SERVICE · US DOT DECALS
US DOT Number Decals
A US DOT number decal is the legal business name and USDOT number that federal law requires on both sides of your power unit. We cut them from high-contrast outdoor vinyl at our shop in Rolling Meadows, IL — most sets are ready the same day, and we ship anywhere in the US. Send your legal name and number and you will have a price in minutes.
SHORT ANSWER
Text or call us your legal business name and USDOT number. We lay out a compliant set — sharp contrast, readable from 50 feet, one for each side of the power unit — cut it in outdoor vinyl and hand it over pre-masked with a free squeegee. Most orders are done the same day in Rolling Meadows, IL; we ship nationwide if you are not local.
What you get
- Your legal or DBA business name, set exactly as it is registered
- The letters USDOT in front of your number, the way the rule requires it
- A matching set for both sides of the power unit
- About 2 inch letters as standard; 3 inch or taller on box trucks and day cabs
- High-contrast outdoor vinyl rated for years of weather, salt and washing
- Weeded and pre-masked on transfer tape, so the whole set goes on as one piece
- A free squeegee in every order, plus our step-by-step install guide
- MC number, GVWR and unit numbers worked into the same layout on request
What the rule actually requires
US DOT markings are governed by FMCSA regulation 49 CFR 390.21T. It sets a readability test rather than a fixed letter height:
- Sharp contrast. The letters must contrast sharply in color with the background they sit on.
- Legible from 50 feet. Readily legible in daylight from a distance of 50 feet — that is the actual federal standard.
- Both sides. The marking goes on both sides of the self-propelled power unit: the truck or tractor, not the trailer.
- Legal name plus USDOT. Your legal or DBA name, and the letters USDOT immediately before the number.
- Kept legible. It has to stay readable. Faded, peeling or half-scraped markings are a violation of their own.
Notice what is missing: a height in inches. That is why you see different "2 inch" and "3 inch" claims online — those come from individual state rules for intrastate operation, or from shops giving a safe rule of thumb. We cut to the safe side, because bigger is never a violation.
How ordering works
- 1
Send us the details
Call, text or fill in the quote form with your legal business name, your USDOT number and what you are running. A photo of the door helps us size it and match a contrasting color.
- 2
We lay it out
We set the type, size it for your door and pick a color that stands off your paint. You see the layout before anything is cut.
- 3
Cut and pre-masked
Cut in outdoor vinyl, weeded, and taped so the finished set transfers in one piece instead of letter by letter.
- 4
Pick up or ship
Most sets are ready the same day at the Rolling Meadows shop. Not local? We ship anywhere in the US.
Usually ordered with it
MC number decals
If you haul regulated freight for hire, your MC number belongs on the truck too — same layout, same trip.
GVWR and weight lettering
Some states and some operations need gross-weight lettering next to the DOT line.
Unit and truck numbers
Fleet numbering on the cab and the trailer keeps dispatch and roadside inspections straight.
Magnetic signs
Running a leased or personal vehicle? Magnetics carry the same information and come off when the job is done.
US DOT decal questions we get every day
- How big do US DOT numbers have to be?
- Federal law does not set a letter height. 49 CFR 390.21T requires the marking to contrast sharply with the background and be readily legible in daylight from 50 feet. In practice about 2 inches passes reliably on a standard cab, and we go 3 inches or taller on box trucks and day cabs. Bigger is never a violation. A few states do set their own minimum height for intrastate operation, so check your state rule as well.
- How fast can I get them?
- Most sets are cut the same day at our Rolling Meadows, IL shop. Call or text in the morning and it is usually ready that afternoon. If you are not local we ship anywhere in the US.
- What does a set cost?
- It depends on the number of lines, the letter height and the colors, so we quote each set instead of posting one flat price. Call or text your name and number and you will have a price in minutes.
- What do you need from me?
- Your legal or DBA business name exactly as it is registered, your USDOT number, and your MC number if you have one. A photo of the door and your paint color helps us pick a vinyl that contrasts properly.
- Do the numbers go on the trailer too?
- No. The USDOT marking belongs on both sides of the power unit — the truck or tractor. Trailers usually carry unit numbers or company lettering instead, and we cut those as well.
- Can I install them myself?
- Yes, and most of our customers do. Every order includes a free squeegee, and our install guide walks through the dry and the wet method step by step. If a letter fights you, call us and we will talk you through it.
- How long do they last?
- We cut outdoor-rated vinyl that holds up to years of weather, road salt and washing. Hand wash it and keep the pressure washer off the edges and it stays sharp.
- Do pickups and hotshots need them?
- If you operate commercially and have been issued a USDOT number, the same marking rule applies to a pickup or a hotshot rig as to a Class 8 tractor. We letter them all the time.
Read up before you order
Same-day US DOT decals near you
Get your US DOT decals cut today
Call or text your legal business name and USDOT number — we will quote it in minutes. Mon–Fri 11 AM–5 PM in Rolling Meadows, IL, with nationwide shipping.
224.400.0950Get a Free Quote
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