Do you need DOT numbers on a pest control pickup?
A pest control truck is usually a half-ton or 3/4-ton pickup with a bed-mounted spray tank and a locking chemical box; termite rigs add a larger tank and a hose reel. A 100-gallon tank is about 830 lb of water plus product, so a termite truck can be heavier than it looks, but most route trucks stay under the federal marking line. The state pest control rules, not the DOT rule, are what usually put lettering on these trucks.
The federal rule (from the same verified data as our checker): name and USDOT number on both sides of the power unit from 10,001 lbs (49 CFR 390.21T(b)(2)); other triggers in the federal box below.
The federal baseline, the same in every state
- USDOT Number + Legal / Trade Name, both sides of the power unit (49 CFR 390.21T(b)(2); 49 CFR 390.21T(b)(1))
- Readable from 50 feet in daylight, no inch minimum · sharp contrast
- MC Number: recommended, not required (49 CFR 390.21T)
- Triggers: 10,001 lbs or more · placard-level hazmat · 9+ passengers for hire · 16+ passengers
Verified 2026-07-23 · next review 2026-10-21
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Pest control vehicle rules by state, verified
These are the pest control vehicle-marking rules we have read in the state's own statute or regulation. States not listed: we have not verified a rule for them (our research notes list which ones were checked).
Florida: Pest control licensees
| Applies when | A Florida pest control licensee or its employees use a motor vehicle or trailer in pest control (personal vehicles of registered principals/certified operators not regularly used for the work are exempt). |
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| On the vehicle | The licensee's name or trade name as registered with the Department, on both sides of each vehicle and trailer, bold letters at least 1 1/2 inches high, contrasting color, in plain view; permanently marked (paint or decals on the body) for any vehicle carrying pesticides or application equipment; magnets only on sales-only vehicles. |
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Florida pest control vehicles and trailers carry the registered company name on both sides in bold 1 1/2-inch contrasting letters. Anything that carries pesticides or spray equipment has to be painted or decaled on the body; magnetic signs are only allowed on sales-only vehicles.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 5E-14.103 Licensee Identification - Vehicles, Equipment (LII copy, read 2026-10-18): 5E-14.103(1) — motor vehicles and trailers used by a licensee or its employees for pest control must be marked with the licensee's name or trade name as registered with the Department; '"permanently marked" shall mean paint or decals applied to the vehicle body itself'; 'Only those vehicles used exclusively for the purpose of sales and soliciting of business may be temporarily marked.'; any vehicle carrying pesticides or application equipment must be permanently marked. (2) name on both sides of each vehicle and trailer, bold letters at least one and one-half inches high, contrasting color, in plain view of the public. Exemption for personal vehicles of registered principals/certified operators not regularly used in the work. Rulemaking authority 482.051(2); history: eff. 1-1-77, amended 6-27-79, formerly 10D-55.103, amended 6-2-04.
- Fla. Stat. § 482.051(2) (leg.state.fl.us, full text read 2026-10-18): 482.051(2) — the department shall adopt rules requiring 'That vehicles and trailers used in pest control be permanently marked with the licensee’s name that is registered with the department. However, vehicles that are used to perform only sales and solicitation may have temporary or removable markers.'
Georgia: Structural pest control licensees
| Applies when | A Georgia structural pest control licensee's vehicle or mobile equipment is used regularly for sales and service (privately owned vehicles used for the licensee's sales and service too). |
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| On the vehicle | Permanent marking with the name of the licensee, bold-print letters at least 2 inches high on a contrasting background. |
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Georgia pest control vehicles carry the licensee's full company name in bold 2-inch letters on a contrasting background, permanently marked. Employees' personal vehicles used for sales or service need the same identification, permanently outside or prominently displayed inside.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 620-3-.02(d) Responsibilities of the Licensee; Certified Operator; and Employee (LII copy, read 2026-10-18): 620-3-.02(d) — 'The Licensee shall permanently mark all the Licensee's vehicles and mobile equipment used regularly for sales and service, in bold-print letters not less than two (2) inches in height and on contrasting background, with the following information: 1. The name of the Licensee'; privately owned vehicles and mobile equipment used for sales and service on behalf of the Licensee must be 'identified by the same information as required for the Licensee's vehicles by permanent markings firmly attached to the outside or prominently displayed inside the privately owned vehicle.' Last amended F. Aug 11, 2017; eff. Sept. 1, 2017.
