When I first came into the pressure washing industry, I was going for over twenty years as a commercial driver. I was thinking how nice it would be to be free from all those motor carrier regulations that had been such an exhausting part of my career.
I could not have been more wrong. Not long after starting, he was doing residential cleaning for a law enforcement officer. As he rolled up the hose after we finished, he asked me how much my truck and trailer weighed.
“I don’t know, I got the extra tonnage license so I wouldn’t be overweight,” was my easy reply. I was absurdly proud that I had taken the time and made the effort not to cheat on my license and expected weight limits.
“Where’s your DOT number?” was the next easy question from him.
I, like so many other pressure washer service providers in my area, hadn’t even thought about this basic requirement for operating commercial vehicles. After a $100 fine, I made sure to rectify the situation. I have my DOT number.
Trying to decide whether or not you need a DOT number can be a tough question, and there are some state-specific requirements you need to be aware of, but my client said it’s pretty basic: “If you have a truck or trailer with company placards , and/or a trailer with more than one axle, I’ll send you a ticket if you don’t have a USDOT number.”
The actual requirements can be found on the US Department of Transportation website. There is a wealth of information and resources out there to help make sense of it all. There is even an online quiz to help you determine whether or not you should have a DOT number in the first place.
The requirements are quite basic and are as follows. You need a USDOT number if:
o Operate vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds,
o Transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation,
o Transport 16 or more passengers, or
o Transport hazardous materials in interstate commerce.
You should be aware that once you have a USDOT number, there are some record keeping requirements that come with it. For example, if you are transporting hazardous materials, such as bulk sodium hypochlorite, or flammable liquids such as your engine fuel and one or two spare fuel tanks, you will need to be aware of this. You will also need to register as a HAZMAT transporter and maintain records of materials and quantities transported. You will need to implement a safety program and driver qualification log, as well as records of your driver’s hours of service.
This sounds like a lot of red tape, but it is what it takes to be a legitimate pressure washing business operating machinery that falls under Department of Transportation regulated guidelines. It is a cost of doing business and should be part of your business plan. It’s helpful to remember that these records are relatively simple and can be based on records you already have.
In my experience, motor carrier safety regulations are open to various interpretations, so it’s probably a good idea to check with your state’s DOT, as well as the local department of Carrier Enforcement in your state. They are supposed to have the current information needed to help you comply. The USDOT site has links to all DOT sites in the state.
Again, the information can be contradictory, so find the most knowledgeable people you can, the fines rise steeply from my measly hundred dollars. Do not bet the company on the word of an official, ask the questions you need, to obtain the clearest possible answers.