USDOT Number Requirements by State
Requirements for USDOT lettering in all 50 states and Washington DC, with the letter height each one expects. States with their own rules beyond the federal baseline link to a full guide.
The federal baseline (49 CFR 390.21):
Both sides of the self-propelled CMV must display: (1) the legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier, and (2) the USDOT identification number preceded by the letters 'USDOT'. If another party's name also appears, the operating carrier's info must be preceded by 'operated by'. Marking must be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background, be readily legible during daylight hours from 50 fe
Both sides of the self-propelled CMV must display: (1) the legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier, and (2) the USDOT identification number preceded by the letters 'USDOT'. If another party's name also appears, the operating carrier's info must be preceded by 'operated by'. Marking must be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background, be readily legible during daylight hours from 50 fe
Requirements by state
| State | Min. height | State rule |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2" | Applies the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule to intrastate CMVs at 26,001 lb GVWR/GCWR and up (Ala. Code 32-9A-2; ALEA Motor Carrier Safety Unit), so those trucks carry an interstate or intrastate USDOT number; lighter intrastate trucks without passengers or hazmat are exempt, as are farm vehicles within 150 air miles of the farm. |
| Alaska | 2" | Intrastate-only carriers must file a motor carrier identification report with FMCSA and receive an intrastate USDOT identification before operating, displayed with the 49 CFR 390.21 markings (17 AAC 25.210); full adoption applies over 26,001 lb, with a reduced rule set at 14,001-26,000 lb. |
| Arizona | 2" | Incorporates the FMCSRs including 49 CFR Part 390 for all intrastate and interstate carriers (A.A.C. R17-5-202), and an intrastate CMV may not be operated without an active USDOT number (R17-5-206(B)); no state suffix appears in the current rules. |
| Arkansas | 2" | The State Highway Commission adopts the FMCSRs at 49 CFR Parts 383-399, including the 390.21 marking rule, for interstate and intrastate operations, enforced by the Arkansas Highway Police (Rule 17.1, General Safety Requirements). |
| California | 2" | CVC 27900: name/trademark both sides, sharp contrast, legible at 50 ft. Intrastate motor carriers also display CA motor-carrier permit number ('CA #'), CVC 34507.5. |
| Colorado | 2" | Intrastate-only carriers append suffix 'CO' to the USDOT number (Colorado State Patrol). |
| Connecticut | 2" | Incorporates 49 CFR Parts 382-397 including the 390.21 marking rule for intrastate carriers at 18,001 lb GVWR or more (Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-163c) - a higher intrastate threshold than the federal 10,001 lb definition; CT DMV issues intrastate USDOT numbers at that threshold and for placarded hazmat and the passenger classes. |
| Delaware | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-397 including the 390.21 marking rule as state law (21 Del. C. 4702(a)); intrastate vehicles of 26,000 lb GVWR or less are exempt except placarded hazmat and 16-plus-passenger vehicles (4702(b)). |
| Florida | 2" | Adopts FMCSRs for intrastate carriers (Fla. Stat. 316.302). |
| Georgia | 2" | Intrastate carriers display USDOT number with 'GA' suffix (GA DPS). |
| Hawaii | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs (49 CFR Parts 383, 385, 386 and 390-399), including the 390.21 marking rule, for both interstate and intrastate operations (HAR 19-141-4, 19-141-5). |
| Idaho | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-399 and strips the federal intrastate exemptions, so the 390.21 marking rule reaches intrastate carriers (IDAPA 11.13.01); Idaho State Police issue intrastate DOT numbers for vehicles of 26,001 lb GVWR or more, placarded hazmat, or 8-plus passengers. |
| Illinois | 2" | Intrastate for-hire: name (or logo) + license number preceded by 'ILL.C.C.' and followed by carrier-type letter(s), both sides; letters min 2 in high, 1/2 in wide, contrasting, legible at 50 ft (ICC). |
| Indiana | 2" | Incorporates 49 CFR Parts 390-393 and 395-398 into state law for both interstate and intrastate motor carriers (IC 8-2.1-24-18); intrastate carriers not operating under USDOT-issued authority instead register with the Department of State Revenue and display that certification number preceded by the letters 'IN'. |
