Vehicle Markings Guide
Texas Commercial Vehicle Markings: What Has to Be on Your Truck
Published . Updated .
Quick answer: Commercial vehicles under federal rules must show the carrier’s legal or trade name and its USDOT number on both sides, in contrasting letters readable from 50 feet in daylight. Texas adds its own rule for vehicles with three or more axles, truck-tractors, road-tractors and tow trucks. 1st Class Graphics in Mansfield, TX builds these markings into wraps and lettering.
The Federal Rule: 49 CFR 390.21
- What must be shown: the legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier, as filed with FMCSA, and the FMCSA number with the letters “USDOT” in front of it.
- “Operated by”: if another person’s name is on the vehicle, the operating carrier’s name and USDOT number follow the words “operated by”.
- Where: on both sides of the vehicle.
- How it must look: letters that contrast sharply with the background, readable in daylight from 50 feet while the vehicle is parked, and kept that way.
- How it can be applied: painted on, or a removable device that meets the same rules. Vinyl lettering and wraps both qualify when they meet them.
The Texas Rule: Transportation Code 642.002
- Which vehicles: a commercial motor vehicle with three or more axles, a truck-tractor, a road-tractor or a tow truck on a public street, road or highway.
- What is required: markings on each side of the power unit that either meet 49 CFR 390.21, or show the owner or operator’s name in clearly legible letters and numbers at least 2 inches tall, plus the motor carrier registration number when the vehicle must be registered under Chapter 642 or 643.
- Tow trucks also show the city of the place of business and its phone number, with area code.
- Penalty: a Class C misdemeanor. An owner who lets someone drive an unmarked vehicle commits an offense too.
- Exceptions (642.003): vehicles registered under Section 502.433, vehicles required to be registered under Natural Resources Code 113.131, private carriage already subject to 49 CFR 390.21, visibly marked public-utility vehicles, and vehicles hauling timber in its natural state to first processing.
Trade License Numbers on Texas Work Vehicles
Some licensed trades have their own marking rule on top of the carrier rules.
| Trade | What goes on the vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC | License number and company name, both sides, letters 2 inches or taller | 16 TAC 75.71 |
| Plumbing | Name and master plumber’s license number, both sides, contrasting letters, 2-inch minimum | 22 TAC 367.10 |
| Electrical | Name and TECL license number, both sides, contrasting letters, 2-inch minimum | 16 TAC 73.51 |
| Pest control | “TPCL #” and license number, both front doors or fenders, 2-inch minimum, permanent | 4 TAC 7.141 |
Plumbing uses the master plumber’s license number (M, MPL or RMP). Pest control markings must be permanently affixed, so magnets don’t count.
Each trade page covers its rule in detail: HVAC, plumbing, electrician and pest control. Confirm current requirements with TDLR, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners or the Texas Department of Agriculture.
How We Build Markings Into a Wrap
We place the company name and USDOT number in a high-contrast area on both doors, sized to read at 50 feet. We keep markings clear of handles, steps, ladder racks and mounted equipment, the same way the trade pages place license numbers where racks and tanks won’t cover them.
See commercial vehicle wraps, semi truck wraps and fleet vehicle wraps.
Vehicle Markings Checklist
Name as Filed
Use the legal or trade name exactly as filed with FMCSA.
USDOT Number
Show “USDOT” followed by your number.
Both Sides
Mark both sides of the power unit.
Readable at 50 Feet
Use high-contrast letters that read from 50 feet in daylight.
Texas 2-Inch Minimum
On 3+ axle vehicles, truck-tractors, road-tractors and tow trucks, letters at least 2 inches tall.
License Number
Licensed trade? Add your license number per your trade’s rule.
This guide summarizes federal and Texas marking rules as of November 2026 and isn’t legal advice. Confirm your requirements with FMCSA, TxDMV and your licensing agency.
Need markings that pass and still look good? Get a free quote with your USDOT or license number and photos of each vehicle.
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Vehicle Markings FAQs
Do I need a USDOT number on my pickup truck?
It depends on weight, passengers and where you drive. FMCSA requires one for vehicles in interstate commerce rated or weighing 10,001 pounds or more, counting a trailer in the combined rating, and for some passenger vehicles. Texas also requires some intrastate carriers to have one. Check FMCSA’s “Do I Need a USDOT Number?” page and TxDMV.
How big do USDOT numbers have to be?
The federal rule sets no fixed height: the marking must be readable from 50 feet in daylight. Texas sets a 2-inch minimum for the vehicles its rule covers.
Can USDOT markings be part of a vehicle wrap?
Yes. 49 CFR 390.21 allows a removable device as long as it meets the same legibility rules, and printed or cut vinyl does that when it contrasts with the background.
What does “operated by” mean on a truck?
If another person’s name is on the vehicle, the operating carrier’s name and USDOT number go after the words “operated by”, so it’s clear who runs the truck.
What happens if my truck isn’t marked in Texas?
Driving an unmarked vehicle that the Texas rule covers is a Class C misdemeanor, and so is letting someone else drive one.
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