- Georgia Dept. of Agriculture, SPCC Notice 14-03 New Company Fact Sheet (read 2026-10-18): GDA fact sheet — 'Vehicle markings are required for each service vehicle used for sales and service. The complete company name must be marked on the vehicle in bold-print letters that are a minimum of two inches in height with a contrasting background. The marking must be firmly attached to the outside of the vehicle.'
Michigan: Commercial pesticide applicator firms
| Applies when | A Michigan commercial applicator firm required to be licensed (other than aerial) uses a vehicle to transport a pesticide. |
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| On the vehicle | On the exterior of each such vehicle: the name of the licensed applicator firm plus its business telephone number, address or USDOT number; legible and visible; typeface 3 inches or higher. |
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Michigan pest and lawn-care trucks that carry pesticides show the firm's name and a phone number, address or USDOT number on the outside, in letters at least 3 inches tall. MDARD checks it at roadside inspections.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- Mich. Admin. Code R 285.637.4(l) (Regulation 637, Rule 4; LII copy, read 2026-10-18): R 285.637.4(l) — a commercial applicator required to be licensed, other than an aerial applicator, 'shall provide the following information, which shall be printed or affixed on the exterior of each vehicle that is used to transport a pesticide: (i) The name of the licensed applicator firm. (ii) The business telephone number, address, or United States department of transportation census number of the licensed applicator firm. (iii) The printed information must be legible and visible. (iv) The required information shall be in a typeface 3 inches high or larger.' (v) director may grant an exemption on petition. History: 1992 AACS; 2008 AACS.
- MDARD Pesticide Application Business Road Check form (read 2026-10-18): MDARD inspection form — R285.637.4(l): name of the licensed application firm and either the address or telephone number or USDOT census number on the exterior of the vehicle used to transport a pesticide, legible, visible, typeface 3 inches or higher.
Nevada: Pest control business licensees
| Applies when | A Nevada pest control business licensee's service vehicle (unmarked vehicles not used principally in selling or soliciting pest control are the exception). |
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| On the vehicle | The name of the business and the permanent license number, the same as on the Department-issued license, prominently displayed on both sides of the vehicle, letters at least 2 inches high, contrasting color. |
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Nevada pest control trucks carry the business name and the permanent license number exactly as they read on the state license, both sides, at least 2-inch contrasting letters. Fines start at $50 per vehicle.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- Nev. Admin. Code 555.425 Markings and equipment required on service vehicles of licensee (leg.state.nv.us, full text read 2026-10-18): NAC 555.425(1) — 'The name of the business and the number of the permanent license of each licensee which is a business must be prominently displayed on all service vehicles of that business, except unmarked vehicles not used principally in selling or soliciting services for pest control. The name of the business and the number of the license displayed on the vehicles must be: (a) The same as the name and number on the license issued by the Department; and (b) Displayed in a prominent place on both sides of the vehicle in letters at least 2 inches in height and in a color which contrasts with the color of the vehicle.' (Added to NAC by Dep’t of Agriculture, eff. 10-17-86; A by R147-03, 1-22-2004)
North Carolina: Structural pest control licensees
| Applies when | A North Carolina structural pest control office's service vehicle (vehicles used exclusively for selling the work are exempt). |
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| On the vehicle | The license number and phase(s) of each licensee in charge of the office, or the licensee's company name, prominently displayed on both sides of all service vehicles; all lettering at least 2 inches high, bold print, contrasting background; the number labeled 'North Carolina Pest Control License No.' or 'N.C. Pest Control Lic.' |
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North Carolina pest control service vehicles show either the company name or 'N.C. Pest Control Lic.' plus the license number and phase letters, on both sides, in bold 2-inch letters on a contrasting background. Sales-only vehicles are exempt; a new vehicle has 30 days to be marked.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