| Iowa | 2" | Intrastate for-hire vehicles are marked with the carrier name and USDOT number, legible at 50 ft in a contrasting color, with 'IA' following the number for intrastate-only carriers (Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-524.12); interstate carriers mark per 49 CFR 390.21 as adopted in 761-Chapter 520. |
| Kansas | 2" | Each Kansas-based motor carrier must obtain a USDOT number and mark its CMVs per 49 CFR 390.21 as adopted by the Corporation Commission, with 'or intrastate' inserted into the CMV definition (K.A.R. 82-4-8h via 82-4-3f). |
| Kentucky | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-397 for intrastate and interstate carriers; intrastate carriers display their assigned number per 390.21 with the number preceded by 'USDOT' and followed by 'KY' (601 KAR 1:005). Farm-to-market vehicles of 26,000 lb GVWR or less are exempt from the USDOT number. |
| Louisiana | 2" | State Police safety rules adopt the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule (LAC 33:V.10303), and extend them to intrastate vehicles over 26,000 lb gross weight not otherwise subject to the federal rules (LAC 33:V.10305). |
| Maine | 2" | USDOT required for intrastate CMVs; federal marking standard. |
| Maryland | 2" | Incorporates the FMCSRs including 49 CFR Part 390 (COMAR 11.21.01); every registered truck over 10,000 lb, truck tractor, and bus must display either a USDOT number or a Maryland-issued intrastate motor carrier identification number, to the same marking standard (MDOT SHA). |
| Massachusetts | 2" | USDOT required and marked on intrastate CMVs (MassDOT/RMV); federal marking standard. |
| Michigan | 2" | Adopts federal USDOT marking for intrastate carriers. |
| Minnesota | 2" | Intrastate carriers mark name + USDOT per 390.21 (MnDOT Truck Book s.15). |
| Mississippi | 2" | The Transportation Commission promulgates the USDOT safety rules, including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule, as its own (Miss. Code Ann. 77-7-16); intrastate safety jurisdiction covers vehicles over 26,000 lb GVWR and placarded hazmat at any weight. |
| Missouri | 2" | Federal marking + intrastate-only carriers append 'MO' immediately after the USDOT number (7 CSR 265-10.025). |
| Montana | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule (ARM 18.8.1502); the department assigns each intrastate carrier a USDOT number, which is marked on the vehicle immediately followed by the state abbreviation 'MT'. |
| Nebraska | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-396, including the 390.21 marking rule, as state law for intrastate carriers over 10,000 lb (Neb. Rev. Stat. 75-363); registered farm trucks operating solely intrastate are exempt from the marking rule. |
| Nevada | 2" | Intrastate common/contract carriers: name both sides in letters >= 2 in, contrasting, legible at 50 ft (NAC 706.170); CPCN holders also display 'CPCN' + certificate number >= 2 in at rear. |
| New Hampshire | 2" | Incorporates 49 CFR Parts 385-397 (plus 107 and 382), including the 390.21 marking rule, for all motor carriers and CMV drivers in either intrastate or interstate commerce (N.H. Code Admin. R. Saf-C 901.01-.02). |
| New Jersey | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule and requires an active USDOT number for intrastate CMVs of 10,001 lb or more (N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1); commercial vehicles must also display the owner's name and municipality of principal place of business in letters at least 3 in high (N.J.S.A. 39:4-46). |
| New Mexico | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 385, 387 and 390 including the 390.21 marking rule for interstate and intrastate carriers (18.2.3.10 NMAC); intrastate carriers obtain a New Mexico safety identification number from the MVD and mark it on the vehicle preceded by the letters 'USDOT'. |
| New York | 2" | Intrastate CMVs over 10,000 lb GVWR: legal name + USDOT both sides (NYSDOT). NYC ONLY: commercially-registered vehicles must show owner name + address in letters at least 3 in high on doors/side panels (NYC Admin Code 10-127). |
| North Carolina | 2" | Vehicles subject to 49 CFR Part 390 are marked per the federal rule (G.S. 20-101(a)); intrastate vehicles over 26,000 lb gross weight must show the owner's name plus the USDOT number followed by 'NC', in letters at least 3 in high (G.S. 20-101(b)). |
| North Dakota | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Part 390 including the 390.21 marking rule for interstate and intrastate carriers (N.D. Admin. Code 38-04-01-02, implementing N.D.C.C. 39-21-46); intrastate vehicles of 26,000 lb or less are exempt unless hauling placarded hazmat or meeting the passenger thresholds. |
