ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Business Related Discussion Truck marking(s)

In MA I think there are some rules regarding the marking of vehicles. We have decided not to mark our trucks as we don't want the advertising. I see many trucks that are unmarked. Just curious what you guys think?

I'm in MA and I am pretty sure that your trucks have to be lettered. You should probably call the Board of Electricians and check it out.

I'm reluctant to hire someone who doesn't have their name on the truck. I feel like they're not really in business, and maybe they're not insured. I'm very curious why you don't want the advertising.

Dave

I talked to the Board about this.
They sent me a notice that my license number had to be on all correspondence and advertising as per Mass Gen Law.
I fixed this by making sure that my license number is on all invoices, proposals and correspondence. I ran my checks through the printer to add the license number.

Anyway…I asked about lettering of the van and about putting the license number on the side. I had always heard that you have to have your license number on the side no mater what.
What they told me is, that if you put your company name on any vehicle, it is advertising and your license number is required. It is not needed if you don’t letter the vehicle and lettering is not required.

Also the company name on the vehicle has to match the name on the business’s license.
If you were a journeyman in business you could only have “Joe Blow Electrician” as your company name.


Personally I don’t advertise either. I think that advertising on a truck attracts mostly residential customers. If you do only commercial and industrial work, then advertising on the trucks has less of an effect.
Commercial and industrial accounts and GC’s usually ask for an insurance certificate anyways.


[This message has been edited by tkb (edited 05-23-2005).]

To each his own, but I won't put a truck or van in service without good, professional lettering. It does serve as advertising, but also just name recognition, contractors and commercial customers see your trucks also. We get calls every week from somebody who saw our truck at a neighbor's, or in the same office complex, etc. Make sure the number is large enough to read from a distance. The biggest drawback(or maybe not) is the drivers have to be more courteous and safe or I get a call about their bad driving.

Tiger - We don't do residential work and when we had marked trucks we kept getting calls. Several years ago as we traded-in the marked trucks we just didn't mark the replacements. Only recently did we hear that trucks needed to be marked, and as TKB stated above, there doesn't seem to be a marking requirement, which is good because we don't plan on doing it anyway. Though I would put the license numbers on the trucks if that was required.

Also Tiger - We are heavily insured and all of customers require certificates before they let us even replace a lamp. We're not at all concerned about others being able to see our name written on a truck.

I appreciate the explanation. A large part of my business is residential, which explains the difference.

Dave

In Minnesota you must identify yourself on your vehicle if you are an electrical contractor. They require lettering at least 3 in. high and 1/2/ inch wide. Your company name must be shown exactly as it is on your license and the license number must be shown. We have been doing this for so long it isn't an issue anymore. The state is going to crank up the search for violators beginning in July '05.

I had my name on my trucks for about a year. Got ripped off twice. took it off havent been touch,and did not affect buisness.