FMCSA adopting new truck ID rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revised requirements for marking commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with FMCSA-issued U.S. DOT identification numbers. The new rule requires carriers operating in interstate commerce to display their name and USDOT number on both sides of the power unit. Effective July 3, all new interstate motor carriers must submit a Form MCS-150 to FMCSA

Tim Parry

May 16, 2002

Effective July 3, all new interstate motor carriers must submit a Form MCS-150 to FMCSA before beginning operations. They also must mark the power units of their commercial motor vehicles before putting them into service. Earlier requirements called for submission of the form within 90 days after starting operations.

The rule requires commercial motor vehicles to be marked with the legal name or a single trade name of the business that owns or controls the motor carrier operation, and the name must appear as indicated on the motor carrier’s Motor Carrier Identification Report.

All commercial motor vehicles added to a motor carrier’s fleet on or after July 3, 2000 must meet the new marking requirements before being placed in service. Carriers have until July 5, 2005 to display that name on other trucks and buses in their fleets.