USDOT only
Custom USDOT Logo
Your business name, city, USDOT and MC together on one decal. Pick color, pick size, stick it on.
$26$50per decal
By need
Owner Operator Truck Decals: Your Own Authority or a Leased Truck
Owner operator truck decals for your own authority or a leased truck: which name and USDOT number go on the door, MC layouts, and what to keep removable.
Owner operator truck decals depend on who is operating the truck. Under your own authority, the door carries your name and your USDOT number. Leased to a carrier, FMCSA guidance says the markings of the carrier responsible for the operation of the vehicle are the ones to display (FMCSA), so read your lease before you order anything.
Running under your own authority
The federal marking rule asks for the legal name or a single trade name of the carrier operating the truck, as listed on its registration, plus the USDOT number, on both sides (49 CFR 390.21). Our company name guide shows how to match your record.
MC is a separate number. FMCSA says no marking requirement exists for it (FMCSA), though many for-hire carriers add theirs anyway. The MC number guide covers when that makes sense. Two layouts handle most trucks:
- Custom USDOT Logo: name, city, USDOT and MC on one rectangle, $26 per decal.
- USDOT + MC Two-Line: $16.99 per decal, for a truck that already shows your name somewhere else.
Already have the USDOT number lettered and just got authority? A single MC Number Decal is $12.99.
Leased on to a carrier
Two FMCSA sources point the same way. The guidance above says that when two or more names are on a vehicle, the name of the operating carrier is preceded by the words "operated by." The lease rule adds that during a property-carrying lease, the carrier identifies the equipment under the vehicle-identification rules (49 CFR 376.11). So ask the carrier you lease to what it wants on your door before you spend any money.
If your own name stays on the door, the carrier's name and USDOT number follow it, with "operated by" in front (49 CFR 390.21). You can type those lines into the Make-Your-Own 5-Line decal, $45 per decal: the words OPERATED BY, the carrier's name, and its USDOT number.
What to keep removable
Put anything tied to one lease on its own decal. Your name and your own numbers share one rectangle, and the carrier's name and USDOT number go on another. When you change carriers, you peel one decal instead of redoing the door. Our guide on removing truck decals covers taking vinyl off without damaging paint.
The federal rule also allows a removable device, such as a magnetic sign, if it meets the same tests: both sides, sharp contrast, readable from 50 feet. Our decals are vinyl, not magnets, and the magnetic sign guide explains the trade-offs.
Order and budget
On your own authority, two Custom USDOT Logo decals for both doors come to $52, plus $5.99 shipping, or free shipping once the order reaches $99. Preview the lines in the door builder before you pay. If you are leased on, wait for the carrier's instructions and order only the decals that stay yours.
Frequently asked questions
What does "operated by" mean on a truck door?
It is wording from the marking rule for a vehicle that shows more than one name. The name and USDOT number of the carrier actually operating the truck come after the other name, with the words "operated by" in front of them. Picture an owner's name on the first line, then a second block naming the carrier that dispatches the truck (49 CFR 390.21).
Do I need an MC number as an owner operator?
It depends on the freight. FMCSA says companies that haul federally regulated commodities owned by others for a fee in interstate commerce generally need operating authority on top of a USDOT number, while private carriers hauling their own cargo do not (FMCSA). Showing the number on the door is optional either way.
Can I use a magnetic sign on a leased truck?
The federal rule allows removable markings that meet the same requirements as painted ones: both sides, sharp contrast, readable from 50 feet while stopped (49 CFR 390.21). Since the lease puts the identification on the carrier, ask whether it accepts removable markings before you buy any.
Which decal width fits a tractor door?
Widths are 12, 18 or 24 inches, and they describe the decal, not a legal letter height. Measure the clear area of your door, then check how the lines look in the live preview. Wider decals cost more in the builder: +$6 for 18 inches and +$14 for 24. The door size guide has more.
Decals for this
All decals →Regulation numbers
USDOT + MC Two-Line Decal
The classic interstate stack: USDOT over MC. Centered, spaced, 2" letters. Add GVW or CA# in the builder.
$16.99$28per decal
Regulation numbers
MC Number Decal
Your MC (docket) number on its own door decal. Type it, preview it, order. $12.99 each.
$12.99per decal
Keep reading
All guides →Rules and requirements
How to Get a USDOT Number: Steps, Cost and Timing
New USDOT numbers are applied for in FMCSA's Motus system. Here are the steps, an honest answer on cost and timing, and the look-alike sites to avoid.
Read →Rules and requirementsMC Number vs DOT Number: What Each One Is
A USDOT number is the safety registration every covered carrier has. An MC number is operating authority for for-hire carriers. Here is the difference and what goes on the door.
Read →Rules and requirementsWhere to Put the USDOT Number on Your Truck
The rule says both sides of the power unit but names no exact spot. Use this placement checklist for doors, pickups, rentals, leased trucks and trailers.
Read →More decals for your truck
All decals by vehicle →By need
USDOT Decal Requirements for a New Trucking Company
USDOT decal requirements for a new trucking company: register first, confirm the exact name on your record, then letter the truck. Layouts and prices.
See decals →By needWork Truck Door Decals for Landscapers and Contractors
Work truck door decals for landscaping, roofing, HVAC and construction: business name, phone and service line, plus USDOT only where the truck is covered.
See decals →By needMoving Truck Decals: Name, USDOT and Unit Numbers
Moving truck decals for box trucks and trailers: company name, USDOT and MC lines, unit numbers and a height decal, matched across every truck you run.
See decals →By needCompany Name Decals for Trucks: Name Lines, Arches and Fit
Company name decals for trucks: match the registered name where USDOT applies, choose arched or straight lettering, and fit long names to the width you pick.
See decals →See it on a truck door first
Type your lines, pick the size and colors, and watch your decal on the door. Questions? Email info@workdecals.com.