USDOT & Motor Carrier Compliance in Washington

Q: Do you need a USDOT number in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires intrastate commercial-motor-vehicle operators to obtain a USDOT number, in addition to the federal requirement for interstate carriers. Federally, a USDOT number is required for vehicles rated 10,001 lbs or more, those carrying more than 8 passengers for compensation, or those hauling placardable hazardous materials.

If you run trucks in Washington, most of what governs your operation is federal — the FMCSA safety regulations in 49 CFR apply the same in Washington as everywhere else. What changes by state is registration. Here is the Washington picture, in plain English, with the federal rule text behind every requirement.

Do you need a USDOT number in Washington?

Federally, you need a USDOT number if a vehicle has a gross vehicle (or combination) weight rating of 10,001 lbs or more, is designed to transport more than 8 passengers for compensation (or more than 15 without compensation), or hauls placardable quantities of hazardous materials — and operates in interstate commerce. WA

Washington requires an intrastate USDOT number. Washington is one of the states that require intrastate commercial-motor-vehicle operators to obtain a USDOT number — in addition to the federal requirement for interstate carriers. Register or update it through the FMCSA at fmcsa.dot.gov.

The federal rules every Washington fleet must follow

Each links to the verbatim CFR answer, free:

Federal ruleHours of Service & ELD — driving limits, the 14-hour window, the 30-minute break, and ELD records Federal ruleDriver Qualification & DOT physicals — DQ files, MVRs, the medical certificate, and road tests under Part 391 Federal ruleDrug & Alcohol testing — pre-employment, random, and the Clearinghouse under Parts 382 and 40 Federal ruleVehicle inspection & maintenance — DVIRs, annual inspections, and preventive maintenance under Part 396 Federal ruleSafety fitness & new-entrant audits — the safety audit, compliance reviews, and MCS-150 updates Federal ruleInsurance & financial responsibility — minimum coverage and the filings FMCSA requires

Look up any Washington carrier — free

Pull any motor carrier’s live FMCSA public record by USDOT number — safety rating, authority, insurance, inspections and crash history. Open the free lookup →

Compliance in nearby states

By stateMotor carrier compliance in West Virginia By stateMotor carrier compliance in Wisconsin By stateMotor carrier compliance in Wyoming By stateMotor carrier compliance in District of Columbia