Tanker Truck Decals: Name, Number and Unit Lettering

Tanker truck decals carry the same three things as any truck door: the carrier's name, its USDOT number and, if you add one, your own unit number. This page covers those and nothing more. Placards, and any marking tied to what a tank carries, are a separate regulated topic that we do not cover, so ask FMCSA or your state agency about them.

Name and number on the cab door

For a covered truck, 49 CFR 390.21 comes down to a name and a number: the carrier's legal name or single trade name, and its USDOT number, on both sides, with sharp contrast and legibility from 50 feet in daylight while stopped. The rule applies to the power unit, so the lettering goes on the tractor and not on the tank trailer. Our trailer guide explains the split.

A sample door, with made-up details:

• HIGH DESERT TANK LINES INC
• CASPER, WY
• USDOT 1357924
• MC 246801

That is the Custom USDOT Logo at $32 per decal, one for each door. If a state or lessor also wants CA, KYU, TXDOT or GVW lines, the four-line stack is $28.99. It carries numbers only, so the name must be lettered elsewhere on the door. Ask your state which numbers it wants, and see USDOT number requirements by state. On a tractor cab, the semi truck door decals page compares door stacks.

A unit number for the tractor and the tank

When a tank trailer can be hitched to more than one tractor, give each its own number, the way you would for any trailer. Sample pair:

• TRACTOR 22
• TANK 22

The Truck Unit Number Decal is one line at $18.99 per decal, which suits the tractor or a straight truck. The Trailer / Unit Number pair is $24.99 and adds a GVWR line for the tank trailer. Type the GVWR from the manufacturer's rating, as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T, and not from a scale ticket. A unit number is your own identification, not a federal marking, and the unit number guide covers formats.

Curved shells and flat decals

Our decals are flat rectangles, and a tank shell is round. Before you order, tape a paper rectangle at the width you have in mind. If the paper buckles or will not lie without folds, vinyl is likely to behave the same way. Pick the flattest stretch you can find, and keep clear of seams, hatches, ladders, catwalk rails and fittings.

Surface matters too. Our instructions assume a clean, dry surface free of wax or polish. A painted shell, bare metal and a polished finish are not the same, so if you are unsure about yours, ask through the contact form before you order.

Washing and contrast

If your tanker is washed often, go easy on the decals. Avoid aiming a pressure washer's jet at an edge, since a strong jet can lift a corner, and skip abrasive cleaners, which are outside our guarantee. The rule asks that the marking be kept legible, so a clean door matters as much as the vinyl.

Choose a sticker and lettering pair with a wide gap in lightness: black on yellow or white, or white on black. A bright metal tank next to a dark cab does not change that, because our decals are solid rectangles that carry their own background. Steps for the application are in how to install truck door decals.