Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

Merchandise vehicles

This type of plate was only issued during 1910 to 1916.  As its name suggests, this category implies a cargo-carrying vehicle rather than a passenger-carrying vehicle, and so it roughly corresponds to a truck plate.  No surviving example from 1910 is known.  1911 through 1914 plates were made of porcelain and bore the legend Merchandise Only across the bottom of the plate.  The 1915 and 1916 were embossed metal; the legend was shortened to Mdse. Only and was located along the top of the plate. 

All 1911 through 1913 Merchandise Only plates had an "M" serial prefix; 1914 through 1916 plates did not.  Some plates from each year had an "A" suffix during the "M" prefix years, or an "A" prefix in other years; however, there is not agreement among experts regarding the significance or meaning of the "A".  It has been suggested that the "A" stood for agricultural products, or perhaps for automobile (as opposed to truck).  My opinion is that in this time period there was not sufficient distinction between a cargo-carrying automobile and a truck to warrant issuing different license plates. 

Regular trucks

Trucks did not automatically receive distinct plates during these years, although many trucks undoubtedly qualified for truck for hire and truck tractor plates once those plate types were introduced.  From 1919 to 1941, and likely also in 1917-1918, not-for-hire trucks were issued either solid tire plates, if applicable, or passenger car plates.  However, either of these plate types, when issued to trucks with a capacity of 2 tons or greater, can be identified by a circular disc rivited to the plate, which bore either a single-digit number or the letter "X".  The number on the disc indicated the number of tons the truck could carry, and the "X" probably signified 10 or more tons.  Light-duty, not-for-hire trucks with pneumatic tires were issued ordinary passenger car plates without any distinguishing features.  However, it's been reported that regular trucks were assigned plate numbers in distinct ranges starting in the early 1930s, if not sooner, and continuing through 1953.  What those number ranges were apparently varied from year to year, and with few exceptions, I don't have good information about the specifics. 

One year for which I do have good information is 1936, because the plates issued to trucks were quite distinctive.  Most 1936 plates read Maryland 1936, which is consistent with other years.  However, a subset of 1936 plates were issued with one plate of each pair using a locking strip that was supposed to deter plate theft.  These plates had two holes cut out of the plate on the either side of Maryland; the locking strip was visible through the holes, and it was stamped with "19" visible through the left hole and "36" visible through the right hole.  The plate with the locking strip could not be easily removed without mutilating it.  The other plate in each pair did not have holes or any locking strip, but nevertheless were stamped 19 Maryland 36 in order to match its mate.  Thus, there were actually three styles of 1936 plates.  I believe, but am not certain, that the 1936 "passenger car" plates with locking strips were all in the number range assigned to trucks that year.  The known number range of 1936 locking strip plates is approximately 150-000 to 199-999. 

Solid tire vehicles

This category was begun in 1917 and is reported to have continued up until the 1971 base plate.  These plates were issued to vehicles with non-pneumatic tires, like you would find on a horse-drawn wagon.  From what I understand, solid tire vehicles were usually trucks, but not necessarily.  Again, a solid tire vehicle plate can be positively identified as a truck plate if there is a small circular disk riveted to the plate, such as in the examples from 1926 and 1927 shown at left.  It's evident that the 1920 plate shown at left also once had a disk attached along its right edge. 

These plates bore the legend Solid Tire during 1917-1920.  The plates were quite large – 15 inches long like other plates of the time, but 7 1/4 inches high rather than the usual 6 inches, in order to accommodate the legend.  An "X" serial prefix was sometimes used during 1917-1920, but the meaning of the "X" is unknown. 

Beginning in 1921, solid tire plates had the same dimensions as other plate types.  The 1921 solid tire plates were identified with only an "S" serial suffix; from 1922 on, they bore the legend Solid, displayed vertically on either the left or right side of the plate. 

(Note that the 1918 plate shown at left has been repainted, and the background color is not accurate.  It should be dark gray, not black.) 

Trucks for hire

This category was introduced in 1933 or possibly earlier, and was identified with a stacked "C/H" prefix or suffix.  The "C" referred to a commercial-bodied vehicle (i.e., a truck), not any vehicle used for commercial purposes.  (Taxis were issued "H" prefix "for hire" plates.)  1936 C/H plates were also issued with locking strips as described in the regular truck section above.  I'm not sure if all 1936 C/H plates were made this way, but I suspect they were. 

Truck tractors

Truck tractors are the front part of a tractor-trailer combination.  Back in the day, truck tractors were called "traction engines", and so the odd-sounding legend Traction was embossed on plates issued to truck tractors.  The earliest known issue was in 1932.  At least some of these "traction" plates in the 1930s and early 1940s were "shorties", 6 inches by 9 inches in size. 

