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Private and for-hire intrastate vehicles are required to display the US DOT number and legal company name of the carrier under whose authority the vehicle is being operated.
Compliance is required for a vehicle that:
This requirement does not include farm to market agricultural transportation motor vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 lb or less. “Farm-to-market agricultural transportation” means the operation of a farm-plated motor vehicle that is controlled and operated by a farmer who, as a private motor carrier, is using a vehicle:
The numbers must be placed on both sides of the main body of the cab and be in sharp color contrast to the background of the vehicle and readily legible during daylight hours from a distance of fifty (50) feet, placed on the vehicle no higher than the top of the side window, and no lower than the bottom of the cab door.
The numbers must be preceded by the letters “US DOT” and followed by the letters “KY.”
Motor Vehicles operating interstate or intrastate in Kentucky with a combined license weight in excess of fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds (59,999 lbs.) must obtain a KYU license (in addition to the IFTA or fuel tax license).
The KYU number is still required and must still be maintained. However, the display of the KYU number is optional if the company has a US DOT number, enabling enforcement to verify a valid KYU. Enforcement will check the VIN number of the vehicle to verify it is on file with Kentucky under the KYU account.
Note: The KYU number must be displayed, in addition to the DOT number, if the vehicle is leased and the lessor holds the KYU account and pays the KYU taxes. In this case, KYU number must be displayed. A copy of the lease agreement clearly defining who is paying for the KYU credential should be kept in the vehicle to avoid confusion.
All commercial motor carriers (for-hire and private) operating interstate are subject to the marking requirements of 49 CFR 390.21 which requires all CMVs to display, on both sides of the power unit, the US DOT number and the legal name of the business entity that owns or controls the motor carrier operation, or the “doing business as” (DBA) name, as it appears on the Form MCS-150.
Any new or used commercial vehicles added to a motor carrier’s fleet must be identified with the US DOT number and single trade name before being put into service.
The regulations do not require the MC Number or city/state to be displayed on the vehicle.
Motor Vehicles operating interstate or intrastate in Kentucky with a combined license weight in excess of fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine (59,999) must obtain a KYU license (in addition to the IFTA or fuel tax license). The KYU number must be displayed on each side of the power unit. The DOT number may be used in place of KYU number upon approval from Kentucky (See Intrastate above.)