Definitions. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Commercial Motor Vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle—
(1) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or
(2) Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or
(3) Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
(4) Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
20. Now that I have determined that I will be operating in interstate commerce, what do I need to do to begin?
A USDOT Number is required if you have:
- vehicles that are over 10,000 lbs,
- if you transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation,
- if you transport 16 or more passengers, or
- haul hazardous materials in interstate commerce.
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Incidentally, that first part, in the definitions, that's what hammers those who think they can de-rate a greater-than-10,000 pound vehicle to a less-than-10,001 pound vehicle and still load it heavier than 10,001 pounds.
"Has a gross vehicle weight rating... or gross vehicle weight... of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more."
So even if you were to de-rate that 10,200 pound vehicle down to, say, 9,999 pounds, if it ever is loaded so that it actually weighs more than 10,000 pounds, and you get caught, you're screwed.
But the bottom line is, there's a reason you don't see Sprinter box trucks in expediting very often - it's because you have all the benefits of having to log and scale every load without the benefits of being a dock-high straight truck.
Of course, none of this applies if you only run intrastate, never crossing state lines. However, some states nevertheless require DOT numbers and logs and scales for intrastate Commercial Motor Vehicles, just the same.