Regular trucks

It's safe to say that regular trucks were issued passenger car plates in specific number ranges during this period.  Again, what those number ranges were apparently varied from year to year, and with few exceptions, I don't have good information about the specifics.  I'm not sure how long the riveted disc thing lasted, but I don't recall ever having seen any on plates from the 1940s. 

Solid tire vehicles

By now, such plates were pretty much exclusively issued to trucks with non-pneumatic tires, and were becoming increasingly scarce.  The word Solid ran down either the left or right edge of the plate. 

Trucks for hire

The stacked "C/H" became consistently a prefix.  The letters actually stood for "Commercial (vehicle) for Hire", with the term "commercial vehicle" understood to mean a truck, rather than any vehicle used for commercial purposes.  Passenger cars for hire, such as taxis, received "H" prefix "For Hire" plates. 

Truck tractors

1942 base truck tractor plates were of normal size, but had the legends Traction across the top and Drive Carefully across the bottom.  The state abbreviation MD, the expiration month and date, and the expiration year were stacked horizontally on the left side of the plate.  Passenger-type renewal tabs were attached to the upper right corner of the plate, even though these did not cover up the base plate's original expiration year.  It's unknown what 1945 base truck tractor plates look like.  I'd bet they were either just like the 1942 plates, or else they're similar to the 1945 shuttle relay truck tractor plates, with the state name across the top and the vertical abbreviation "TRAC" running down the side of the plate. 

Shuttle relay truck tractors

This plate type was introduced on the 1942 base and issued through 1958, as was the related "S/R" trailer plate type.  The meaning of the letters "S/R" has been variously reported as "shuttle relay", "special rate", and "state roads"; however, an article in The (Baltimore) Sunday Sun Magazine dated March 26, 1950, and reprinted in ALPCA's Plates Magazine dated December 2018, states that these plates were for "truck tractor[s] working among two or more trailers under shuttle relay system."  What this description actually means in plain English is unknown.  I obviously know what the 1945 base plates look like, but whether the 1942 base looked the same or looked more like the regular truck tractor plates, with the word Traction across the top, I can't say. 

Regular trucks

Regular truck plates from 1948-1953 are best explained by discussing the 1952 base plate first, and then the 1948 base plate. 

Sometime between 1948 and 1952, most Maryland non-passenger registrations were shifted to expire annually each April 30, while passenger car and motorcycle registrations continued to expire annually on March 31.  The 1952 expiration plates had the expiration month embossed on the plate.  Full-sized plates with all-numeric plate numbers and no identifying text, used for both passenger cars and regular trucks, therefore became readily distinguishable as to which vehicle type they were issued.  Plate numbers up to and including the very late 700-000 series indicated a March expiration month and therefore were assigned to passenger cars, while serial numbers throughout the 800-000 series and into the very early 900-000 series indicated an April expiration and so were obviously used on trucks.  There are no known 1952 base plates beyond the early 900-000 series, however. 

Prior to the 1952 plates, regular trucks were apparently issued "passenger car" plates in distinct plate number ranges, but it's not clear what those number ranges were in most years.  Other blocks of numbers have also been reported to have been set aside for passenger cars owned by people living in specific places or who were members of various civic organizations, though details remain scant.  In any case, through 1947, passenger car and regular truck numbers never got past the 600-000 series. 

The 1948 base, used through the spring of 1951, includes plate numbers all the way up to the very high 900-000 series.  It's been widely reported for decades that 1948 plates in both the 800-000 and 900-000 series were issued to trucks.  In fact, an article in The (Baltimore) Sunday Sun Magazine dated March 26, 1950, and reprinted in ALPCA's Plates Magazine dated December 2018 states, "Trucks for private use have [the] same type of plate[s] as private passenger cars, with numbers starting at 800-000."  This same article showed photos of various Maryland 1948 base plate types, none of which bore renewal year tabs. 

That leaves unanswered the mystery of why the entire 900-000 series plates were issued on the 1948 base, but only the very beginning of it was issued on the 1952 base.  If all regular truck registrations could be issued within the 800-000 and very early 900-000 series for 1952, then obviously, the 800-000 and entire 900-000 series on the 1948 base could not have all been for regular trucks.  There were no plate types with significant numbers of registrations that were either discontinued after 1947 or started in 1952 that could serve to explain the 900-000 series on the 1948 base. 

I believe that the information printed in the Sunday Sun Magazine in 1950 came word-for-word from the Maryland DMV, but was already a few years out-of-date.  I suspect that the 900-000 series was not issued at the introduction of this base in 1947, and so at that time, the statment that truck plate numbers started at 800-000 with no mention of an upper limit was accurate.  My theory is that some time later, plate numbers were running out and the 900-000 series was pressed into service.  Whether those 900-000 series numbers were issued to passenger cars or trucks or perhaps both, or served some other specific purpose is anyone's guess. 

