Practitioner: “OTC” stands for
Orlando Truckers’ Conference. The OTC is a special, new Industry
trade show for average truckers produced and managed by my company--
DOTAuthority.com. Unlike most “truck shows,” which are geared toward
bringing truckers and recruiters together, the OTC is focused on
helping truckers make more money in trucking by getting their own
transportation business license. Essentially, the idea is to cut out
the middle man so don’t expect too many recruiters there.
Admission is $10. Those truckers who attend the OTC (February 16-18, 2007 at the
OrangeCountyConvention Center)
will learn the secrets that trucking company executives know;
namely, how to find freight and how to set freight rates. There will
be up to 100 exhibitors and seminars by DOTAuthority.com, Florida
DOT, Highway Watch and other companies. Big Rig Parking is free and
there will also be a free concert for pre-registered CDL-holders by
the “Road Hammers”. So, if you’re looking to make big money in
trucking, as our radio jingle says: “Meet me at the OTC!” See:
www.go2otc.com.
Question: I have a dually pick-up and a four horse trailer. I have a
USDOT Number. What else do I need to haul horses for a fee?
Practitioner: Well, that all
depends on what type of horses you are talking about. If you mean
farm horses, then they are considered exempt commodities and you
only need to register with the states you will go through. If they
are race horses, then they are of exceptional value and there is an
exception to the exemption; that is, you need interstate motor
carrier authority if you cross state lines (along with Single State
Registration for each state you will pass through; SSR, by the way,
is about to be dissolved by FMCSA on-- or soon after-- January 1,
2007 and replaced with a new “Uniform Carrier Registration” program,
which eliminates SSR and MC (formerly, ICC) Numbers). You might also
need state authority for race horses, depending on your state’s
policy for regulating transportation. If you had been a farmer
transporting his own horses… then just a USDOT Number would have
done it.
Question: Is it true that I do indeed need a MCC number as an o/o
for hire to pull a company’s trailer ? Even though I already have my
US
DOT number and apportioned plates?
Practitioner: If you transport
general commodities for-hire across state lines, then you either
need your own motor carrier authority (MC Number for now; but this
will be changing in 2007), along with your own commercial
transportation liability insurance ($750,000), or, you need to be
leased onto a carrier who must supply you with a written lease
agreement. The carrier must insure your vehicle or they run the risk
of being sued by the insurance company if there is an accident
involving your vehicle and your vehicle was not registered with the
insurance company. The carrier must also supply, for now, a Single
State Registration receipt, identifying your vehicle as a member of
its fleet. You must also display your carrier’s USDOT Number on your
cab and identify the carrier operating your equipment.
Some
states are now requiring O/Os to get their own USDOT Number solely
for the purpose of renewing their IRP plates. This is not the same
type of USDOT Number as a carrier USDOT Number; rather, this is
called a registrant USDOT Number. You should not mark your vehicle
with your registrant USDOT Number when leased on; again, your
carrier’s USDOT Number should be displayed. If you are operating
under your own authority, then you should have your own carrier
USDOT Number and you will undergo a mandatory new entrant safety
audit.
Question: I am new to Independent trucking. I have always drove for
a company. I have bought a truck and I am going to become a owner
operator. I was wondering if I would be better off getting my own
DOT number, or would I be better off just running under there
number? Please let me know. Also let me know what all I have to have
to get my own DOT number.
Practitioner: Well, it depends
on whether you really want to run your own business or not. If you
lease on, you will most likely make less money then if you got your
own authority and MC & USDOT Numbers and set your own freight rates.
But if you become a carrier then you are responsible for dispatching
yourself. You see… there is a trade off: more money brings with it
more work. You might want to consider attending out “Trucking
Success Workshop” (call 888 414-1874) or the Orlando Truckers’
Conference in February (www.go2otc.com).
Question: I'm confused about what exactly an operating authority is.
Does the operating authority changed based on what I haul? How does
this compare to temporary trip permits? Thank you for your help.
Practitioner: Trip permits are
temporary extensions of IRP, which is vehicle registration.
Operating authority is pretty much a business license; a grant of
legal permission from a regulatory agency to transport regulated
commodities for hire (as opposed to exempt commodities like fresh
produce, livestock; essentially commodities that are in their raw,
natural state). INTERstate authority is granted by the federal
government (FMCSA) so carriers can go from state to state.
INTRAstate authority is a grant of permission issued by a state to a
carrier to operate point to point within that state. Not all states
require you get authority. For some, just a USDOT Number will do
(but for now, that is not evidence of authority).
There
are different types of authority such as: general trucking
(property) authority, household goods authority (for movers),
passenger authority for bus companies, freight forwarder authority
and a freight broker’s license.
With
respect to hazmat, there are additional restrictions, including, but
not necessarily limited to: higher levels of insurance-- contingent
upon the nature of the hazmat (i.e. paint thinner versus dynamite),
driver background checks, annual hazmat permits, safety permits,
driver license endorsements and placarding requirements.
