Under 49 CFR 390.21, a self-propelled commercial motor vehicle must display, on both sides, the legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier operating it, and the carrier's USDOT number preceded by the letters "USDOT". The marking must be in letters that contrast sharply with the background and be readable from 50 feet in daylight while the vehicle is stationary.

The regulation specifies legibility from 50 feet, not a number. The industry standard most enforcement officers expect is about 2-inch letters. The studio shows the real letter height for every size and warns you below 2 inches; we won't print a USDOT line under 1.5 inches.

Only if your operating authority or state requires it. For-hire interstate carriers often show their MC number; California intrastate carriers display a CA number; some states want GVWR or city and state. The studio offers these as optional lines — check with FMCSA or your state agency if you're not sure.

One or the other, as shown on your MCS-150 registration — not both. If you operate under a trade name, use that single trade name.

Rectangle is a solid panel in your background color, cut to a clean rectangle. Contour cut traces tightly around the lettering block with a thin halo of background color, so there's no big panel on the door. Both are printed on the same white vinyl; the contour version has no large background.

Yes. Design as many as you like and download PNG or SVG at no charge, with no account. You only pay if you have decals printed.

No. We build the decal to what the regulation specifies and flag anything that doesn't meet the common legibility and contrast standards, but requirements vary by state and authority, and the information on your registration is yours to verify. Confirm with FMCSA or your state if in doubt.

3–5 business days after you approve your artwork and place the order, with free shipping. Approval happens on the order page before checkout.

No. The designer runs in your browser, free, with no account. Nothing you type or design is sent to us unless you choose to order — the free downloads are generated on your device.

Two files: a print-ready PNG at 300 DPI, sized to the decal you chose, and an SVG with live text that any sign shop or cutting software can edit. Both are free and yours to use anywhere. The SVG carries a small Grabatee credit line below the decal, outside the cut — it sits on its own layer and deletes in one click.

The designer measures the USDOT line in real inches. Two inches or taller meets the standard most enforcement expects; between 1.5″ and 2″ you get a warning; under 1.5″ ordering is blocked. Contrast between the lettering and the background is checked the same way — sharp combinations pass, and pairings too faint to read from a distance are blocked before you can order.

Three, all built for vehicle doors: Tall (condensed — fits long names), Block (heavy square letters), and Standard (clean bold). The preview sets your own name in each, so you can pick the one that fills your panel best.

Click Order printed decals and the order page opens with your artwork loaded, your size preselected, and a banner confirming the design. Pick how many pairs, approve the proof, and check out. The hand-off stays valid for six hours; after that, rebuilding takes about a minute.

Yes. Go back to the designer, change anything, and click Order printed decals again — the newest design replaces the previous one. Nothing is printed until you approve the proof and place the order.