The following hazardous materials carried in these quantity amounts will require an HM Safety Permit:

• Radioactive Materials: A highway route-controlled quantity of Class 7 material, as defined in 173.403 of 49 CFR.
• Explosives: More than 25kg (55 pounds) of a Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material, or an amount of a Division 1.5 material requiring a placard under Part 172 Subpart F of 49 CFR.
• Toxic by Inhalation Materials:
  • Hazard Zone A: More that one liter (1.08 quarts) per package of a "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of 49 CFR, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone A," as specified in 173.116(a) or 173.133(a) of 49 CFR
  • Hazard Zone B: A "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of this title, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone B," as specified in 173.116(a) or 173.133(a) of 49 CFR in a bulk packaging (capacity greater than 450 L [119 gallons])
  • Hazard Zone C & D: A "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of this title, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone C," or "hazard zone D," as specified in 173.116(a) of this title, in a packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons)
    • Due to Anhydrous Ammonia (ammonia, anhydrous) having both international and domestic entries in the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT)(See 49 CFR § 172.101), considerations must be made in order to determine the need for a Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP):
      • For Anhydrous Ammonia in “domestic transportation” (See 49 CFR § 171.8)  and described as UN1005 ammonia, anhydrous 2.2 Inhalation Hazard, an HMSP is not required.
      • For Anhydrous Ammonia described as UN1005, ammonia, anhydrous 2.3 Poison Inhalation Hazard or Toxic Inhalation Hazard, Zone D, and when transported in a packaging having a capacity greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons), an HMSP is required.  In these instances, Anhydrous Ammonia meets the definition of a Material that is Poison-By-Inhalation or Toxic-By-Inhalation as defined in 49 CFR § 171.8 and meets the criteria for a hazard zone D as specified in 49 CFR § 173.116(a).
• Methane: A shipment of compressed or refrigerated liquefied methane or liquefied natural gas or other liquefied gas with a methane content of at least 85% in a bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons) for liquids or gases.

Last Updated : August 29, 2017

FMCSA strongly recommends customers to complete the identity verification process on their browser. If you need assistance while attempting to complete the verification process, you may contact the FMCSA Contact Center online by submitting a ticket or calling 1-800-832-5660. 

For customers who are unable to verify their identity using digital means, customers may visit an enrollment center and complete the identity verification in-person with the assistance of an agent. Reach out to the Enrollment Center hotline for more information (1-833-832-5530) or visit FMCSA IDEMIA Enrollment Centers site.  

You should file a complaint online or call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). You may also contact your State Attorney General office or appropriate enforcement agency in your state.

If the safety fitness of a carrier subject to a comprehensive investigation based on SMS scoring is determined to be satisfactory, but the carrier’s SMS scores continue to exceed intervention thresholds for either the HM BASIC or any two BASICs besides the HM BASIC for the preceding two consecutive months, the carrier may stay on the enhanced oversight list with a note in the company record stating the date and outcome of the comprehensive review, and a note that the carrier will not undergo another comprehensive review for a period of 24 months due to an enhanced oversight condition, but may be re-selected for other, serious conditions.  Also, the carrier could be subject to a focused review if their scores do not fall below the intervention thresholds during that time frame.

Last Updated : July 29, 2015

If the original Medical Examiner is not available, the physician or Medical Examiner in the office may sign the replacement certificate. The advisory criteria states that the original may be copied and given to the driver. Some physicians may require the driver to undergo a new physical examination.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

If there are violations on your record that you believe should go to another entity, you may challenge the data by going to our DataQs web site.

Last Updated : December 2, 2019

You must provide the following information to submit a hostage complaint:

• Written estimate
• Bill of lading
• Receipt of completed or offered payment
• Documentation of a moving company’s refusal to deliver goods or provide the location of goods after payment
• Amount requested from the moving company to deliver the goods

You may submit your complaint under a different category, if you cannot provide the required information. If none of the categories apply, please submit your complaint by phone at 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238).

Medical Examiners who perform FMCSA medical examinations should understand: (1) Specific physical and mental demands associated with operating a CMV, (2) Physical qualification standards specified by 49 CFR 391.41 (b) (1-13), (3) FMCSA advisory criteria and other criteria prepared by the FMCSA, and (4) FMCSA medical guidelines to assess the CMV driver’s medical condition.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

Written Estimates for Interstate Moves

Your mover must provide you a written estimate of all charges, including transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. Your mover's "rate quote" is not an estimate. Be sure the estimate is based on actual or virtual inspection of your household goods.

Binding Estimates for Interstate Moves

A binding estimate guarantees that you do not have to pay more than the estimated amount at the time of delivery. However, if you include additional items and services to your shipment, or there are unforeseen circumstances such as stairs, elevators or required parking permits, in this case the mover must prepare a new binding estimate to include all services and items to be transported.  You are required to pay 100 percent of the binding estimate at the time of delivery.

Non-Binding Estimates

A non-binding estimate helps you determine the cost of your move, but it is not a guarantee of your final costs. It should be reasonably accurate and include what your final charges will be based upon such as the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the mover’s published tariff.

Under a nonbinding estimate, the moving company cannot require you to pay more than 110 percent of the non-binding estimate at the time of delivery. Learn more by reading  Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet.

A pilot program collects specific data to evaluate alternatives to the regulations or innovative approaches to safety while ensuring that the safety performance goals of the regulations are satisfied.

In a pilot program, temporary regulatory relief from one or more FMCSR is given to a person or class of persons subject to the regulations or to a person or class of persons who intend to engage in an activity that would be subject to the regulations.

The number of participants in the pilot program must be large enough to ensure statistically valid findings. 381.400
NOTE: FMCSA is not conducting medical pilot programs at the time.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

The entity’s physical address or PPOB is the designated central location where the company is engaged in business operations.  Normally, this is where officials routinely report to work, and where safety records and/or business records are regularly maintained.  

