Trailer number

What a nice, light weight thread for a change.

 

I agree, no rules that say the number has to be on the equipment, but it must be in your DOT paperwork. We've gone to using the license plate # as the equipment number as well It's already on the vehicles, no duplicates, no confusion, and one less number to remember.

 

When I first started running on my own with a new truck/trailer, I had the tractor numbered but not the trailer. Then I started getting places that wouldn't load me without a trailer number, so I put one on it. It's especially helpful at those places that require you to unhook your trailer and the yard dog drives it to another building to be loaded. You might get the wrong trailer back otherwise.

 

And in reality, how much do the number stickers really cost? Plenty of pros listed and the only con I can see is aesthetics, and you already have to have some stickers on it anyway like inspection.

 

It’s cheap. I usually have my vinyl guy print trailer numbers in the same font and colors as the lettering on my truck. A crisp $20 usually covers his time for doing it.

 

Doesn't DOT require tractor and trailer number on trip info on log sheet? Every ELD I've used gets butt hurt if they aren't both there, and there's a spot for it on paper logs, if I'm not mistaken.

 

They require a unique identification number, such as vehicle number. I've always used the license plate # on logs as well.

 

That seems like a simple, efficient solution.

 

I think the inspection stickers are not required on both truck and trailer. You do need to have the paperwork to prove the inspections are current.