Register Plates

[W-409]

I'm building Revell's Kenworth W900, which should be finished tomorrow. American Trucks had (do they still have?) many register plates on the front bumber. Those plates where from different states. But how about the license plates on the rear? My dad says that there were no plates at all (in the cab I mean, I don't have a trailer) but whats the correct way? Did they use license plates on the rear end too, and where were they located?

Any Help Would be Highly appreciated.

[ARTEMIS1759]

They do but they are specific for the trailer. Most have the state name and TRAILER or TRL going vertical in the front of the plate number or behind it.

[signguy2108]

Back in the 80's, I ran a K apportioned tag on front only. Lic. for 6 states under the IRP program. It was black w/ yellow letters then. They are school bus yellow W black letters now. See attached photo. Ran permanet plate on trailer. I think it was White W/ black letters. Hope it helps.

[ARTEMIS1759]

That would be a sweet model there Larry.

[signguy2108]

I had a model of it. It could not escape my wife's spring cleaning! I put square headlites in it in 1983 out of a F600. It was a good looking truck in the day, but short w/b would scare you death on wet pavement.

[ARTEMIS1759]

Lol I bet. Lucky enough my wife doesn't toss stuff. Otherwise I wouldn't have anything lol. Got some pics?

[signguy2108]

Got a lot of german blood in her! But I still love her, 33yrs. I see the north dakota. Father in law retired from minot AFB early seventies, staff sgt, military police. Gone now. Thanks for keeping us safe!

[mackinac359]

Depending on the year and the state, some states required a plate on the front and rear of the tractor. That changed with the Surface Transportation Act in the 80's. Now, a tractor (no trailer) would have the plate on the front, the trailer would have its own plate on the rear. A straight truck would have the plate on the rear.

Tim

[Rich_S]

I'm building Revell's Kenworth W900, which should be finished tomorrow. American Trucks had (do they still have?) many register plates on the front bumber. Those plates where from different states. But how about the license plates on the rear? My dad says that there were no plates at all (in the cab I mean, I don't have a trailer) but whats the correct way? Did they use license plates on the rear end too, and where were they located?

Any Help Would be Highly appreciated.

Hi Niko, When I was driving over the road, one license plate was mounted to the front of the tractor and it was good for all lower 48 states. Only a few states required plates in both the front and the rear of the tractor, but they were rare and the ones mounted on the back of the tractor were hard to see when you were pulling a trailer. The plates mounted on the rear of the tractor were either mounted to the back of the cab or to the last cross member on the frame between the tail lights. In earlier years you would see truck tractors with multiple plates on the front. I was never really sure why, probably had something to do with the different state registrations? Back to when I was driving over the road, the license plate you received was based on what states you were going to operate in and was known as a apportioned plate. Along with the apportioned plate, you also received the highway use tax stickers and the fuel tax stickers. One went on the side of the truck (some states gave you two, with one being applied to each side of the truck) Ohio was the only state that I was aware of that had you place the fuel tax sticker into the lower right side of the passenger front window. The highway use tax stickers went into your bingo book. Most people outside of the trucking industry were not aware of the purpose of the tax stickers that were located on the door of the truck and I often received comments like "Are those stickers from all of the states you've been to?" Anyway just a little FYI behind the license plates used on trucks.

Edited April 26, 2012 by Rich_S

[W-409]

Thanks Everyone for the help! The Truck is finished now, and I will post it right away here. Thanks again for the tips.

[The70judgeman]

Here in Wisconsin, there are a couple of plates for tractors. There is a regular plate (blue w/black #'s) that allows a truck to travel within the state only. Then there is an apportioned plate (white w/red #'s) which allows a truck to travel outside of the state. Of course, all trucks must have a interstate fuel sticker and DOT annual inspection sticker too. Don't forget your road number for the tractor and one for the trailer too. The company I worked for used the last four numbers of the VIN # for their tractors and trailers. I haven't seen interstate sticker plates or muli-plated trucks in years except on models.

Edited April 27, 2012 by The70judgeman