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Texas DOT Demystified!

What is a TXDOT/TXDMV Number?

Does your motor carrier business operate in an intrastate capacity on Texas roads and highways? If you registered your company with the United States Department of Transportation as an intrastate motor carrier, you may be required to register for Texas intrastate authority in the form of a TXDMV Number. A TXDMV number is the same thing as a Texas DOT Number. It is a number issued to commercial vehicles in Texas.

In order to obtain a Texas DOT Number you must have the required insurance minimums and your insurance must remain active in MCCS while your motor carrier business is operating in the State of Texas.

You can choose to register for one or two years. Here at DOT Number Texas, we will help you with the Texas DOT Number application, updating your carrier information, renewing your certificate, obtaining Texas cab cards, and more.

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Requirements to Register for a TXDOT Number

  • Commercial motor vehicles (or a combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds.
  • Farm vehicles with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 48,000 pounds.
  • Transporter of hazardous materials that require placarding.
  • Operator of vehicles designed to transport 15 or more passengers and the driver.
  • Operates a commercial school bus.
  • Transports household goods for pay, regardless of your vehicle’s weight.
  • Operates a commercial vehicle in Texas but is not a US citizen.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

  • Transporters of Hazardous Materials $5,000,000

    Hazardous substances that are transported in cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles with capacities in excess of 3,500 liquid gallons

  • Transporters of Non-Hazardous Materials $1,000,000

    Motor carriers based outside of the U.S.A. who transport non-hazardous cargo

  • Foreign Carriers $750,000

    Motor carriers based outside of the U.S.A. who wish to do business in Texas.

  • Household Goods Movers $300,000

    For those who carry household goods with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of less than 26,000 pounds

  • Commercial School Bus Operators $500,000

    For hire drivers of school drivers who transport students of all ages to a residence or public or private educational facility.

  • Small Bus Operators $500,000

    Vehicles with the capabilities to transport more than 15 but less than 26 passengers

  • Large Bus Operators $5,000,000

    Vehicles with the capabilities to transport more than 26 passengers

  • All Others $500,000

    Any private or for-hire motor carrier with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds

What You Need to Know about TXDOT Numbers

To register for a TXDOT number, you must make sure that your vehicle is properly insured. This includes having the minimum coverage requirements for your vehicle and making sure that your insurance policy is active while operating in Texas. If you’re an intrastate motor carrier, you must register and file evidence of insurance or financial responsibility to prove Texas operating authority eligibility. If your insurance documents are not registered with the state, you could face fines, penalties, or administrative sanctions. All of that could suspend your certificate, license, or vehicle.

Even if your insurance company cancels your insurance, that is no excuse not to have your updated insurance filed with the state. The state expects your insurance company to give you 30 days’ notice of a cancellation. This means you have 30 days to find new insurance and submit that insurance to the state before your 30 day grace period.

You must submit both proof of liability and cargo insurance. We offer a streamlined system to not only get you a TXDOT number but also make sure that your insurance is registered with the state as well. Don’t have insurance? Don’t fret; we work with some of the best insurance companies in the industry to get you premium coverage at a reasonable rate. Call us today and we can work with you and your insurance company to get you right with the state.

Check out the table to the right to determine the minimum insurance requirements for your type of business. Make sure that your insurance coverage is equal to or greater than the minimum requirements listed.

Drug-Testing Certification

Not only must motor carriers confirm they are properly insured with the state, they also must confirm they are in compliance with all drug testing standards. This means that motor carriers must provide the name of the company and facility that conducts the drug tests for your company.

Our Trucking Experts Are Here to Help

At DOTNumberTexas.com, we help you file the complicated paperwork associated with TxDOT numbers. We interface directly with the Texas DMV to ensure that your process of applying for a TxDOT number is as easy as possible. Our team of permitting and regulation experts will take your information and translate it for the DMV with ease. We’ll fill out all the pesky paperwork for you, allowing you to get out on the road as soon as possible and with minimal headache. For nearly two decades, our team has proven that we can get it done for truckers all over Texas. We have shown that we are the best in the business at filing all the paperwork that no one else wants to do. If you want peace of mind that your business is in good hands, look no further than DOTNumberTexas.com!

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Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

How Long Do TxDOT Numbers Last?

You can either purchase TxDOT numbers for one or two years.

Do I Need a TxDOT Number?