| Ohio | 2" | Federal marking for intrastate; PUCO number preceded by 'PUCO' may be displayed in lieu of USDOT number (OAC 4901:2-5-10). |
| Oklahoma | 2" | Every intrastate motor carrier must obtain and display a USDOT number, marked per 49 CFR 390.21(b)-(d); numbers designated intrastate-only are followed by the letters 'OK' (OAC 165:30-3-17). |
| Oregon | 2" | USDOT required for intrastate operations; federal marking standard. |
| Pennsylvania | 2" | PUC-certificated intrastate carriers: name or insignia + PUC certificate number each side, letters >= 2 in high and 1/2 in wide (52 Pa. Code 29.71). UCR-registered vehicles marked with USDOT are exempt. |
| Rhode Island | 2" | All CMVs of 10,001 lb GVWR or more must meet the FMCSRs in 49 CFR Parts 387 and 390-399, including the 390.21 marking rule (R.I. Gen. Laws 31-23-1); intrastate common and contract carriers also display their certificated name and RI certificate or permit number on both sides, visible at 50 ft (815-RICR-50-05-1). |
| South Carolina | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule for all motor carrier vehicles in interstate and intrastate commerce (S.C. Code Regs. 38-424); the State Transport Police's intrastate DOT-number program has intrastate-only carriers display the number followed by 'SC' (SC DPS FAQ). |
| South Dakota | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Part 387 and Parts 390-397 including the 390.21 marking rule, with interstate references extended to intrastate operations (SDCL 49-28A-3); intrastate vehicles under 26,001 lb are outside Parts 390-397 unless hauling placarded hazmat or built for more than 15 passengers. |
| Tennessee | 2" | Adopts the federal safety regulations, including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule, for intrastate as well as interstate carriers (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-06-01-.08). |
| Texas | 2" | Owner/operator name + either 49 CFR 390.21 compliance or letters/numbers at least 2 in high; TxDMV motor-carrier registration number also required where applicable (TX DPS CVE; Transp. Code ch. 643). |
| Utah | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs including the 49 CFR 390.21 marking rule for intrastate commercial motor carriers (Utah Admin. Code R909-1-3); intrastate coverage generally begins at 26,000 lb GVWR/GCWR (Utah Code 72-9-102(3)). |
| Vermont | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-397 and 399 with 'interstate' construed to mean both interstate and intrastate transportation, applying the 390.21 marking rule to intrastate carriers of 26,001 lb or more (Code Vt. R. 14-050-036). |
| Virginia | 2" | State Police motor carrier safety regulations adopt 49 CFR Parts 390-397, including the 390.21 marking rule, for every person and CMV operating in interstate or intrastate commerce in the Commonwealth (19VAC30-20-80). |
| Washington | 2" | USDOT required/displayed for intrastate CMVs 16,001+ lb GVW, hazmat any weight, and UTC-regulated carriers; federal marking standard. |
| Washington DC | 2" | Adopts 49 CFR Parts 390-397 by reference and amends 49 CFR 390.3(a) to add 'or intrastate', applying the 390.21 marking rule to vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR/GCWR, 15-plus-passenger vehicles, and placarded hazmat within the District (18 DCMR 1400-1405). |
| West Virginia | 2" | Every carrier in intrastate or interstate commerce must obtain and conspicuously display the USDOT number with the 49 CFR 390.21 markings on for-hire vehicles and commercial vehicles of 10,001 lb GVWR or more (150 CSR 9 s. 4.13); for-hire carriers also display their trade name and WV PSC certificate or permit number on each side (s. 4.12). |
| Wisconsin | 2" | USDOT number required for intrastate as well as interstate operation (Wis. Admin. Code Trans 327.03(1), adopting 49 CFR 390.19; State Patrol brochure), displayed per the federal 390.21 standard; Trans 325 adopts Parts 390-397 for property carriers. |
| Wyoming | 2" | Adopts the FMCSRs including 49 CFR Part 390, extended to intrastate carriers of 26,001 lb or more (WYDOT Rules, Motor Carriers, Ch. 1); the rules rewrite 390.21(b)(3) so WYDOT-issued intrastate numbers display as 'USDOT' plus the number followed by the suffix 'WY'. |
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Martin Graphics is a sign shop, not a regulatory agency. We publish this as a courtesy and keep it as accurate as we can, but rules change and enforcement varies. You are solely responsible for confirming and meeting the requirements that apply to your vehicle or vessel.