ALL FOR-HIRE CARRIERS OPERATING IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A U S DOT NUMBER FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IF THEIR GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING IS 10,001 LBS OR MORE OR IF THEY ARE A PASSENGER CARRIER CARRYING 9 PASSENGERS OR MORE INCLUDING DRIVER.

CARRIERS WEIGHING LESS THAN 10,000 LBS DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A U S DOT #.

PASSENGER CARRIERS CARRYING 8 PASSENGERS OR LESS INCLUDING DRIVER DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A U S DOT #.

DISPLAYING THE U S DOT NUMBER ON YOUR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE

• THE U S DOT # MUST BE DISPLAYED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE
  PRECEDED BY THE LETTERS US DOT
  
  
• THE LEGAL TRADE NAME OF THE MOTOR CARRIER SHALL BE LISTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE.
  
  
• THE LETTERS SHALL BE IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE COLOR OF THE MOTOR
  VEHICLE.
  
  
• THE LETTERS SHALL BE LEGIBLE, DURING DAYLING HOURS, FROM A DISTANCE OF 50 FEET WHILE THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS STANDING STILL.
  
  
• THE LETTERS MAY BE PAINTED ON OR MAY BE IN A REMOVABLE STICKER
  FORM.