Established in 1966, the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) is a presidential cabinet-level department of the American federal government. Besides the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation also includes these individual divisions:

1. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees the safety of civil and commercial aviation in the U.S.
2. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) coordinates highway transportation programs in cooperation with state DOTs and other agencies
3. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established to help prevent commercial vehicle accident fatalities
4. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) promotes safe and environmentally sound rail transportation
5. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) oversees the safety and integrity of nationwide mass transportation systems
6. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is a U.S. Department of Transportation division that oversees the U.S. merchant marine
7. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was established to help prevent highway accidents and fatalities
8. Office of Inspector General (OIG) works with the US DOT to prevent fraud and abuse within the U.S. Department of Transportation
9. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) coordinates safety of daily shipments of hazardous materials throughout the U.S.
10. Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) researches and develops solutions for the U.S. transportation system
11. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDA) oversees safe passage for commercial and noncommercial vessels between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean
12. Surface Transportation Board (STB) handles U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for interstate transportation, particularly rail transportation

There are numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies to do business with most, if not all, of these U.S. Dept. of Transportation divisions.

Every state in the union also has its own department of transportation. Most, if not all, of these individual state departments of transportation include numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs and companies to do business with them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the right U.S. Department of Transportation business services and programs for your business

The U.S. Department of Transportation offers advisers, grants and contracts to large and small businesses alike.

I recommend: U.S. Department of Transportation Business Services website should be the first stop for entrepreneurs and companies operating transportation businesses. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an extensive FAQ and list of contacts aimed at independent contractors. For small businesses, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) offers a contact list of their small business advisers along with an extensive subcontractor contact directory. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has employment and business opportunities aimed at Spanish speaking truckers. Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program offering research grants for technological innovations. Contractors may also procure business opportunities with RITA's Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.

Find other federal agency business services and programs aimed at U.S. Department of Transportation

Other federal agency programs also offer advisers, grants and contracts to large and small businesses doing business with the Department of Transportation.

I recommend: FBO.gov (Federal Business Opportunities) is the U.S. government's "one-stop virtual marketplace" website aimed at commercial vendors and buyers, including business opportunities from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers advisers and programs aimed at small businesses specifically wanting to do business with DOT. General Services Administration (GSA) has its IT Omnibus Procurement Program for IT services to companies doing business with DOT.

For transportation businesses in Texas, find out how the Texas Department of Transportation can help

State Departments of Transportation can help local businesses by offering advisers, grants and contracts both independent of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

I recommend: The business section of the Texas Department of Transportation website offers bidding information for independent contractors and independent business consultants. For contractors, they have Texas Department of Transportation adviser contact information. For consultants, they have advice on how to be a paid Texas Department of Transportation consultant along with certification info. They also offer information on selling goods and services to Texas Department of Transportation. The website for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts provides additional information on how the Texas Department of Transportation works with vendors.

Find out how other states' Dept. of Transportation business programs might differ

Because of climate and other regional differences, other states' Department of Transportation regulations and programs may offer different types of advice, grants and contracts than Texas DOT.

I recommend: The business section of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website offers info on bidding for construction contracts and procuring consultant (engineering, etc.) contracts. Wisconsin Department of Transportation also offers funding and grant programs aimed at private contractors. For minority business owners, Wisconsin Department of Transportation offers their Minority Business Enterprise Program. The Iowa Department of Transportation offers a similar Disadvantaged Business Enterprises program, and provides information on how to become certified in order to do business with them. California Department of Transportation has their own unique programs that include their Legal Expert Witness Service and their Adopt-A-Highway Program. Illinois Department of Transportation sponsors their Operation Teen Safe Driving program, a statewide initiative to reduce teen road fatalities. RITA provides a listing of the websites for each individual state DOT.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The U.S. Department of Transportation employs about 60,000 people across the country and funds approximately $80 billion in grants, cooperative agreements, loans and other transactions.
• •  The self-governing territory of Puerto Rico has its own Department of Transportation with its own comprehensive business information services division.