DOT Interface

This help topic is applicable to the following TireMaster applications:

TireMaster Point of Sale

TireMaster Plus

TireMaster Corporate

With the DOT Interface for TireMaster, you can record tire identification numbers (TINs) when you complete sale invoices. If you have a subscription to the CIMS Tire Registration Clearing House, you can also use the interface to submit ID numbers to CIMS electronically. Electronic submission of identification numbers occurs on the first day of the month. If you offer the Tire Pros Tire Protection Plan, you can also print registration certificates with the DOT Interface.

Note: If you’ll be signing a contract with the CIMS Tire Registration Clearing House, keep in mind that CIMS charges one-time registration and setup fees for new users of its automatic registration service. CIMS also charges dealers a small fee for each tire registered.

Before you can record tire identification numbers with the DOT Interface, you need to define which of your inventory categories are assigned to tires. If you want to electronically submit tire identification numbers to CIMS, you also need to enter the credentials issued to you by this tire registration clearing house.

Updating your inventory categories for tires ensures that TireMaster will prompt you for tire identification numbers at point of sale.

To update your tire inventory categories

1. Select Inventory > Categories. The Inventory Category List opens.
2. For each tire category, do the following:
a. Select a category on the list, and click Edit.
b. Select the Tire check box, and click OK.
3. When you’re done updating all of your tire categories, close the Inventory Category List.

To use the DOT Interface you need to set a pair of system controls. One control activates the interface and the other one defines whether recording tire identification numbers is required.

To set the DOT Interface controls

1. Select Setup > System Controls. The System Controls screen opens.
2. Click the Other tab.
3. Activate the DOT Interface.
a. Select DOT Interface - Enabled, and press Enter.
b. Select Yes to enable the collection of DOT numbers. To disregard gathering DOT numbers, select No instead.
4. Define whether collecting DOT numbers is required.
a. Select DOT Interface - Entry Bypass, and press Enter.
b. To require the entry of tire identification numbers, select No. To allow users to disregard entering tire identification numbers, select Yes.
5. Click OK.
6. Close the System Controls screen.

Before you can submit tire identification numbers to CIMS, you need to complete settings that allow TireMaster to communicate with this tire registration clearing house.

Note: If you recorded tire identification numbers with the DOT Interface before activating electronic submission, those previously gathered ID numbers will be included in the first batch of data sent to CIMS.

To enter your CIMS credentials

1. Open an existing work order that includes tires, or start a new work order and add a tire to it.
2. Click Complete. The DOT Information screen opens.
3. Click Setup. The DOT Setup screen opens.
4. Type the dealer ID, user name, password, and FTP location provided to you by CIMS.
5. Define the types of customers who buy the tires for which you want to collect DOT numbers.
a. Click Customer Types. The Customer/Vendor Type List appears.
b. Do one of the following:

For a single customer type, select it and click OK.

For multiple customer types, press the Ctrl key, select each type you want to assign, and click OK.

For all customer types, leave the field blank.

6. If you want tire identification numbers to be sent to CIMS electronically on the first day of the month, select the Send DOT Information check box.
7. To save your changes, click OK.
8. Close the DOT Information screen and the work order.

You can record tire identification numbers when completing sale invoices. Whether you’re required to enter these numbers depends on your system control settings. For more information, see

To record tire identification numbers

1. On the Invoice Entry screen, click Complete. Then assign the salesperson, mechanic, or both, if you’re prompted for this information. The DOT Information screen opens. For more information, see Complete an Invoice.
2. Type the identification number for the first tire listed.
3. Type the identification numbers for the remaining tires. If the numbers for the remaining tires are the same or similar to the number for the first tire, click Copy DOT to the next line for each additional tire and make changes to individual identification numbers as needed.
4. To save your entries, click OK. Then complete the invoice. The numbers you entered are included on both the original invoice and duplicate invoices.
In TireMaster Corporate, tire identification numbers are available only when a duplicate invoice is printed at the store where the original sale occurred.

If your store offers the Tire Pros Tire Protection Plan, you can produce warranty registration certificates when recording tire identification numbers. The Tire Protection Plan Registration Certificate is a preprinted form that you load in your printer. With the DOT Interface, you can add buyer, seller, tire, and vehicle information to the certificate, along with serial numbers for each tire sold.

To print Tire Protection Plan certificates

1. Record the identification number for each tire you’re selling to the customer on the DOT Information screen. For more information, see Record Tire Identification Numbers.
2. Load one or more preprinted forms for the Tire Protection Plan Registration Certificate in the printer.
3. Click Print. The Report Window opens and displays the information that will be added to the preprinted form.
4. Print one or more copies of the certificate, and close the Report Window. Certificates cannot be printed after the invoice is completed.