Are Your Vehicles Properly Marked?

Marking your vehicles isn’t just a formality, it is a key step in remaining safe and compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). However, determining which vehicles need to display identification and what information must be shown can be confusing. 

Several factors influence the answer to these questions. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you’re required to mark your vehicles: 

• Is the vehicle a self-propelled commercial motor vehicle (CMV) subject to FMCSA regulations? 
• Does the vehicle operate in interstate commerce, including crossing state lines or furthering interstate commerce within a state? 
• Does the vehicle meet the CMV definition based on weight, passenger capacity, or transportation of a placardable quantity of hazardous materials? 
• If the vehicle is rented or leased, are you going to be operating it for more than 30- days? 
• If the vehicle operates only intrastate, does that state require you to comply with the federal DOT marking rules? 

If your answer to one or more of these questions is “yes,” then you need to mark your vehicles. 

What must the markings contain? 

Enforcement officers should be able to quickly and easily identify the motor carrier operating the vehicle. The marking must include: 

• The legal name or one trade name of the motor carrier operating the vehicle, as listed with FMCSA. 
• The carrier’s FMCSA-issued identification number, preceded by “USDOT.” 
• If another company name appears on the vehicle, the operating carrier’s name and USDOT number must be shown after the words “operated by.” 

If you wish to go above and beyond, you may add your operating location or additional contact information, but this is not required per the FMCSRs.  

How should the markings be displayed? 

The key to properly displaying your markings is to ensure they are easily legible. To ensure this, the FMCSA has implemented the following guidelines: 

• The markings must appear on both sides of the self-propelled CMV; 
• The lettering must contrast sharply with the background color; 
• The markings must be readable from 50 feet during daylight hours while the vehicle is stationary; and 
• The markings must be maintained so they remain legible. 

While permanent markings are most common, FMCSA permits removable signs, as long as they meet the visibility, location, and durability requirements listed above. 

The bottom line

Ensure enforcement officials are able to quickly and easily identify your vehicles with clear markings on both sides of your vehicles.