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number9 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 75 Location: KY

Okay, going to get new lettering for our truck and need to know what has to be on the truck. Anyone got a link to a website that tells what all has to be on the truck ie. US DOT, KYU, VIN, etc......and any size/color/font restrictions, guidelines that need to be followed. I have used the search function and can't find what I am looking for.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

Yup, I need that info also.

OverTheRoad · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject:

I had a tinting shop do my vinyl lettering for my truck. He said the only lettering that has to be visible from a certain distance is the DOT #. He said it has to do with scale houses. I don't remember the exact size but if your lettering guy has done other commercial trucks he might know the size.
A far as the Vin and KYU I never put them on my truck. All I had was the graphic you see as my avatar and my DOT # and my truck number. My DOT # was black with a red shadow. All the fonts were the same.

Jackrabbit379 · Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 4754 Location: Wichita Falls,Tx

Ahh pooeey! Leave the truck,blank. Job security for the DOT. Keep em on their toes. :P

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

Jackrabbit379 wrote: Ahh pooeey! Leave the truck,blank. Job security for the DOT. Keep em on their toes. :P

Yeah-Live dangerously.

number9 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 75 Location: KY

Jackrabbit379 wrote: Ahh pooeey! Leave the truck,blank. Job security for the DOT. Keep em on their toes. :P

Naw, I'd rather not give them an excuse to pull him over to the side. If they ain't got you stopped, they can't find something to nit-pick over.

Come on guys, what do some of you others have on the truck?

Jackrabbit379 · Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 4754 Location: Wichita Falls,Tx

Just for an example....

Cow Mesa Trucking
Podunk,TX
US DOT 1234567890
GVR 00,000

Fire Extinguisher Inside :P

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9780 Location: Tennessee

You will need the name of your company or what you put on your application for authority, along with the city and state where you base your operations. You will need to put your DOT number and truck number. When you get your base plates, etc., you will be asked a truck number. You decide what that number should be. You will only need the vin number on the passenger side of the truck if you are planning on running Colorado. You only need the last 8 digits of the number. I put my MC number on my truck, although it is no longer necessary. If you run certain states and have intrastate authority, some also put those numbers. I don't know any requirement as to color, however it should be easily readable when you pass through a scale. You will want to use a 3 or 4 inch letter. I use white lettering on my trucks. It is easier to read. I recommend using a block letter, such as Helvitica. It is easy to read. Some use script but it is not easy to read.

number9 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 75 Location: KY

Okay, since our truck is leased on, do I need to put our company name with our city, state AND the "Leased to:" company and city, state?

Like......

in larger text

Our Trucking, Inc
Hometown, KY

and then in smaller text

Leased to:
Their Trucking, Inc
Uptown, Ky

Jackrabbit379 · Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 4754 Location: Wichita Falls,Tx

Yeah you can. Lots of owner opps have their company name on the truck,and then they have their name on it as well. Yall correct me if Im wrong,but I think the company name is on the door,and then the owner's name is on another place of the power body,mostly on the sleeper.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

I didn't realize it but I actually have the document in front of me. I'm applying for my authority at the moment and they gave me a few printed things and this was one of them.

In addition; 49 C.F.R. 390.21 -- Marking of commercial motor vehicles, is incorporated into state law by State Statute 75-363.

? The following vehicle markings are necessary to comply with ? 390.21 ?

(A) Nature of marking. The marking must display the following information:

(1) The legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier operating the self-propelled commercial motor vehicle, as listed on the motor carrier identification report you submitted to the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division, and

(2) The Motor Carrier Identification Number (DOT number) issued; displayed in the following sequence:

(i) the letters ?USDOT?

(ii) the assigned Motor Carrier Identification Number (DOT number)

(iii) followed by an ?NE? suffix.

(3) If the name of any person other than the operating carrier appears on the commercial motor vehicle, the name of the operating carrier must be followed by the information required by paragraphs (A)(1), and (A)(2) of this section, and be preceded by the words ?operated by.?

(4) Other identifying information may be displayed on the vehicle if it is not inconsistent with the information required by this paragraph.

(5) Each motor carrier shall meet the following requirements pertaining to its operation:

(i) All commercial motor vehicles that are part of a motor carrier's existing fleet on July 3, 2000, and which are not marked with the legal name or a single trade name on both sides of their commercial motor vehicles, as shown on the Motor Carrier Identification Report must come into compliance with paragraph (A)(1) by July 5, 2005.

(ii) All commercial motor vehicles added to a motor carrier's fleet on or after July 3, 2000, must meet the requirements of this section before being put into service and operating on public ways.

(B) Size, shape, location, and color of marking. The marking must:

(1) Appear on both sides of the self-propelled commercial motor vehicle;

(2) Be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed;

(3) Be readily legible, during daylight hours, from a distance of 50 feet while the commercial motor vehicle is stationary; and

(4) Be kept and maintained in a manner that retains the legibility required by paragraph (B)(3) of this section.

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9780 Location: Tennessee

I am not sure why you would need to put "NE" on the end of your DOT number unless they are only talking about intrastate authority for Nebraska. You don't need to put any letters on the end of your USDOT number. You can probably go to the Federal website and find what you need.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

That was from the Federal site. They used Nebraska as an example I'm assuming.

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9780 Location: Tennessee

I don't know of anyone who has letters after their DOT number. If you have intrastate authority you may want to put their state MC number on the side of your truck. Usually it will read CA 123456 (California) or TX 123456 (Texas).

number9 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 75 Location: KY

I am pretty sure the state letters at the end of the USDOT # is for intRAstate only and not required for intERstate, atleast that is the way I have read it while digging into this topic.

I used the blue masking tape to "mock-up" letter size and positioning on the truck to kind of get an idea of how it will look. Also drove around to a few trucks and took some measurements of the lettering to get an idea. I read somewhere that the USDOT letters should be 2", and readable from 50ft. But smaller letters on a few tricks I seen were easliy readable from 50ft - I think I will go with 1-1/2" letters for that.

Still can't decide (or figure out for sure) where/how to put our comapany name and the leased to company name on the truck. I would like to avoid anything on the doors and the sleeper extenders will be pretty busy with the MC, KYU, DOT and VIN lettering.

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