By Dennis Barrett, President, Roadway Displays · Published November 2026 · 5 min readReviewed against the regulation text on October 29, 2026.
Yes, a truck can carry a USDOT number and another company's logo at the same time. The federal marking rule covers that case directly: if the name of any person other than the operating carrier appears on the vehicle, the carrier's name and USDOT number must be preceded by the words "operated by" (49 CFR 390.21T).
This page sums up what the regulation text says, for fleet managers planning a co-branded tractor-trailer. It is facts, not legal advice. Check the current text and your own situation with your compliance staff or FMCSA before you print anything.
On this page
- Can a truck show a USDOT number and another company's logo?
- What does 49 CFR 390.21T require on the truck or tractor?
- Why do guides cite 390.21T and not 390.21?
- Does a trailer need the "operated by" marking?
- Where must reflective tape stay clear on a trailer?
- How does a framed trailer panel fit in?
- Where are the primary sources?
- Frequently asked questions
Can a truck show a USDOT number and another company's logo?
Yes. Paragraph (b)(3) of 49 CFR 390.21T says that if the name of any person other than the operating carrier appears on the commercial motor vehicle, the operating carrier's name must be followed by its USDOT information and preceded by the words "operated by."
What the rule governs is the carrier's own marking and the words that tie it to the logo.
What does 49 CFR 390.21T require on the truck or tractor?
The operating carrier's name and USDOT number, on both sides, in letters that contrast sharply with the background and can be read in daylight from 50 feet while the vehicle is stopped. The marking has to be kept legible.
| Item | What 390.21T says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier name | The legal name or a single trade name of the operating carrier, as listed on Form MCS-150 | 390.21T(b)(1) |
| USDOT number | The number FMCSA issued to the carrier, preceded by the letters "USDOT" | 390.21T(b)(2) |
| Another name on the vehicle | The carrier's name and number are preceded by the words "operated by" | 390.21T(b)(3) |
| Where | Both sides of the vehicle | 390.21T(c) |
| Legibility | Sharp color contrast; readable from 50 feet in daylight while stationary; maintained | 390.21T(c) |
Why do guides cite 390.21T and not 390.21?
49 CFR 390.21 is suspended, and the text in force sits in 390.21T. The Legal Information Institute's copy of the section lists a suspension effective January 14, 2017 (82 FR 5316) and a further amendment and suspension published August 14, 2019 (84 FR 40294), then points to 390.21T as the next section (49 CFR 390.21).
FMCSA can change the text again. Read the current version before you rely on any summary, this one included.
Does a trailer need the "operated by" marking?
The marking duty in 390.21T(a) is written for the self-propelled commercial motor vehicle, which is the truck or tractor. The section does not set carrier-marking rules for an ordinary trailer. It deals with intermodal equipment and driveaway services separately.
The "operated by" trigger is less clear for a trailer. Paragraph (b)(3) says another name "appears on the CMV," and the definition in 49 CFR 390.5T covers "any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle." The text alone does not say whether a partner's name on a towed trailer sets off the wording on the tractor.
If a partner's name will be on a trailer, ask FMCSA or your compliance staff how the rule applies to your operation, and get the answer in writing.
Where must reflective tape stay clear on a trailer?
Trailers 80 inches or wider with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, built on or after December 1, 1993 (pole trailers and trailers built only for living or office use excepted), must carry a conspicuity system of retroreflective sheeting, reflectors or both (49 CFR 393.11). Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 adds that the side strip must not be obscured in whole or in part by other motor vehicle equipment or trailer cargo (49 CFR 571.108).
Check any sign, frame or graphic on a trailer side against that rule before it goes on. A Roadway frame has to clear the tape too, so tell us where the tape runs when you ask for pricing.
Whether a particular panel counts as "other motor vehicle equipment" is a question for your compliance staff or FMCSA. The rule text does not name panels.
How does a framed trailer panel fit in?
A Roadway frame holds a printed panel on the trailer side, so your brand, or a partner's brand, can change without touching the tractor's markings. The 4x8 frame (98.5 x 50.5 in) holds a single- or double-sided panel, and your crew swaps it in under 30 seconds. We confirm placement on your trailer when we quote. See the trailer and box-truck page for sizes and the Quick-Change Frame System for the hardware.
Planning a co-branded trailer? Get Budgetary Pricing Send the trailer type, the panel size you have in mind and who the second brand is. Design is free with unlimited proof rounds, and there is no minimum order.
Where are the primary sources?
- 49 CFR 390.21T, Marking of self-propelled CMVs and intermodal equipment
- 49 CFR 390.21, with its suspension history
- 49 CFR 390.5T, definitions (commercial motor vehicle)
- 49 CFR 393.11, lamps and reflective devices
- 49 CFR 571.108, FMVSS 108
The official copy is the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations at ecfr.gov. These links go to the Legal Information Institute's mirror, which was the copy we could read on October 29, 2026.
About the author. Dennis Barrett is President of Roadway Displays. He built the first frames with his father Bob in 1987, has worked at Roadway full time since June 2000, and runs manufacturing and printing in Temecula, California.