Solid tire vehicles

These plates continued to be produced, in ever-decreasing numbers, reportedly until the 1971 base.  The word Solid continued to run down either the left or right edge of the plate.  The high plate number observed below does not imply that many solid tire plates were issued.  Various plate types were assigned blocks of plate numbers, and certainly solid tire plates had a very small block of numbers to use. 

Trucks for hire

Trucks for hire continued to use the stacked "C/H" prefix through 1953. 

"C" series plates

Another mystery involves plates with just a "C" prefix, also reported by others to have been made on the 1948 and 1952 bases, but observed so far only on the 1952 base by yours truly.  I've read what seems to be speculation that these might be for commercial vehicles (trucks), or perhaps for ambulances and hearses.  If they are truck plates, they would have to be for some specific, unusual type of truck, or else these plates would be vastly more common than the are. 

Since 1954, commercial ambulances and funeral vehicles have always had the letter "C" in the serial number, but whether these vehicles were identified this way prior to the 1954 plate is questionable in my mind, because no other class of vehicle used 1954-era letter codes prior to 1954. 

I discuss these "C" series plates in a bit more detail on my History of Maryland Commercial Passenger Vehicle Plates page.  But suffice to say that I really don't know what type of vehicle they were used for. 

Truck tractors

A truck tractor is the front part of a tractor-trailer combination.  On the 1948 and 1952 bases, truck tractor plates have the partial word Trac running down the left side of the plate.  I guess this works regardless of whether you prefer the term "tractor" or "traction engine". 

Shuttle relay truck tractors

Beginning on the 1948 plate, this odd plate category became more convetional in appearance, with a stacked "S/R" prefix on the left, and the partial word Trac running vertically down the right side.  Again, the meaning the of the phrase "shuttle relay" and the purpose and usage of this plate type are unknown. 

Farm trucks

This was a new plate type introduced on the 1948 expiration plate.  If they were anything like more recent farm truck plates, they were issued for straight trucks over 3/4 ton capacity that were used solely for agricultural purposes.  Vehicles with farm truck plates were not geographically restricted. 

On the 1948 base, the words Farm over Truck were displayed horizontally on the plate, to the left of the serial, on plates with four or fewer serial digits.  When five digits were needed, the plate type was embossed vertially on the left side of the plate.  On the 1952 base, all farm truck plates had the words Farm and Truck running vertically down the left and right edges of the plate, respectively. 

Farm truck tractors

This was another new farm truck type introduced on the 1948 base.  The legend Farm Tractor was displayed horizontally, one word above the other, on the left portion of the plate.  I'm certain that these were not issued for actual farm tractors, but rather for truck tractors used solely for agricultural purposes.  Vehicles bearing these plates were also not geographically restricted. 

I do not believe that off-road farm equipment such as actual farm tractors, combines, and the like were ever required to display license plates, even when they were operated on public roads.  That's at least been the case since the 1960s. 

Restricted-use farm trucks

The legend Farm Area Only was displayed horizontally, one word above the other, on the left portion of this new plate type.  "Farm area" plates were issued for farm-use trucks which could only use public roads within a five mile radius of the farm.  The most likely application was probably for farm trucks that were used mostly off-road, but which needed to use a road to get from one field to another. 

Regular trucks

By "regular" truck, I mean an ordinary straight truck that doesn't fall into any special category.  Regular trucks were assigned the serial formats 00-00-Ex (1954-1964), 0000-Ex (1965-1969), and 0000 Ex (1970). Separators could be dashes, diamonds, or colons. 

Regular trucks, being Class E vehicles, were assigned serial numbers where the first alphabetic character was always the letter "E", for example "12-34-EA".  However, I believe that suffix "EH" was reserved for trucks for hire (see that item, below).  Plates with suffix letters other than "E something" were assigned to other classes of non-passenger vehicles.  As with most non-passenger vehicle plates, truck plates expired annually each April 30.  The actual expiration date was stamped on the 1957-1970 expiration plates. 

Additional regular truck plates 1954-1970

Regular truck special plate types

Beginning with the 1957 expiration plates, truck owners who were also amateur radio operators could obtain plates with their radio call sign as the plate serial number.  Car owners could do the same, but amateur radio plates issued to trucks can be identified by the April 30 expiration date.  These are addressed more fully in the History of Amateur Radio Operator Plates article. 

Solid tire vehicles

These plates continued to be produced, in ever-decreasing numbers, reportedly until the 1971 base.  The word Solid continued to run down either the left or right edge of the plate. 

