South Carolina Intrastate DOT Number

Process for obtaining a South Carolina Intrastate DOT Number

The Department of Public Safety, State Transport Police Division implemented a new Motor Carrier Registration Program for Intrastate motor carriers. Your company is now required to obtain a SC USDOT number and display it on all your commercial motor vehicles (CMV's) if your company operates a CMV that:

(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.

This requirement is not limited to "trucking companies". A motor carrier is any commercial enterprise that uses such vehicles in the furtherance of its business. If your company operates a commercial vehicle, you are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations,  

 Definitions for Intrastate and Interstate:

1.  .  Intrastate  - operates within the State of South Carolina/st1:State> and does not transport freight
with shipping papers indicating origins outside South Carolina

2.             Interstate - operates in multiple states (crosses State line) and/or does transport freight
with shipping papers indicating origins outside of South Carolina..

 Once you receive the DOT number, it must be affixed on both sides of the power unit, in a color contrasting with the background of the vehicle, and the numbers must be large enough to be legible from fifty feet from the vehicle.

 If you operate outside South Carolina, transporting persons or property across state lines, including international boundaries, or within South Carolina as part of a through movement that originates or terminates in another state or country, you must obtain an interstate USDOT number.

The intrastateb> DOT number will be clearly recognized by the "SC" suffix. The information below is provided to assist you with this process.

To register on-line for an intrastate (South Carolina) DOT number visit FMCSA's website located at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. There is no fee for applying for a SCDOT number, however a Visa or MasterCard must be provided to ensure a digital signature is on file for the official record. Applications must be completed in their entirety. Carrier profile updates, including added or deleted equipment or drivers, changes in cargo classification or company officers/owners, or changes in address or phone numbers of the motor carrier, must be done as they occur, but in all cases an update is required every two (2) years. If you should have any questions, or experience problems completing the on-line DOT number process, you may call, 1/803-896-5500 or e-mail scdotnumber@scstp.org for assistance.

Once your application is received and processed, a letter assigning a South Carolina USDOT number, along with information on how it is to be displayed on all applicable vehicles, will be returned to you. This process will take approximately 6-8 weeks.

Failure to register and obtain the above SCDOT number and clearly display the number on all trucks owned or operated by the carrier, will subject the carrier to penalties to include:

•     A A $100.00 fine per occurrence for operating a vehicle without the SC DOT number displayed.

 If you have difficulty with any of the information provided or do not have on-line computer access, and are applying for an intrastate number only, you may request a hard copy of the information by mail, or telephone. Please be sure to provide your mailing address and contact information.