Owner-Operators
Hot Shot Trucking Requirements: USDOT, CDL, Insurance and ELD Rules
The federal weight lines that decide which rules a pickup-and-trailer operation must follow, with a table by truck and trailer combination.
Tag: USDOT number
Carriers & Fleets
How to Check a Trucking Company’s Safety Record With FMCSA Tools
The free federal lookups drivers, shippers and brokers use before signing on or tendering a load, what each one shows, and the warning signs worth a second look.
Regulations
Truck Classes 1 to 8 and GVWR: Which Weights Trigger Which Rules
Truck classes describe the rating on the door label, and federal rules key off a handful of weight lines. One table maps each line to what it triggers.
Owner-Operators
Box Truck Business Requirements: DOT Number, Authority and Insurance
Cargo vans and 26-foot box trucks skip the CDL, but not federal registration. The rules that switch on at 10,001 lb, the insurance minimums on each side of that line, and the taxes that do not apply.
Owner-Operators
How to Get Your Own Authority: USDOT Number, MC Number and Motus
The order of filings that takes a new trucking company from application to active authority, what changed with FMCSA's Motus system in 2026, and the state registrations that follow.