Trucks for hire

I remember as a kid in the 1960s that the garbage trucks that rolled through my neighborhood bore non-passenger format 00-00-xx and 0000-xx plates, and I believe the suffix letters were sometimes "EH" and sometimes "HE".  The trucks were owned by a private business contracted by the county to collect refuse.  Other larger trucks also bore H-series non-passenger plates.  Of course, there was no legend to identify specifically what type of truck these plates were for. 

Since I've been collecting, I've seen several 1954-1970 plates with the "HE" suffix, and also a few expiring in 1963 and later years with the suffix "HF", which I don't specifically recall from my childhood.  I believe that originally, both "EH" and "HE" suffixes were used to signify "Class E for Hire", and when both series were exhausted, they just continued with "HF".  

This plate type was the successor to the previous "C/H" prefix plates.  It was discontinued and merged with regular trucks on the 1971 base. 

Truck tractors

Truck tractors that were not used by farmers, and I believe not used by motor carriers (trucking companies), were issued plates with the legend Trac displayed vertically down the right edge of the plate.  Serial formats were 00-00 (1954-1964) and 0000 (1965-1970); with format x000 also used at least during the latter years of this period. 

Additional truck tractor plates 1954-1970

Shuttle relay truck tractors

I honestly don't know what the phrase "shuttle relay" means, or what qualified a truck tractor for these plates rather than regular truck tractor plates.  In any case, shuttle relay plates were last issued with 1958 expirations. 

There were also shuttle relay trailer plates issued during the same timeframe, apparently used on semi-trailers pulled by shuttle relay truck tractors.  Shuttle relay truck tractor plates were only slightly less cryptic than their trailer brethern.  The plate number format was S/R00-00, with the legend Trac running down the right edge of the plate. 

Farm trucks

Farm truck plates were used for straight trucks over 3/4 ton capacity that were used solely for farming purposes.  Vehicles with these plates were not restricted geographically.  The words Farm and Truck ran vertically down the left and right sides of the plate, respectively.  Serial formats used were 00-00 and x0-00 from 1954 to 1964, and 0000 and x000 from 1965 to 1970. 

Additional farm truck plates 1954-1970

Farm truck tractors

The legend Farm Tractor was displayed horizontally, one word above the other, on the left portion of the plate.  I'm certain that these were not issued for actual farm tractors, but rather for truck tractors (big-rig trucks that pull semi-trailers) used solely for agricultural purposes.  Vehicles bearing these plates were also not geographically restricted.  This plate type was apparently issued in very small numbers.  I've only ever seen a few of these, and they've all had single-digit or two-digit plate numbers. 

Restricted-use farm trucks

"Farm area" plates were issued for farm-use trucks which could only use public roads within a 10 mile radius of the farm.  The most likely application was probably for farm trucks that were used mostly off-road, but which needed to use a road to get from one field to another.  These plates had the words Farm Area Only, or just Farm Area, stacked one above the other on the left side of the plate, followed by a numeric serial number on the right side.  Issued in small quantities. 

Additional restricted-use farm truck plates 1954-1970

Dump trucks

This was apparently a new plate type introduced on the 1954 expiration plate.  Dump truck plates were, and still are, issued to both actual dump trucks and cement mixer trucks, since both are capable of dumping their loads.  These plates carried the word Dump vertically down the left side of the plate, and Truck or Trk down the right side of the plate.  One report says that Truck was used 1954-1956 and Trk was used 1957-1970, but this has been proven to be inaccurate.  Serial format was 00-00 1954 to 1964, and 0000 1965 to 1970.  Like most other non-passenger types, dump truck plates expired April 30 each year during this time. 

Motor carrier trucks

I don't remember much about these plates, but if they were anything like the 1976-1987 "Motor Freight" plates, they were used on both straight trucks and truck tractors operated by motor carriers, in other words, trucking companies.  The plates had the letters PSC and FRT running down the left and right edges of the plate, respectively.  Motor carriers were regulated by the state Public Service Commission, hence the "PSC", while "FRT" was short for "freight", to distinguish these truck plates from those issued to motor carrier buses. 

How a motor carrier truck differed from a truck for hire, and why the former was regulated by the PSC while the latter apparently was not, I'm not clear.  I'd speculate that motor carriers traveled over specific routes and/or long distances, while other trucks for hire were probably just used locally. 

