I am trying to find the correct letter sizes to use for vehicle lettering, commercial and farm. I have searched the MODOT website with no results.
Is this state or federal regulations?
I'm trying to break it down to: Name: Address: ICC#: USDOT#:
Does anyone have a source for this info? Possibly a website URL?
Thanks.
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
All I've ever been able to find out is that USDOT numbers must be "clearly readable from 50 ft", so I use Gemini's letter chart that says 3" letters. I have cut them smaller, though, when a customer requests it. If I do cut them 3", I use a condensed sanserif letter style to shorten the length of the line.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
hey, good question.
I have a Peterbuilt to letter later this week. I was trying to figure out what the requirements on the USDOT, KYU and ICC #s are. Thanks for beating me to the post.
Unless someone else has a different answer, I'll go with the 3".
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
2 inch helvetica or something similiar easily readable contrasting color.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Two inch is a figure that comes to mind from somewhere. It's the size I use for all the permit numbers. If you go with three inch and they have a lot of them, more than five, you end up with a block of copy that's hard to fit on the truck without fighting the rivits, bolts handles, hatches, etc.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I use 3 inch or larger for the main copy and 2 inch for all the USDOT, ICC and state numbers.
When all else fails, Helvetica Med for all the numbers, but usaully a style that goes with the main copy!
Some juristrictions actually measure them....I once had a tow truck rejected because the numbers were 1/32 inch too short! Luckily they were a caual style, and easily fixed!
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
I don't know the actual regulations but I have 3 trucking companies, whose trucks I letter. One has about 150 trucks on the road and the other two have around 25 each. All of them use 1.5" registration numbers, by their own choice. I don't know if it is "legal" but so far nobody has asked me to replace them with larger numbers. I would think that the larger company would have researched that topic fairly well before deciding on a size.
Posted by Kevin L. Kleinhans (Member # 1263) on :
Here in Michigan the company name must be in 3 inch. City name can be 2 inch. and ICC AND MDOT numbers must be a bold 2 inch. We have lettered trucks that travel the 49 states with out any problems when following these sizes. So far the one we lettered that took the highway to Hawaii hasn't called back yet..........so much for the 50th state...
Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
1.5" works well if there's a good contrast and you are using a helvetica or some other similar font.
I've seen some with lots of lines of LIC numbers that are as small as 1"... don't know how they get away with that.
I once had a customer who had been stopped by the DOT... was fined about $900.00 for "this and that".
One thing that was wrong was the size of his lettering, something that he did himself. He came to me and specifically wanted all letters to be 2.5" tall with each stem of each letter to be 1/2" wide. He had the name of his business, USDOT, 4 LIC numbers, town and phone.
I told him that this probably was not going to look good, he said to go for it... with spacing between the lines the area was something like 2.5 feet x 2.5 feet. You could read this WAY beyond 50 feet. I think his message was something like "here, shove this sign up your DOT *ss!
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
You have to realize that the DOT gets upset IF the Big Fat Guy in the weigh in booth has to actually get off his butt to read the number! So "contrasting"color and letter "heigth" are geared for this person and NOT the Trucking Company,nor the driver! In Alabama that equals to 2" on ALL numbers legally,minimum.Company namesare usally 3" by choice(although,they already have your number)
Posted by Brian K (Member # 1867) on :
Thanks for all the replies. If we were voting it appears the 2" would have it. 1 1/2" running a close second. Overall it looks like "High contrast".
I appreciate all the information.
Posted by Troy Haas (Member # 472) on :
Here is a question I can answer for sure, as I used to be an OTR Truck Driver and still have my Federal DOT book. It is the 1997 version but things like this do not usually chage. DOT & MCC numbers must be a min. of 2" tall with a plain font,no fancy scripts and must be in a contrasting color from the background. It also states it must be readable from 50'.
Luckily they were a caual style, and easily fixed! 
