Short answer: "FHWA" on a truck inspection sticker stands for the Federal Highway Administration. Before January 1, 2000, the federal motor carrier safety program lived inside FHWA, so the annual inspection decals of that era were headed "FHWA Annual Inspection." The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 created the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as its own agency, and the rule the sticker documents, 49 CFR 396.17, did not change its substance. Many fleets, shops, and inspectors still say "FHWA sticker" out of habit, so we print the annual label in both an FHWA style and an FMCSA style, identical except for the heading.
Key facts at a glance
- FHWA = Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
- FMCSA = Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, "established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration" (FMCSA).
- The rule on the sticker: 49 CFR 396.17 through 396.23, the periodic (annual) inspection requirement. It is the same citation on both heading styles.
- Interval: every Appendix A component must pass inspection "at least once during the preceding 12 months and documentation of such inspection is on the vehicle" (396.17(c)).
- Label size: 4 in. x 4 in., 4.3-mil air-release vinyl, UV-resistant ink, 2026 to 2030 year grid.
- Colors: Black, White, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink. Pack sizes 10 to 1,000.
- Printed in: Alabama, USA, with your logo and company information.
Why does my inspection sticker say FHWA instead of FMCSA?
Until the end of 1999, the Office of Motor Carriers inside the Federal Highway Administration wrote and enforced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including the annual inspection rule. Decal printers of that period naturally headed the sticker "FHWA Annual Inspection." When FMCSA was stood up as a separate administration on January 1, 2000, the regulations moved with it, but the trucks, the shops, and the boxes of leftover decals did not change overnight. A generation of mechanics learned to call the annual sticker an "FHWA sticker," and the name stuck.
Today you will see both headings on the road, sometimes on the same fleet. Roadside inspectors are looking for the substance the rule requires, not a particular agency name in the title block.
Is an FHWA-headed sticker still acceptable?
49 CFR 396.17(c)(2) does not prescribe a heading, a color, a size, or an agency name. It accepts "other forms of documentation, based on the inspection report (e.g., sticker or decal), which contains the following information": the date of inspection, the "name and address of the motor carrier, intermodal equipment provider, or other entity where the inspection report is maintained," vehicle identification "if not clearly marked on the motor vehicle," and "a certification that the vehicle has passed an inspection in accordance with § 396.17." A label headed FHWA that carries those four items documents the inspection exactly as well as one headed FMCSA. What matters is that the inspection actually happened, was done by someone qualified under 396.19, and the report is retained for 14 months under 396.21(b).
If your company standard, your insurer, or a customer contract asks for "FMCSA" wording, pick the FMCSA style instead. We explain that layout element by element in FMCSA annual inspection labels: what must be on the sticker.
What is printed on our FHWA annual inspection label?
- Heading: "FHWA Annual Inspection."
- Certification line: "This vehicle has passed inspection in accordance with 49 CFR 396.17 through 396.23."
- Records line: "An electronic record of this vehicle's inspection report is maintained at," followed by your company name and address. This is the 396.17(c)(2)(ii) item, and it is the reason the label is personalized rather than generic.
- Logo box in the upper left for your company logo.
- Year boxes for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, a JAN to DEC month row along the bottom, and 1 to 31 day circles down both sides. Punch or mark one of each after the inspection.
Specifications
| Size | 4 in. x 4 in. |
|---|---|
| Material | 4.3-mil air-release calendared vinyl, permanent adhesive |
| Ink | UV-resistant eco-solvent, outdoor rated, holds up to washing and road grime |
| Year grid | 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 punch boxes, JAN to DEC month row, 1 to 31 day circles |
| Colors | Black, White, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink (brand colors on request with RGB or CMYK values) |
| Personalization | Your logo in the logo box, your company name and address in the information panel |
| Pack sizes | 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000 (2,500+ on request) |
| Applies to | Clean, dry painted metal, glass, or smooth plastic |
| Printed in | Alabama, USA |
FHWA label pricing by pack size
| Pack size | Pack price | Price per label |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Pack | $66.65 | $6.67 |
| 20 Pack | $93.32 | $4.67 |
| 50 Pack | $133.32 | $2.67 |
| 100 Pack | $186.65 | $1.87 |
| 250 Pack | $306.65 | $1.23 |
| 500 Pack | $533.32 | $1.07 |
| 1,000 Pack | $999.99 | $1.00 |
FMCSA and FHWA styles are the same price. Every pack is printed to order with your company information. Need 2,500 or more, sequential unit numbers, or shipping to several terminals? Message us before you order and we will set it up.