Additional motor carrier truck plates 1954-1970

Local government trucks

Government-owned trucks are not covered on this page, but you might not have even known this was a government vehicle plate without some help.  Maryland plates with an embossed star on them were issued for vehicles owned by local government bodies, such as cities, towns, counties, and school districts.  On 1968-1970 expiration plates only, such plates issued for trucks actually had the word Truck embossed below the star.  State government-owned trucks similarly had the legend State Truck, without a star, during these same years.  These plates are covered more fully on the History of Maryland Government Plates page. 

Regular trucks and rental trucks

Regular trucks continued with the serial format 0000 xx begun on the 1970 expiration plates, with a space but no separator character.  Distinct truck-for-hire plates were eliminated on the 1971 base, and such vehicles were instead given regular truck plates. 

Since on the 1970 expiration plate the "E" series suffixes had nearly been exhausted, regular trucks were initially assigned serials with the first alphabetic character "D" (which otherwise wasn't being used on non-passenger plates, since motorcycles are Class D vehicles).  When that letter series was used up, the familiar "E" series returned.  I don't have any hard facts, but I believe rental trucks were assigned distinct plates with Jx suffixes at the start of the 1971 base.  There weren't a whole lot of these, though, and the second letter didn't get beyond the first few letters of the alphabet.  This was apparently a short-lived experiment.  Then, the 1971 base being a five year plate, all of the Ex suffix regular truck combinations were eventually exhausted as well.  When that happened, it seems that Jx suffixes then began to be issued to regular trucks, which once again included rental trucks. 

Late-issue "J" series plates with natural 1975 expirations were made using the serial dies from the 1976 expiration base plates that were being manufactured concurrently. 

Regular truck special plate types

On the 1971 base, amateur radio operator plates, handicapped plates, and probably vanity plates were available for light truck registrations, but to my knowledge there was no way to distinguish such a plate issued to a truck versus one issued to a car. 

Organizational member plates were offered to members of the Maryland State Firemen's Association for their personal trucks.  These plates for trucks were distinct from similar plates used on personal cars.  I really thought that truck plates were originally issued as non-graphic plates with reserved serial format 0000 FD, but I've never come across one in recent decades.  Regardless, midway during the life of this base, embossed graphic plates were introduced with serial format 00000 [F/D], where the letters were inside of an embossed embossed maltese cross emblem.  These were the first Maryland organizational member truck plates, and the only ones issued on the 1971 base.  These truck plates are covered more fully on the History of Maryland Organizational Member Plates page. 

Solid tire vehicles

It has been reported that a very small number of these plates were produced on the 1971 base, but none were actually issued.  The word Solid appeared horizontally on the left side of the plate. 

Truck tractors

Truck tractor plates lost their "Trac" legend, and instead shared the serial format 0000 xx with other non-passenger plate types.  Truck tractors, being Class F vehicles, were assigned serial numbers with the first alphabetic character always "F", starting in the FA series.  These got at least up to the high FC series, maybe into the FE series.  The FD series was not used for truck tractors, and, as mentioned above, may not have been issued at all.  Plates with format 0000 FR were motor carrier truck plates. 

Farm trucks

Farm truck plates were used for straight trucks over 3/4 ton capacity that were used solely for farming purposes and were not geographically limited.  The plates had the words Farm Truck embossed horizontally on the left portion of the plate, followed by a four-character serial number.  Serial formats 0000 and x000 were used. 

A small number of late-issue farm truck plates with natural 1975 expirations were made using the smaller serial dies from the 1976 expiration base plates.  Plate number J160 at left is the only one of these I've ever seen.  Notice that they also used smaller dies for the plate type legend Farm Truck on this plate. 

Farm truck tractors

The legend Farm Tractor was displayed horizontally, one word above the other, on the left portion of the plate, with a serial number of unknown format on the right side.  These were not issued for actual farm tractors, but rather for truck tractors used solely for agricultural purposes.  Vehicles bearing these plates were also not geographically restricted. 

Restricted-use farm trucks

"Farm area" plates were issued for farm-use trucks which could only use public roads within a 10 mile radius of the farm.  The most likely application was probably for farm trucks that were used mostly off-road, but which needed to use a road to get from one field to another.  These plates had the words Farm Area, stacked one above the other on the left side of the plate, followed by a numeric serial number on the right side.  Issued in small quantities. 

Dump trucks

Both actual dump trucks and cement mixer trucks were issued license plates with the words Dump Truck embossed horizontally on the left portion of the plate, followed by a four-digit serial number in formats 0000 (common) and 000x (uncommon late issue).  Dump truck expiration dates continued to be April 30 each year. 

Motor carrier trucks

I don't remember much about these plates, but if they were anything like the 1976-1987 "Motor Freight" plates, they were used on both straight trucks and truck tractors operated by motor carriers, in other words, trucking companies.  Motor carrier truck plates were issued in serial format 0000 FR, and had no identifying legend.  I presume the "FR" was short for "freight". 

