US DOT Regulations for Marking Commercial Vehicles

USDOT# Requirements

A USDOT # must be displayed on each side of a self-propelled commercial motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross vehicle weight (GVW), or gross combination weight (GCW) of 10,001 lbs. or more, whichever is greater.

If a vehicle such as the 1/2-ton pickup above sometimes falls into a category of a CMV needing USDOT # and sometimes doesn’t, it’s fine to mark it with USDOT # and Company Name and its there when you need it. Enforcement officials cannot ticket your driver for not having a CDL if the vehicle is not in a CMV mode of transport. If your driver does get a ticket for no CDL just because the pickup has USDOT # on it, fight it.

Definition of a CMV

Commercial Motor Vehicle is any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:

Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater
Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation
Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and not used to transport passengers for compensation
Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous in a quantity requiring placarding
Marking a CMV

Every self-propelled CMV must be marked as specified below.

The legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier
The motor carrier identification number preceded by the letters “USDOT”
The name of any person who is leased to the motor carrier and the preceding words “operated by”
Size, shape, location, and color of marking must:

Appear on both sides of the self-propelled vehicle;
Be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed;
Be readily legible, during daylight hours, from a distance of 50 feet while the commercial vehicle is stationary; and
Be kept and maintained in a manner that retains legibility
The marking may be painted on the motor vehicle or may consist of a removable vinyl or magnetic device as long is it’s legible and maintained.

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