How to order FHWA inspection stickers with your logo
- On the annual inspection label listing, choose Style: FHWA, your color, and your pack size.
- Check out.
- Reply to your order confirmation email with your logo (PNG, SVG, or PDF) and the company name and address you want in the records panel. We build a proof, print, and ship. Personalized label orders typically process in 1 to 2 business days.
Not sure yet? Send your company info, logo, and shipping address and we will mail a free sample label first.
Where does an annual inspection sticker go?
396.17(c) only requires that the documentation be "on the vehicle." Most carriers place the annual label on the driver's side where it can be read at a roadside stop: the cab door below the window, or the forward fender panel just ahead of the door seam. Trailers that are inspected carry their own label, usually on the front left corner or the side rail near the front. Clean and dry the surface before applying; the air-release vinyl goes on without bubbles. More on timing and proof in how long a DOT annual inspection is good for.
Related reading
- FMCSA annual inspection labels: what must be on the sticker, and how to order
- How long is a DOT annual inspection good for? Validity, proof, and where the sticker goes
- Who can perform a DOT annual inspection? Inspector qualifications under 49 CFR 396.19
- DOT annual inspection checklist: what Appendix A to Part 396 covers
- 90-day inspection labels for trucks (California BIT and quarterly PM fleets)
Shop inspection labels
- FHWA / FMCSA annual inspection labels: pick the FHWA style, seven colors, packs of 10 to 1,000, from $66.65 for 10.
- Custom 90-day BIT / DOT inspection decals if your program also runs a 90-day cycle.
- Browse the full inspection labels collection or use the DOT inspection label guide to pick a format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does FHWA stand for on a truck inspection sticker?
Federal Highway Administration. The federal motor carrier safety program was part of FHWA until FMCSA was established on January 1, 2000 under the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Annual inspection decals headed "FHWA" date from that era and the name is still in common use.
Is there any difference between an FHWA sticker and an FMCSA sticker?
Only the heading. Both document the same annual inspection under 49 CFR 396.17 through 396.23, and 396.17(c)(2) does not prescribe a heading. Our two styles are the same size, material, grid, and price.
Can I still use FHWA stickers on my trucks?
The rule requires the four items in 396.17(c)(2) to be on the vehicle: inspection date, name and address where the report is kept, vehicle identification if not already marked, and a certification the vehicle passed under 396.17. A label headed FHWA that carries those items meets that description. If a customer or company standard specifies FMCSA wording, choose the FMCSA style.
How often is the FHWA / annual inspection required?
At least once every 12 months. 396.17(c) bars a carrier from using a commercial motor vehicle unless each Appendix A component has passed inspection "at least once during the preceding 12 months and documentation of such inspection is on the vehicle."
Can you print my logo and company address on the FHWA label?
Yes. Every pack is printed to order with your logo in the logo box and your company name and address in the records panel. Reply to your order confirmation with a PNG, SVG, or PDF logo and the text you want.
How much do FHWA inspection stickers cost?
Pack pricing runs from $66.65 for 10 labels ($6.67 each) down to $1.00 per label in the 1,000 pack. FHWA and FMCSA styles are the same price.
Sources
- What is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration? (FMCSA)
- 49 CFR 396.17, Periodic inspection (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 396.19, Inspector qualifications (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 396.21, Periodic inspection recordkeeping (Cornell LII)
About Wood Unlimited
Wood Unlimited prints DOT inspection and compliance labels on 4.3-mil weatherproof vinyl with UV-resistant ink, printed in Alabama, USA, for single trucks and full fleets. A label is a visual indicator on the vehicle. The inspection itself, performed by a qualified inspector and documented under the applicable rule, is what the regulation actually requires. Nothing in this article is legal advice; verify your obligations with your own compliance resource or state agency.