Regular trucks

Regular trucks, as well a number of other non-passenger types, were assigned serial format x 00000.  The serial letters used for regular trucks were H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, and V.  These letters had no special meaning; the serials were simply assigned consecutively through this range of letters.  (Letters I, O, Q, and U were not used for any plate type, while S and T were reserved for state-owned vehicles and farm trucks, respectively.)  The R- and V- series plates were only issued on the 1981-1987 black-on-white base.  The word Truck was embossed on the bottom center of the plates, greatly simplifying type identification. 

Regular truck special plate types

On these two bases, amateur radio operator plates, handicapped plates, and vanity plates were all available for light truck registrations.  All of these, when issued for a truck, had the same Truck legend at the bottom as did regular truck plates.  These truck plates are addressed more fully in their respective articles on the History of Maryland Miscellaneous Personal Vehicle Plates page. 

Organizational plates were available to members of a few specific groups for use on their personal trucks.  In each instance, however, the organizational plates in question already had a different layout and serial format than regular passenger car plates, which wasn't usually the case.  The truck versions of these plates then just had the Truck legend at the bottom to distinguish them from the car versions, and were assigned a specific block of plate numbers.  These truck plates are covered more fully on the History of Maryland Organizational Member Plates page. 

Trucks were not eligible to receive the optional Bicentennial or 350th Anniversary plates that were issued during this time period. 

Additional regular truck special plates 1976-1987 1980 amateur radio truck; 1987 handicapped truck; 1986 Firemen's Association member's truck; 1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars member's truck

Truck tractors

Despite the Tractor legend, these plates were in fact not issued for farm tractors, but rather for truck tractors.  A truck tractor is the front part of a tractor-trailer combination, also known as a "big rig" or an "18 wheeler". 

Truck tractors not used in farming or by trucking companies were assigned serial format xx 0000, along with several other non-passenger plate types.  The first letter was always "F", indicating the vehicle class.  Prefixes FA, FB, FC, and FE were issued on both bases.  Prefix FD was still avoided, even though it no longer conflicted with firefighter organizational plates. 

Farm trucks

Farm truck plates were used for straight trucks over 3/4 ton capacity that were used solely for farming purposes and were not geographically limited.  These plates had serial format T 00000, and the abbreviated legend Farm Trk embossed at the bottom center. 

Farm truck tractors

Truck tractors used for farming were issued plates with the somewhat cryptic legend Farm Tk Tr embossed at the bottom center.  Once you realize that this stood for "Farm Truck Tractor", the plate becomes much more clear in its purpose than the words "Farm Tractor" used on previous bases for this class of vehicle.  Serial format was TT 000; Numbering on this plate type got into the low four-digits.  Vehicles bearing these plates were also not geographically restricted. 

Restricted-use farm trucks

"Farm area" plates were issued for farm-use trucks which could only use public roads within a 10 mile radius of the farm.  The most likely application was probably for farm trucks that were used mostly off-road, but which needed to use a road to get from one field to another.  Serial formats 000 and 0000 were used, and the plates bore the embossed legend Farm Area at the bottom center, which served to identify the location to which such vehicles were restricted. 

Dump trucks

Dump trucks and cement mixers were initially issued plates with serial format DT 0000, and with the legend Dump Trk embossed at the bottom center.  When this format was exhaused on the 1981-1987 base, format DT00000 was introduced; however, on these plates the letters "DT" were stamped using extra-narrow dies, while the numbers were embossed using the standard dies. 

Fellow plate historian Jeff Ellis reports that 1975-1976 dump truck plate registrations originally expired on April 30 as they always had, but then during the registration year the expiration date was shifted by one month to May 31.  Jeff has in his posession a letter from the Maryland MVA to dump truck owners explaining this change.  Dump trucks plates then expired on May 31 each year until the late 1990s.  This was the only class of Maryland plates that expired on a date other than March 31 or April 30 during the years 1939-1986. 

Also according to Jeff, the state ran out of the pre-staggered-era white-on-red 1986 stickers in April 1986 when it still needed them for new dump truck registrations expiring on May 31, 1986. Therefore, a small number of very late-issue all-embossed dump truck plates were issued with the May month sticker and the black-on-white staggered-era 1986 sticker.  Of course, most or all of these were covered up a month later with the 1987 renewal sticker. 

Motor carrier trucks

Motor carrier truck plates had the serial format MF 0000, with the letters "MF" remaining constant, and had the legend Mtr Frt embossed at the bottom center of the plate.  This cryptic legend would appear to stand for "motor freight".  What it really stood for was "motor carrier freight", or in other words, "motor carrier truck"; there was a separate plate type with the legend "Mtr Bus" used for motor carrier buses.  "Motor carrier" is a term that means a commercial vehicle that carries freight or passengers for hire. 

