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The Washington State Patrol's Commercial Vehicle Division strives to make Washington roadways the safest in the nation. Through education and enforcement, the mission of the division is to ensure compliance of the commercial motor vehicle regulations in order to protect resources, prevent accidents, and save lives.

Documents & Resources:

• Authority for Interstate Commerce for Hire
• Authority for Pick Up/Delivery for Hire in Washington
• CDL Drug Testing
• Compliance Forms and Education
• C.J.'s Law - Mirrors and Backup Devices
• Chaining Requirements
• CMV Equipment Requirements
• Definitions - Commercial Vehicles & Interstate Commerce
• Farm Implement Brochure | Spanish (Español)
• Fruit Bins - Proper Cargo Securement (2.75 MB)
• Hours of Service Regulations
• Intrastate DOT Number Requirements
• Required Documents for Commercial Vehicles Traveling in Washington State - New!
• Truckers Needing Permits & Ports of Entry
• Washington DOL: Prorate, Over Dimensional and Trip Permits

What We Do

The Washington State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) actively promotes the safe travel of commercial vehicles on the state's highways through the following safety programs:

• Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) certified inspectors conduct levels 1-5 CVSA North American Standard inspections. These inspections examine the commercial driver's license, medical certificate, logbook, and vehicle equipment. (RCW 46.32)
  
  
• The Commercial Vehicle Division, in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, works to ensure the safe transportation of school children through the inspection of over 9,300 school buses annually.
  
  
• With the implementation of intelligent transportation technology at our ports of entry, CVD strives to make Washington highways safe, enhance freight mobility, and increase economic interests of our state and the commercial transportation industry. (See Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Network)
  
  
• The major objective of Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) is to reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle collisions and hazardous material incidents on interstate and state highways. This task is accomplished through comprehensive inspections of commercial motor vehicles and their drivers.
  
  
• The Compliance and Review Section conducts in-depth reviews of carrier compliance with safety and hazardous materials regulations. (See Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
  
  
• The Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) is responsible for promoting safe travel of commercial vehicles on state highways by conducting driver and vehicle inspections and enforcing size, weight and load laws. (RCW 46.44)

CVD is also responsible for the following functions:

• The Tow Truck Inspection Unit inspects equipment and business records of registered tow truck operators in the state of Washington. (RCW 46.55)
  
  
• The Fuel Tax Evasion Task Force, comprised of personnel from the Washington State Patrol and the Department of Licensing, which works to educate the public and industry, and to investigate suspected evasion and enforce the fuel tax laws. The task force vigorously pursues criminal and civil prosecution of fuel-tax evaders.

Permits & Ports of Entry

Trucks entering Washington are required to have permits at the border and will be placed out of service if they arrive at a Port of Entry without one. Permits are no longer be available for sale from the WSP (effective July 1, 2003), so carriers should avoid unnecessary delays by planning ahead.

Truckers entering Washington may obtain needed permits from the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) during business hours (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.) utilizing a telephone and fax machine with the use of a credit or debit card. Also see the Commercial Vehicle Permitting Offices for other approved vendors who sell permits at locations throughout the state. Additionally, WSDOT also has the Online Self-Issue Permits option available on the Internet.

Washington Ports of Entry:

• Plymouth: 133302 E Law Ln, Kennewick - NB I-82
  (509) 734-7044
• Spokane: RR1 Westbound I-90, Milepost 299, Liberty Lake
  Phone: (509) 226-3366
• Ridgefield: 29317 I-5 N, Ridgefield - NB I-5
  Phone: (360) 696-6049
• Bow Hill: 7220 I-5, Bow - SB I-5
  Phone: (360) 766-6196

Contact Information

If you have additional questions about regulations, equipment, inspections, or other standards for large commercial trucks and buses, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. For laws, rules, and regulations please see our MCEP page or you can contact the Commercial Vehicle Division at:

Commercial Vehicle Division
Washington State Patrol
PO Box 42614
Olympia WA 98504-2614
Phone: (360) 596-3800
Fax: (360) 596-3829

Please note that some of the documents provided on this page are available in Adobe® PDF format only and will require the Adobe® Reader in order to view or print them from your Web browser.

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CVE Quick Links

• Contact Information
• Compliance Forms
  and Education
• Frequent Questions
• Fuel Tax Evasion
• Laws & Rules
• Load Securement
• Permits & Ports of Entry
• Resource Links

News & Updates

WSP Clarifies DOT Numbers on Intrastate Commercial Vehicles

Homeward Bound Program 7.3mb