Not all motor carriers need to get TxDOT numbers. If you meet any of the following criteria, then you’ll need to register for a TxDOT number:

  • You operate a commercial motor vehicle (or a combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds.
  • You transport hazardous materials that require placarding.
  • You operate a farm vehicle with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 48,000 pounds.
  • You operate a vehicle designed to transport 15 or more passengers and the driver.
  • You operate a commercial school bus.
  • You transport household goods for pay, regardless of your vehicle’s weight.
  • You own a commercial vehicle that operates in Texas, but you are not a US citizen.

Do I Need a TxDOT Number if I Already Have a USDOT Number?

Yes, you need both. All motor carriers based in Texas that need TxDOT numbers should also obtain USDOT numbers. Make sure you’re registered as intrastate with the USDOT, because Texas-based motor carriers are the only ones that qualify for TxDOT numbers.

I’m Not Based in Texas. Do I Need to Get a TxDOT Number?

No. TxDOT numbers are for intrastate carriers only. Interstate carriers only need to have a USDOT number to operate in Texas.

What Do I Need to Provide to Get My TxDOT Number?

We will need similar information from you to what you needed to provide for your USDOT number. This includes your name, your company’s name, contact information, and your USDOT number. Then, we’ll need your Texas Tax ID Number (we may also need your Federal Employer Identification Number, or FEIN), a picture of a photo ID, and information about the owner of your company (even if it’s you). Finally, we’ll need information about the type of cargo you’re hauling and the vehicles you want to register. After that, you’re in the clear! For more detailed information on the steps you’ll need to take to get your TxDOT number, check out our handy step-by-step guide!

What Happens if I Don’t Get a TxDOT Number?

If you don’t get a TxDOT number, you could face some very serious fines. Each violation of the statute that establishes TxDOT numbers carries a penalty of up to $5,000, and the penalty amount can go as high as $30,000. You can avoid these penalties easily with a TxDOT number!

Can I Renew My TxDOT Number Once I Have One?

You may renew your annual or biennial certificates once they expire. The Texas DMV sends renewal notices out to motor carriers about 60 days before the old registration expires. This process is easy; simply ask us to contact the Texas DMV, and we will help you renew your registration easily! However, 7-and 90-day TxDOT numbers cannot be renewed.

How Long Does It Take to Get a TxDOT Number?

Processing for a new application for a TxDOT number takes 24 to 48 business hours for your pre-approval. Once that is granted, your insurance company must submit your application number (VOID NUMBER) to the DMV. Once the DMV receives this information, final approval could take an additional week.

What Will I Receive to Prove My Registration?

When you purchase a TxDOT number, you’ll receive two pieces of identifying information. These are your cab card and certificate. Both need to be available (in your vehicle) to be presented to law enforcement at any time. The cab cards can be paper or electronic, but the certificate should be printed out as a hard copy.

Are There Any Other Requirements for Getting a TxDOT Number?

There is one other requirement for getting your TxDOT number. You must comply with FMCSA drug-testing requirements. As long as you do, that’s all you need to get your TxDOT number!

Can I Change My Information Once I Have a TxDOT Number?

You can change quite a lot of information associated with your TxDOT number with ease. Here’s what you can change with us instantly:

  • Update the type of cargo you carry.
  • Update your motor carrier name, address, and/or legal agent for service of process.
  • Update your drug-testing consortium status.
  • Cancel your registration.
  • Update the principal officers or titles within a corporation.
  • Re-register a revoked or cancelled certificate of registration number.

Making other changes may mean you’ll need to contact the Texas DMV more directly. These changes include:

  • File a corporate conversion: Registered corporations must have the conversion approved by the Texas Secretary of State before contacting the TxDMV.
  • Request your PIN
  • Request a Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) conversion- This conversion identifies a motor carrier as having current registration within the National Registration System (NRS) under the Unified Carrier Registration System.

Can I Add Vehicles to My TxDOT Number?

Yes! Adding vehicles to your existing TxDOT number is easy. Just tell us your new vehicle’s information (VIN, Owner Name, Year, Make, Model, etc.) and we’ll file the paperwork for you.

Is There Anything Else That I Need to Operate Legally in Texas?

Getting your TxDOT number is a huge step towards becoming a legal carrier in the state of Texas. If you want to operate within the state of Texas only, then you are probably good to go!

However, interstate carriers require more registrations and pieces of information to operate legally. For example, all motor carriers that weigh more than 26,000 lbs. gross must either register with IRP and IFTA or purchase temporary trip and fuel permits to legally conduct their business. If you cross the border into New Mexico, then you’ll need to set up a New Mexico Weight Distance account as well.

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