United Parcel Service (UPS) delivery trucks bore motor carrier freight plates during these years, as did truck tractors owned by trucking companies such as Roadway Express.  During the 1987 general replacement, all trucks that had previously carried motor carrier freight plates were assigned either regular truck plates or truck tractor plates on the new base, as appropriate. 

Tow trucks

Tow trucks had been issued regular truck plates until 1983, then their regular truck plates were recalled and replaced with plates with format 0000 TT and bearing the legend Tow Truck.  Probably format TT 0000 was avoided just in case farm truck tractor plates ever got past serial TT 999, which they eventually did.  The 1984 expiration plate shown is a natural first-year issue. 

Note that red-on-white plates with the legend "Wrecker" are not tow truck plates.  These were akin to dealer plates, and were issued to junkyard operators to facilitate the movement of unregistered, operable vehicles.  The "Wrecker" legend was later changed to the more politically correct term "Recycler". 

Regular trucks

Regular trucks, including personal pickup trucks and heavy commercial trucks, were issued the same style of graphic plates, with the script Maryland and the shield separator, as are passenger cars.  There is no legend identifying these plates as truck plates; instead, they have distinct numbering formats.  Straight trucks that had been issued motor carrier freight plates on the previous base were given regular truck plates during the general replacement in April 1987. 

Initially, the regular truck serial format was 000*000, starting at serial number 300*000 to avoid duplication with previous-base motorcycle plates still on the road.  Once serial 999*999 was reached, the sequence rolled over to 000*001 and continued until it reached 299*999 in the spring of 1992, exhausting the format.  A second format of 00x*000 was then begun; regular truck plates continued to be issued in that format through June 2010.  The serial letter has no hidden meaning; the letter was the last character to advance as the numbers revolved around it.  The state government web address www.maryland.gov was added to the bottom of the plates in early 2005, beginning at about serial 23R*000.  The black-on-white regular truck plates were in the late "X" series when they were discontinued; however, these plates may continue to be renewed. 

Personal light trucks had staggered registrations on this base from day one, while company-owned and heavy trucks initially continued with fixed April 30 expiration dates.  Between July 1992 and June 1994, personal light trucks were converted to two-year registration periods.  Approximately 1999, all other regular trucks went to staggered registrations, and company-owned light trucks began two-year registrations.  Heavy regular trucks continued with one-year registrations. 

Effective June 14, 2010, the state stopped issuing regular truck plates.  That's the date that War of 1812 plates began to be issued.  Since then, regular trucks have been issued the same plates, with the same numbering scheme, as passenger cars, regardless of the weight of the truck.  There's absolutely no way to distinguish plates issued for cars and those issued for regular trucks since then.  I presume that heavy trucks continue to get one-year registrations, but some cars do, too.  These passenger car bases also issued to trucks are covered in detail on the History of Passenger Car Plates page. 

Regular truck special plate types

Amateur radio operator plates, handicapped plates, vanity plates, organizational member plates, and military service plates are all available for light truck registrations, but there is no difference between such plates issued for trucks versus cars. 

The first generation Treasure the Chesapeake special interest plate, issued between 1990 and 2003 with dark green serial characters, was available for a number of vehicle types, including trucks up to one ton capacity.  Each vehicle type was issued plates with a distinct serial format; the truck serial format was 0xx*000.  The first digit was always "1".  Serial characters advanced like an odometer, from right to left.  It's been reported that the highest truck serial issued on this base was 1EY*899.  These plates remain valid if continually registered. 

Regular trucks up to 10,000 pounds G.V.W. may also obtain the Our Farms, Our Future, second-generation Treasure the Chesapeake, and limited edition 1910 Vintage special interest plates.  However, there's absolutely no difference between the plates issued for cars and those issued for regular trucks.  These are covered in detail on the History of Passenger Car Plates page. 

Apportioned regular trucks

Regular truck apportioned plates are assigned serials in the format 000*E00, where the letter "E" is constant and indicates the vehicle class code for regular trucks.  Also see the General Information for All Apportioned Plate Types article below. 

Truck tractors

Truck tractors were assigned serial format 000*00F, with the last character always "F", indicating the vehicle class.  There is no legend identifying the plate as a truck tractor plate.  Truck tractors that had been issued motor carrier freight plates on the previous base were given truck tractor plates during the general reissue in April 1987.  This plate type was initially issued for all truck tractors, but since 1988 it's only been used for non-apportioned truck tractors, of which there are relatively few.  The state web site was added to the bottom of non-apportioned truck tractor plates at roughly serial 302*00F. 

