Because a lot of lighting projects are associated with state highways, projects often require Department of Transportation certification. DOT inspectors will often inspect light pole anchor bolts and the mill test reports in the bolt manufacturing facility before giving their stamp of approval for shipping. All orders that have inspection requirements must have DOT approval before being installed.

Each state department of transportation has its own requirements for inspecting materials. For example, the Washington DOT will only inspect high-strength, heat-treated material. The requirements vary by state, so if you have a DOT project, make sure the manufacturer knows what your DOT requires for inspections.

Almost all state Department of Transportation projects throughout the USA require 100% domestic materials due to the fact they are federally funded. A common specification for fasteners on these projects is AASHTO. The AASHTO acronym stands for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Most of the AASHTO specifications cross-certify directly to an ASTM specification. See the AASHTO to ASTM cross reference chart below.