USDOT Compliance
In order to give a head start on making sense of the regulations, and to help make sure all of our customers are USDOT compliant we decided to list these here today.
Below is a list of common US DOT
questions we receive, as well as the answers and links to where we dug them up. (see below for helpful links)
What size should my USDOT truck lettering be?
Through my research and
in speaking with the USDOT, they require that lettering be able to be seen from a
distance of 50 feet away while the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is stationary.
This can be somewhat subjective, so to clear things up, in order to be seen
from 50’ away, the lettering must be at least 2” tall. Often our customers opt
for the 3.5” tall USDOT numbers in order to go beyond the requirement and
insure compliance without a doubt.
Are magnets legal to use
for my USDOT numbers?
Yes, per USDOT
regulation, markings can be painted on, or may consist of a removable device.
Where do I place my
numbers?
The placement of the
USDOT number must appear on both sides of the vehicle. There is no clear
direction as to where on the vehicle they must be. The exact wording from the
USDOT is “Appear on both sides of the self-propelled CMV.
What color should my
USDOT numbers be?
The US Department of
Transportation requires the lettering to contrast sharply with the background
of the vehicle. They do not have a specific color combination that they
require, as long as the colors contrast sharply.
Do I need my business
name on my vehicle?
The USDOT states that
the legal name or single trade name of the motor carrier operating the vehicle
must be listed on the motor carrier identification report.
I rent a Commercial
Motor Vehicle, do any special rules apply to me?
Yes, there are some additional details that you will need to review. If the vehicle is rented for less than
30 days, you will need to comply with the following:
The lessor Id number
preceded by USDOT must be displayed. The name and address of the principle
place of business renting the vehicle must be displayed, as well as the ID
number of the renting motor carrier, if they have been issued a number.
To get further into
detail on compliance regulations, please contact your local USDOT field office.
You can find the phone list for the Department of Transportation field offices
at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/offices/displayfieldroster.aspx#IN
The answers to the above
questions were taken from the USDOT website and can also be found at the following
link: