Vehicle marking/Identification - Tennessee

Federal regulations

Tennessee has adopted Sec. 390.21 of the Federal Regulations.

Applicability

Section 390.21 applies to commercial motor vehicles operated in intrastate commerce to transport property that have a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or a motor vehicle of any gross vehicle weight transporting hazardous materials.

Additional requirements

Department of Safety and Homeland Security Number — Every carrier, operating solely in intrastate commerce and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security must display the following information on each side of the vehicle:

• Name of owner or lessee,
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Certificate Number, and
• Unit number.

Additional Marking Requirements — Carriers must display the declared maximum gross weight (vehicle and load) on the vehicle.

The name or trade name and address of the motor carrier under whose authority the vehicle is being operated, and an identifying company number of the vehicle must be displayed on both sides of the power unit. This marking requirement is not applicable to a vehicle with a licensed or actual weight of 35,000 pounds or less that is operated by a private carrier.

Interstate

All commercial motor carriers (for-hire and private) operating interstate are subject to the marking requirements of 49 CFR 390.21 which requires all CMV’s 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.