What Does Not For Hire Mean (Explained)

Hiring a truck when you do not have the money to get one off the market is a great way to reduce costs when running any business.

You might have seen a not-for-hire tag on the vehicle hired to run a daily business, like large trucks capable of towing trailers, buses, and SUVs.

Now you might wonder, what does not for hire mean on a vehicle?

To better understand this concept, this article breaks down what vehicles with not for hire sign mean. You would also learn why some vehicles have a Not-For-Hire tag and others do not, its advantages, disadvantages, and other related issues.

Let’s get started!

If you see a tag attached to any vehicle saying ‘for hire,’ the vehicle owners are willing and ready to lease out that vehicle to transport goods and materials for a specific fee.

Another name for a vehicle with the tag For Hire on it is a common carrier.

Now, a vehicle carrying a Not-For-Hire tag refers to those whose owners are unwilling to lease their cars to anyone outside their private enterprise, even though the vehicle is used only for commercial transport.

There are many reasons why a business or private enterprise might have the ‘Not-For-Hire’ tag on your vehicles, and some of them include a way to deter their drivers from using these commercial trucks for side hustling or the business is not licensed to lease out their vehicle as a service in that business.

Why Do Vehicles Use Not For Hire Sign

If a vehicle has a Not-For-Hire tag on it, it certainly means that there are some things that you can use that vehicle for and other things that you cannot do. The features of a vehicle carrying a not-for-hire tag can seem like an advantage but sometimes a disadvantage. Here are some of the features of a Not-For-Hire Vehicle;

To Avoid Damage In Cars

Once a vehicle is leased out, irrespective of how safe the road network is, there is still a higher probability of the car running into an accident.

Carrying heavy loads from one place to another is not easy; when vehicles do this repeatedly, they risk damaging a part or more. If the drivers are unlucky, the car can suddenly break down on the road, leading to an accident.

Therefore, since vehicles tagged Not For Hire are usually used for only the business for which they are registered, they do not move around frequently and are better maintained. The risk of breaking down or crashing in an accident is significantly reduced.

Also Read: What Does XLT Mean On A Ford Truck? 

To Pay a Lower License Fee

One of the features of vehicles that possess a Not-For-Hire tag that can come across as a benefit is the reduced cost of licensing.”Not for hire” tagged trucks are usually registered with a non-CDL license. Getting a non-CDL license costs less than getting a CDL license.

CDL means commercial driver’s license. The CDL is a license type that is used with cars that are registered as commercial vehicles.

Now, this license can be obtained with a maximum of three months of training, but the funny thing is that you would need to spend approximately $2000 to $10,500 to acquire one. While the non-CDL used with trucks tagged Not For Hire cost only about $20 to $100

To Signify Personal Use Only

You will never find a Not-For-Hire tag on a car used for personal use. The Not-For-Hire tag is mainly used for businesses or companies transporting their cargo commercially. In other words, you can call these vehicles common carriers for private companies.

Some private companies in construction, timber, Oil and gas, quarrying, mining, manufacturing, and agricultural industries are bound to make use of a Not for-hire vehicle is the wish.

Once registration processes for the government are complete, these companies can use their vehicles with the Not For Hire tag and differentiate them from other commercial vehicles used as carriers.

Do Not For Hire Mean ‘Exempt’?

A truck tagged exempt is very different from a truck tagged not for Hire.

While a truck not for Hire cannot be leased out under any circumstances, a truck tag exempt can be leased out, not just to anyone.

Trucks tagged exempt are your regular commercial trucks which can be leased out for a fee. However, specific agreements permit these trucks to be leased to only specific businesses or drivers.

Do Not For Hire Mean Mean I Should Get a  DOT Number?

A dot number means a number given to a vehicle from the transportation department.

Not every vehicle needs a DOT number to transport its cargo, but certain conditions must be met, as the Department of Transport requires them before a car will not need a DOT number to transport its cargo.

Some scenarios that might require the registration for a DOT number from the Department of Transportation include;

• When transporting cargo weighing over 10,000 pounds or towing heavy trailers within the same state or across state borders, registering for a DOT number is necessary.
• When transporting over ten passengers, especially if the vehicle is a commercial carrier, registering for a DOT number is necessary.
• When the vehicle is transporting hazardous materials as its cargo, whether in the same state or across state borders, registering for a DOT number is essential.

Therefore if your vehicle satisfies all the conditions above regardless of whether it is a vehicle tagged Not For Hire, then a DOT number is not necessary; if your truck tagged Not For Hire does not satisfy the above-listed conditions, then you need to register for a DOT number before transporting your cargo

Do Not For Hire Mean I Get Exempted At Weigh Station?

There are no exemptions for vehicles tagged Not For Hire at weigh stations. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), any car or truck which weighs more than 10,000 pounds is advised to stop at weigh stations along highways and check its weight before continuing on its journey.

And for safety reasons, private carriers or commercial carriers are all included.

However, you should know that there are some exemptions to this regulation, and these exemptions are listed below;

• Single-carrier vehicles that are non-business-related are also exempted. Usually, these vehicles carry personal belongings, for example, when a person is trying to relocate from an old house to a new one.
• Any vehicle that weighs below 10,000 pounds does not need to stop at the weighing station.

Remember, the FMCSA enforces these regulations to ensure the safety of every vehicle moving on the road.

Also Read: What Does STG, AGM, and Gel Mean on a Battery? 

Frequently Asked Questions – What Does Not For Hire Mean

Conclusion – What Does Not For Hire Mean

Any vehicle tagged Not For Hire cannot be used by anybody apart from the company or business that owns them. Licensing and registering them as vehicles Not For Hire is also a great way to save money and increase your vehicle’s lifespan. I bet you will no longer be confused whenever you see a truck tagged not for Hire and wonder why.