The entity must make safety records available for inspection at this location within 48 hours upon FMCSA’s request.  

Private motor carrier of passengers (business) means a private motor carrier engaged in the interstate transportation of passengers which is provided in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise and is not available to the public at large. 

For example, this would include a company transporting its own employees between job sites, but not selling seats to anyone else.  

Private motor carrier of passengers (non-business) means private motor carrier involved in the interstate transportation of passengers that does not otherwise meet the definition of a private motor carrier of passengers (business). (49 CFR 390.5)

For example, this would include a place of worship transporting people to services or other events, not for a profit.

A private motor carrier transports its own cargo, usually as a part of a business that produces, uses, sells and/or buys the cargo that is being hauled. A private motor carrier transports its own goods and is required to have a USDOT number but does not need operating authority (MC number).

A satisfactory ETT requires exercising to a workload capacity of at least six METS (through Bruce Stage II or equivalent) attaining a heart rate of >85% of predicted maximum (unless on beta blockers), a rise in SBP>20mmHg without angina, and having no significant ST segment depression or elevation.
Stress radionuclide or exercise echocardiogram should be performed for symptomatic individuals, individuals with an abnormal resting electrocardiogram, or individuals who fail to meet the ETT requirements.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

A waiver is temporary regulatory relief from one or more of the FMCSRs given to a person subject to the regulations, or a person who intends to engage in an activity that would be subject to the regulations. A waiver provides the person with relief from the regulation for up to three months. 49 CFR 391.64 provides waivers to CMV drivers who were in the initial vision and insulin programs in the early 1990's.

An exemption is a temporary regulatory relief from one of more of the FMCSRs given to a person or class of persons subject to the regulations, or who intend to engage in an activity that would make them subject to the regulation. An exemption provides the person or class of persons with relief from the regulations for up to two years, but may be renewed.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

As defined in 49 CFR 390.5, a “covered farm vehicle” (CFV):

• Travels in the State in which the vehicle is registered or in another State,
• Is operated by an owner or operator of a farm or ranch, or by a family member or employee of the owner or operator
• Transports agricultural commodities, livestock, machinery or supplies to or from a farm or ranch
• Has a license plate or some other means specified by the State that identifies it as a farm vehicle
• Is not used in for-hire motor carrier operations (but for-hire operations do not include use of a vehicle owned and operated by a tenant farmer to transport the landlord’s portion of the crops under a crop-share agreement)
• [From § 390.39] Is not transporting hazardous materials that require placarding, and either of the following:
  • Has a GVW or GVWR (whichever is greater) of 26,001 or less, in which case the CFV exemptions in § 390.39 apply anywhere in the United States
  • Has a GVW or GVWR (whichever is greater) of more than 26,001 pounds and travels within the State where it is registered or, if traveling out of the State where it is registered, stays within a 150 air miles of the owner or operator’s farm or ranch

Last Updated : May 8, 2014

An exempt for-hire motor carrier transports exempt (unregulated) property owned by others for compensation. The exempt commodities usually include unprocessed or unmanufactured goods, fruits and vegetables, and other items of little or no value. 

For a partial listing of exempt and non-exempt commodities, please refer to Administrative Ruling 119.

For information about who needs an MC number, click here.

An Intermodal Equipment Provider (IEP) is a person or entity that makes intermodal equipment available to motor carriers for interchange.  Additional information and responsibilities are identified in 49 CFR section 390.40 of Subpart C.  

The term “intermodal equipment” refers to trailing equipment (mainly Intermodal containers, chassis but can also include trailers) used in the transportation of cargo by highway in interstate commerce.

An example of an IEP is someone who provides a container chassis to move containers when they come off either a ship or rail. An IEP may provide a chassis which will move the container to a motor carrier or provide the chassis for the intermodal movement.

To register with FMCSA as an IEP, go to the Unified Registration System (URS).

Note: If you are transporting intermodal equipment, it does not mean you would register as an IEP. In this case your entity type would be motor carrier.

To learn about other entity types, check out our How To Identify Entity Types video.

If yours is an interstate move it will be governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. Check the scenarios below in order to determine if your move is interstate. If you are still unclear about whether or not your move is considered interstate, check with your mover and state and local authorities for clarification. 

Interstate move means transportation of goods in the United States which is between a state and a place outside of that state (including a place outside the United States); or between two places within a state that travels through another state or place outside of the United States.

It is an interstate move if the move...

• occurs between a place in a state and a place outside of that state (i.e., in another state). Even if other modes of transportation, such as plane or rail, are involved in moving the goods... as long as the goods cross a state line and involve a mover at any point, it is an interstate move, and at least the portion involving the mover is governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. The moving truck or van does not have to physically cross a state line for it to be an interstate move.
• occurs between a place in a state and a place outside of the United States. The intent of the move can define whether the move is interstate. In this example, the move begins outside the state and goes to a warehouse—not the final destination—within the state. Nevertheless, since the move originated outside the state it is characterized as an interstate move.
• occurs between two places in the same state if the shipment passes through another state.
• occurs between two places in the same state if the shipment passes through a place outside the United States.

Review the scenarios above to determine if your household goods move is interstate. If your move is interstate, it will be governed by FMCSA rules and regulations. If you are still unsure whether your move is considered interstate, check with your HHG mover and state and local authorities for clarification.

To interline a shipment is to transfer the shipment between two or more carriers for movement to final destination. For example, where the point of origin is Washington, DC and the final destination is Los Angeles, CA, Motor Carrier “A” may transport a shipment from Washington, DC and then interline with Motor Carrier “B” in San Antonio, TX. Motor Carrier “B” will then complete the transportation of the shipment to Los Angeles, CA.