Effective Sept. 1, Massachusetts State Markings Regulation 540 CMR 2:22 will bring about changes to the type and placement of markings required on some commercial vehicles.
U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) numbers will be required for those vehicles that are engaged in intrastate commerce and:
- Have a gross vehicle weight rating or total combination weight of 10,001 or more pounds; or
- Are used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding; or
- Are designed to transport more than 15 passengers including the driver
Additionally, all markings will need to be visible from each side or from the front and rear of the vehicle.
These changes could affect customers written on Class 30 commercial auto insurance policies.
What You Need to Do
Failure to obtain a USDOT Number may result in fines or taking your commercial vehicles out of service. To obtain numbers for your vehicles, go to https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov and follow the registration links. There is no charge.
If you think these regulatory changes could affect your commercial auto insurance policy, or if you have any additional questions about them, please contact us.