Home / Lettering / Hotshot lettering
Hotshot truck lettering: USDOT, MC and what your dually needs on the doors
The weight math
A one-ton dually rated at 14,000 lbs pulling a 20,000 lb gooseneck is a 34,000 lb combination, which puts you under the same marking rule as a semi. Above 26,001 lbs combined you also need a CDL, but that's a different conversation.
Name, USDOT, MC
The door needs your legal name and USDOT number. The MC number is not a federal marking requirement, whatever a broker told you. Most hotshotters add it anyway because brokers and shippers look for it; that's fine, it's optional.
Leased on to a carrier?
If you run under someone else's authority, their name and USDOT go on the door. If your own name is on the truck too, it has to read 'operated by' followed by the carrier's name and number. Only one USDOT number should be visible.
Sizes
Two inch numbers on a dually door. The name can be bigger, or you can make the numbers the biggest line since that's what the scale house reads first.
Related questions
Do I need my MC number on my hotshot?
No. FMCSA has no requirement to display the MC number. Add it if you want brokers to see it.
Where does the lettering go on a crew cab?
The front doors, both sides. Not the rear doors, not the trailer.
Checked against 49 CFR 390.21, 13 CCR 1256 and B&P 7029.6, September 2026. Plain-English summary, not legal advice.