What is the US DOT? US DOT Review

introduce

The U.S. Department of Transportation was established in 1967 and is headquartered in Washington. It consists of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Motor Vehicle Administration (FMCSA), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Office of the Attorney General (OST) and other departments. It has 60,000 employees across the United States. It is committed to maintaining traffic safety, promoting economic development, and meeting environmental and national defense needs.

Related Products

According to the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation, vehicle lamps and accessories exported or exported with complete vehicles to the U.S. (North American) market must pass DOT certification and have the corresponding logo printed on the product, otherwise they cannot be sold in the market and will be seized by customs. Regulated lamp products include: headlights, taillights, position lights, turn signals, daytime running lights, side markers, clearance lights, reversing lights, brake lights, license plate lights, warning lights, corner lights, reflectors, bulbs, etc.

DOT certification features

1. It is a self-certification process, where the manufacturer determines whether the product meets the standard

2. Test reports do not need to be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for initial certification

3. The Ministry of Transport will not issue any certificates to applicants

4. Easy entry and strict exit

5. Annual conformity testing is an effective means of checking the effectiveness of the manufacturer's self-certification

6. The Ministry of Transport’s contacts with manufacturers are all carried out through its agents

DOT supervisory investigation of products

1. The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) conducts random inspections of motor vehicles and parts every year to review the validity of manufacturers' DOT certifications and ensure that products meet the minimum requirements of FMVSS.

2. Products entering the US market will be inspected at least once every five years.

3. OVSC investigates consumer complaints regarding safety issues and if it suspects a discrepancy, it will ask the manufacturer what reasonable measures they have taken and how they have actually proved it.

Punitive measures

1. If the manufacturer cannot prove that it has taken practical and effective measures to bring its vehicles or components into compliance with the regulations, it will be fined.

2. Each single non-compliance will be subject to a penalty of $6,000, and if there is a series of violations, the penalty will be $16,375,000.

3. Manufacturers who conceal or fail to report safety defects in motor vehicles or components that cause casualties or serious bodily injury, or provide false reports, will be held criminally liable, with the maximum criminal penalty being 15 years in prison.

DOT Certification Process

1. The manufacturer appoints a U.S. agent, who must be a U.S. company or U.S. citizen. The agent will participate in all communications during the "Compliance Application" process.

2. Submit relevant application materials to DOT

3. Randomly select samples and send them to relevant laboratories for testing. Until all the tests are successfully passed. (This can be omitted)

4. DOT will send a reply letter to the agent or manufacturer regarding the information review. If the information review is passed, the registration information can be checked on the DOT official website.

5. The test report of the sample does not need to be submitted to the DOT, and the DOT will not send personnel to witness the test. The qualified test report is only used as a document to prove that the product complies with the FMVSS standard, and the manufacturer retains it.

6. If the product is a tire, glass or brake hose, you must also apply for an ID CODE using part565 documents, and the entire process will take an additional 6-8 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions about US DOT Certification

Q1: Will the U.S. Department of Transportation issue a DOT certificate?

The U.S. Department of Transportation does not issue DOT certificates.

Q2: What are the requirements for US agents in DOT certification?

The U.S. agent must be a resident citizen of the United States, and the DOT must be able to contact the agent using the contact information on file.

Q3: Can a foreign trade company apply for DOT certification?

In principle, it is not possible.

Q4: Which products can obtain a DOT registration number?

Tires, brake hoses and glass require registration numbers. Registration numbers are usually issued within 6-8 weeks of submitting the DOT response letter and other application materials.

Q5: If the factory changes its name, address or agent, will the DOT registration number change?

Won't.

Q7: Does DOT certification have a validity period?

DOT certification has no validity period, but the validity of the agent must be guaranteed.

Q8: After the amendment to the Tire Identification Number (TIN) regulations, the existing two-digit code will be changed to a three-digit identification code. How long is the transition period?

The transition period is 10 years, from April 13, 2015 to April 13, 2025. During this period, either a two-digit or a three-digit identification code can be used.

References

• 1. The most comprehensive introduction to US DOT certification in history 2019 edition: Sohu [reference date 2019-07-23T16:00:00.000Z]