WSP Explains Requirements for Farmers Effected by New Intrastate Carrier Law
Starting June 1, 2009, Washington State law requires intrastate commercial motor vehicles (CMV) to have a U.S. Department of Transportation number. Owners of any intrastate commercial motor vehicle that meets the definition of a CMV must register through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
This new requirement has led to some confusion about farmers obtaining an intrastate U.S. DOT number. WSP has clarified the definition of a farmer and intrastate carrier in relation to the new law mandating intrastate DOT numbers.
A Commercial Motor Vehicle owned by a farmer is: A commercial motor vehicle owned and operated by farmers in the intrastate transportation of their own farm, orchard, or dairy products, including livestock and plant or animal waste, from point of production to market or disposal, including a silo or grain elevator. Farmers transporting their products, livestock, plant or animal waste within the state of Washington are required to have an intrastate DOT number. However, farmers are exempt from safety audits and compliance reviews.
A Farmer is: any individual, partnership, corporation, or other business entity to the extent engaged in farming operations either as a producer of agricultural commodities or as a farm owner. This includes the cultivation of land, crops, or livestock which are owned or under the farmer’s direct control.
A Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) is:
- A CMV with a gross vehicle weight rating (Manufactures Rating) of 26,001 pounds or more;
- A combination of CMV’s with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more inclusive of a towed unit with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds or more;
- A CMV of any size used in the transportation of hazardous materials;
To apply for your intrastate DOT number go to: www.fmcsa.dot.gov/online-registration. Once on the FMCSA home page – click on the registration/licensing/US DOT# icon, then click on how to register, click on on-line registration, click on download forms, then US DOT Number. A list of forms will appear in the middle of the screen – click on the first form MCS150. This will open the instructions along with the last page which is the MCS150 form. Use the instruction pages to assist in filling out the form paying special attention to #22 which is the box where the carrier has to indicate intrastate non-hazmat or intrastate hazmat. Continue filling out the form then send electronically to FMCSA or by mail to FMCSA.
For assistance with website registration, call (360) 596-3810 or (360) 596-3803. To review the requirements of the new law you can visit www.wsp.wa.gov and go to the intrastate DOT number Icon. For vehicle titling and registration questions contact DOL at (360) 902-3770, option 5. To register through the mail, download the MCS-150 form from a web site above or call (360) 596-3810.