Iowa DOT suspends USDOT number requirement for private commercial motor carriers
AMES, Iowa – Feb. 26, 2010 - The Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE) is suspending the USDOT number requirement for intrastate, private motor carriers operating in Iowa that was announced Feb. 8, 2010, pending further public outreach and education.
Chief David Lorenzen, director of the Iowa DOT’s Office of MVE, explained: “Development and implementation of an intrastate, private motor carrier compliance review program remains an important part of the total commercial motor vehicle safety package in Iowa. However, some stakeholder groups have expressed concerns that deserve further discussion, and it appears that there is some confusion regarding what vehicles and operations constitute commercial motor vehicle operation subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) adopted by the Iowa Code that we first need to address. Therefore, the Iowa DOT has decided to suspend implementation of this component of the USDOT number requirement until it has an opportunity to consider these concerns and undertake appropriate education and outreach.”
No new date has been set for implementation of the numbering requirement. A decision on whether, and during what time period, to implement the numbering requirement will be made once the Iowa DOT has had the opportunity to discuss the issue further with affected stakeholder groups.
Suspension of this requirement means that intrastate, private motor carriers operating in Iowa will not be asked to obtain a USDOT number between now and Jan. 1, 2011, and will not be issued a citation for failing to display a USDOT number after Jan. 1, 2011. (A private motor carrier is a person or entity that provides transportation of property or passengers, by commercial motor vehicle, and is not a for-hire motor carrier. A for-hire motor carrier is a person or entity that provides transportation of goods or passengers for compensation.) Additionally, the Iowa DOT will not be issuing warnings, verbal or written, to intrastate, private motor carriers for failing to display a USDOT number. If you are an intrastate, private motor carrier operating in Iowa and have already obtained a USDOT number, you do not need to cancel the number at this time. It will not trigger any new or different safety or operating requirements and will remain available to you in the future. You are not, however, required to display the number on any vehicles at this time.
Suspension of this requirement does not in any way affect, waive, or suspend the requirement for intrastate, private motor carriers to operate in compliance with the FMCSR adopted by Iowa Code and made a part of Iowa law. Likewise, this suspension does not in any way affect, waive or suspend the requirement to display a USDOT number for interstate commercial motor carriers or intrastate, for-hire motor carriers. All commercial motor vehicles operating interstate or for-hire intrastate are currently required to be marked with the operating motor carrier’s name and USDOT number, and that requirement will continue.
If you have questions as to whether you are required to obtain and display a USDOT number, or whether and what part of the FMCSR apply to you, you may contact the Iowa DOT’s Office of MVE by mail at P.O. Box 10473, Des Moines, IA 50306-0473; by telephone at 515-237-3247 (Des Moines) or 800-925-6469 (toll free in Iowa); or by E-mail at [email protected].
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Media contact: Media contact: Dave Lorenzen, 515-237-3219 or [email protected]