DOT Authority

This article explains how to manage your company’s United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) numbers in the Motive platform. Linking your DOT authority correctly is important for staying federally compliant and using all of Motive’s compliance features.

Overview 

Motive makes it easier to manage compliance across your fleet by allowing you to connect your USDOT number. This connection ensures driver logs and compliance documents are automatically populated with accurate carrier details. It also unlocks access to safety tools, reporting features, and operational insights tied to each DOT authority.

• Centralize compliance: Manage one or more DOT authorities from a single dashboard. This helps ensure all drivers and vehicles are linked to the correct operating authority.
• Streamline operations: Carrier details are automatically filled in on driver logs and other compliance documents, reducing manual entry and saving time.
• Enhance visibility: Access compliance tools and reports that show safety and performance trends under each DOT number.

USDOT integration

A USDOT number is a unique ID assigned by the FMCSA to companies that operate commercial vehicles. It is used to track a company’s safety records, including audits, crash investigations, and roadside inspections.
Companies must have a USDOT number if they operate in interstate commerce and meet one or more of these criteria:

• The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.
• The vehicle is used to transport 9 to 15 passengers (including the driver) for pay.
• The vehicle is used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), not for pay.
• The vehicle moves hazardous materials that require a safety permit.

Some states also require a USDOT number for intrastate commercial operations.

Linking your DOT authority in the Motive platform is key to managing compliance and generating accurate reports. 

Adding your USDOT number 

Fleet managers can add their company’s primary USDOT number in the Motive Dashboard. Before you begin, make sure you have the required permissions and your company’s active USDOT number.

1. Log in to the Motive Fleet Dashboard and click the Admin icon.

   

2. Click Compliance.

3. From the DOT Numbers section, click Add.

   

4. Enter your company’s DOT number and click Confirm.

   

Once submitted, Motive will verify that the number is valid and registered with the FMCSA. You can also check the status of any DOT number on the FMCSA SAFER website.  

Note: Motive allows you to add and manage multiple USDOT numbers within one account. This is helpful for companies with different business units, intrastate and interstate operations, or separate cargo-hauling divisions. To add more than one USDOT number to your account, follow the steps described above.

Assigning a driver to a specific DOT number

1. In the Motive Fleet Dashboard, click the Admin icon.

   

2. Click Drivers.
3. Find the driver profile from the list and click its three-dot menu.

4. Select Edit Account.

   

5. Scroll down to the Carrier section.
6. Choose the correct DOT number from the dropdown menu. The Carrier Name and Main Office Address will fill in automatically.

7. Click Save.

   

Removing a USDOT number

You may need to remove a USDOT number if it is no longer active, was added by mistake, or if your company structure has changed due to a merger. Follow these steps to remove DOT numbers no longer required. 

1. Log in to the Fleet Dashboard and click the Admin icon.
2. Click Compliance.
3. Scroll to the DOT numbers section.

4. Find the number you want to remove and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select Remove from the dropdown menu.

   

5. Click Remove to confirm.

   

Note: Removing a DOT number does not update the carrier information on driver profiles. You must manually edit each driver and assign them to a new, active DOT authority.

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