Pennsylvania: Pesticide application businesses
| Applies when | A Pennsylvania pesticide application business uses a vehicle in the pesticide application phase of its business. |
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| On the vehicle | The Department-assigned license number, figures at least 3 inches high, on both sides of the vehicle in a readily visible location, contrasting color. |
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Pennsylvania spray and pest control trucks show the business license number on both sides in 3-inch contrasting numerals. The rule asks for the number, not the company name.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- 7 Pa. Code § 128.31(c) Licensing requirements (LII copy, read 2026-10-18): 7 Pa. Code 128.31(c) — 'A pesticide application business shall prominently display on every vehicle involved in the pesticide application phase of its business the license number assigned by the Department. The number must be in figures at least 3 inches high and be located on both sides of the vehicle at a readily visible location in a contrasting color.' Amended Dec. 22, 1995, eff. 12/23/1995 (25 Pa.B. 5945); amended Dec. 10, 2010, eff. 12/11/2010 (40 Pa.B. 7044).
Texas: Structural pest control businesses
| Applies when | A Texas structural pest control business licensee uses a vehicle for customer contact or service. |
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| On the vehicle | The business license number, permanently affixed (magnets do not count), preceded by 'Texas Pest Control License #' or 'TPCL #', on both front fenders or both front door panels, letters and numbers at least 2 inches high and 1 inch wide, contrasting color. A vehicle used by more than one business shows each business's number. |
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Texas pest control trucks show 'TPCL #' and the business license number on both front fenders or both front doors, at least 2 inches tall and 1 inch wide, in a contrasting color, and it has to be a permanent decal, not a magnet. The rule does not require the business name.
Legal source · verified 2026-10-18 · next review 2027-04-16
- 4 Tex. Admin. Code § 7.141(g)-(h) Identification of Licensees and Apprentices (LII copy, read 2026-10-18): 4 TAC 7.141(g) — 'A business licensee shall prominently display its business license number on all vehicles used by the business licensee for customer contact or service.' (1) 'permanently affixed (use of magnetic devices to adhere license numbers shall not meet the requirements of this section);' (2) 'preceded by "Texas Pest Control License #" or "TPCL #;"' (3) 'on either both front fenders or both front door panels;' (4) 'in letters and numbers no less than two (2) inches in height and one (1) inch in width; and' (5) 'in a color that contrasts with the background color of the vehicle.' (h) 'A vehicle shall display the business license number of each business for which the vehicle is used.' Amended eff. Jan. 16, 2023 (48 TexReg 0131).
Pest control vehicle lettering FAQ
Does my state require my pest control license number on the truck?
Several do, with set letter heights and placement, and some require the registered business name instead of or as well as the number. The rules we have verified against the state's own regulation are listed in the trade rules section with citations. If your state isn't there, we have not verified a rule for it yet; the research list in our report says which states were checked.
Can I use magnetic signs on a pest control truck?
Not where the state requires permanent marking on the vehicle body; Florida and Texas, for example, say paint or permanently affixed decals and exclude magnets. Where there's no such rule, a magnet is still a poor choice for a daily work truck.
Does a pest control truck need a USDOT number?
Only if it crosses the federal weight line (or your state's intrastate line) and the operation triggers the rule; most route pickups do not, but a heavy termite rig can. The checker above uses your truck's GVWR.
What letter height do you cut the license number at?
The height your state sets, measured on the letters themselves, and we note the rule on the proof. Where the state sets no height, we cut 2-inch letters so the number reads at a distance.
Do you cut the name exactly as it's registered?
Yes. Where a state says the name must match the license, we cut the registered name as you give it to us and show it on the proof before cutting.
General information, not legal advice. Each rule above shows the date we last verified it against the cited source; the state agency has the final word.
