Trucking: plates, long haul truckers, office hope

Question
Hi Bob,  Why do DOT trucks have license plates for several different states??  How do they get those plates?  Do they need them for each state they drive through.  What da deal?  

Answer
Hi Nquisitor.

After deregulation in the 1970's, trucks didn't need numerous plates on them anymore.  It did use to be that you would have to have a plate for every state you entered.  This was to collect fuel tax.  Now the government uses "IFTA" and all long haul truckers need is an IFTA sticker to enter almost any state.  Some states still bucked the system and want their plate on there, but those days are about gone.  To get those plates, you would either get them at the weigh station when you entered the state or applied for them from that state's DOT office.

Hope this helps!

Bob Stephens