Plate historian Jeff Ellis reports that stickers initially went on the rear plate, but beginning with 1989 expirations (perhaps not coincidentally, the first expiration year for apportioned plates), expiration stickers for both apportioned and non-apportioned truck tractors were placed on the front plate.  Jeff also reports that Maryland stopped issuing pairs of truck tractor plates in about 2003 or 2004; now just a single plate is issued to be placed on the front of the vehicle. 

Apportioned truck tractors

Truck tractor apportioned plates are assigned serials in the format 000*F00, where the letter "F" is constant and indicates the vehicle class code for truck tractors.  Also see the General Information for All Apportioned Plate Types article below. 

Farm trucks

Farm truck plates are used for straight trucks over 10,000 pounds G.V.W. that are used solely for farming purposes and are not geographically limited.  These plates have serial format 000*00F/T; the F and T are stacked one above the other and occupy one space on the plate.  The legend Farm is screened at the bottom center of the plate. 

Farm truck special plate type

Shortly after the Our Farms, Our Future special interest plate was introduced for cars, light trucks, and a few other vehicle types, it dawned on someone that this optional plate ought to also be made available for farm trucks, too, and so this is the result.  The serial format for farm trucks using this base is F/T 00000; there is no legend that identifies the plate as being for farm trucks. 

Farm truck tractors

Truck tractors used for farming are issued plates in the format 000*00T/R, with the letters T and R stacked one above the other, and the legend Farm screened on the bottom center of the plate.  Like other truck tractor plate types, these are also now issued as single plates to be placed on the front of the vehicle only. 

Restricted-use farm trucks and island vehicles

"Farm area" plates continue to be issued for farm-use trucks which can only use public roads within a 10 mile radius of the farm.  On the shield base, these plates have serial format 000*00K, with no legend to identify the plate type.  The "K" is fixed, as farm area trucks are Class K registrations.  At some point in 2005 or later, the state web site address was added to the bottom of the plate, starting at about plate number 125*00K. 

Beginning October 1, 2006, Class K has been expanded to include both farm area trucks and island vehicles, and since then, the same K-suffixed plates are issued to both.  Island vehicles are defined as vehicles that are driven only on islands that have no highway access to the mainland, regardless of vehicle type or usage.  So, a K-suffixed plate with no web site legend was most likely issued to a farm area truck, while one with a web site legend might have gone to either a farm area truck or an island vehicle.  I was told that registration periods for Class K plates were for one year only, but the September 2013 expiration plate show at left was phtographed in October 2011. 

Dump trucks

Both dump trucks and cement mixers are issued dump truck plates, which have serial format E00000D, and no legend to identify the vehicle type.  The state web site was added to the bottom of these plates approximately in late 2005, beginning at about serial number E35000D. 

Originally on this base, dump trucks continued with fixed May 31 expirations and one year registration periods.  Expirations became staggered in the 1998-1999 time frame, but registration periods remain one year. 

Apportioned dump trucks

Apportioned dump trucks and cement mixers are assigned plates in rather odd format 000*E/D00, with the letters E and D stacked one above the other, and bearing the legend Apportioned along the bottom.  Also see the General Information for All Apportioned Plate Types article below. 

Tow trucks and "rollback" trucks

Tow trucks were originally issued plates on this base with serial format TT0*000, and no identifying legend.  When that format was exhausted, then format 000*0TT was begun.  In the summer of 2005, the second format also became history, and new plates are now issued in format 00000TT.  The web site legend was added in late 2005, beginning at approximately serial number 00700TT; this was replaced with the legend Tow Truck in 2010 somewhere near plate number 07000TT. 

"Rollback" trucks, the type on which a disabled vehicle sits on the bed of the truck, have largely replaced traditional tow trucks.  Both, however, are issued tow truck plates. 

Summary of tow truck plate versions 1986-present Six serial characters, "TT" in positions 1 and 2 Six serial characters, "TT" in positions 5 and 6 (unstickered front plate) Seven serial characters, "TT" in positions 6 and 7, no legend (not shown) Seven serial characters, "TT" in positions 6 and 7, web site legend (missing its month sticker) Seven serial characters, "TT" in positions 6 and 7, Tow Truck legend

Apportioned "rollback" trucks

"Rollback" trucks which are used both for transporting disabled vehicles, and for shipping vehicles across state lines as freight, are issued apportioned plates with the rather odd format 000*T/E00, where the letters T and E are stacked one above the other, and which bear the legend Apportioned along the bottom.  Apparently, there's no need for apportioned plates to just transport disabled vehicles or actually tow vehicles across state lines.  Also see the General Information for All Apportioned Plate Types article below.