrug::

It is not registered as a commercial vehicle (would also love thoughts if you think it should be!), I am a single person LLC, there are no other employees. I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. I have an email out to the FMCSA asking them the same, but who knows how long it will take them to get back to me.

Thanks for reading, and happy Monday

mikeehlert · Sep 9, 2019

Think your answer lies in the DOT regulations and your home state DMV.

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maeganmarie · Sep 9, 2019

mikeehlert said:
Think your answer lies in the DOT regulations and your home state DMV.

Thank you. Yes, I have an email inquiry out to them, but I thought I would ask if anyone here had any thoughts since I will probably get a quicker response this way

mister T · Sep 9, 2019

It is probably different in every state, but transporting agricultural livestock can have special requirements that address a wide variety of issues.

You can learn about those sorts of things at the respective states' agriculture departments.

Here is an example:

https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Ag...a.com/Agriculture-Industry/Livestock/Animal-Movement/Goat-Movement-Requirements

maeganmarie · Sep 9, 2019

mister T said:
It is probably different in every state, but transporting agricultural livestock can have special requirements that address a wide variety of issues.

You can learn about those sorts of things at the respective states' agriculture departments.

Thank you. Yes, it is in my contracts that the client is responsible for obtaining health certificates and negative herd test results, etc... and it states I will not pick up unless these things are current for their state's regulations as well as the state they will be transported to.

Windycity · Sep 9, 2019

You dont need a dot number

For a Vehicle that small I would be more concerned about having the proper commercial insurance in case you get into a wreck then whether you need a DOT number or not

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission

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maeganmarie · Sep 9, 2019

Windycity said:
You dont need a dot number

For a Vehicle that small I would be more concerned about having the proper commercial insurance in case you get into a wreck then whether you need a DOT number or not

Thanks! I have a quote out with my insurance company for commercial insurance, I am going to activate it next week, so that I will have for sure!

maeganmarie · Sep 9, 2019

Update: Shockingly, they got back to me today! Less than a few hours turn around on my email. They said if my vehicle weight is under 10,000 lbs. and I'm not hauling certain materials (hazmat stuff) across state lines I do not need a DOT number. Yay!

call me Rob · Sep 9, 2019

Yay!

Maybe print that email and keep it in the glovebox in case you have to persuade someone that you are legit?

Cute goats

Carmudgeon · Sep 13, 2019

just adding to post count to be able to PM

Under 9,000 lbs. GVW DOT Number Question...

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