Trucker News

What is the difference between die-cut lettering and printed lettering?

Die-Cut Lettering: Die-cut vinyl lettering are big sheets of vinyl that are cut using a sophisticated cutting machine that leaves a professional finish. Think of law enforcement vehicles, commercial airlines, fire trucks, they all use die-cut lettering. The shelf life of die cut vinyl is usually 8-12 years.

Printed Lettering: Printed lettering is a white sheet of vinyl that is injected with ink, think of your run of the mill sticker. Whenever ink is injected into anything, the ink will fade very quickly. The shelf life is usually 1-3 years and printed lettering does not withstand rain, heat or other weather elements.

At US Decals, we die-cut all of our products with the highest quality vinyl. Our vinyl is guaranteed to last a very long time. We specialize in logistics and transportation decals. Our decals will withstand the test of time, heat, snow, and the sun. Please do your research when you’re in the market for new truck lettering. Not all lettering is created equal.

If you have any questions, please contact us.



Displaying your US DOT number on a magnetic sheet is a perfect way to achieve temporary USDOT compliance. USDOT Magnets are perfect for business owners who live in a neighborhood with a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) that will not allow you to park with vinyl stickers on your commercial vehicle. Magnets are also perfect for those individuals who use their personal vehicle for business. Simply put the magnet on your truck door and you’re good to go. Take it off when you are using the vehicle for personal use.

Also, magnetic signs are a great option for those that lease vehicles and only will be using the vehicle for short time use.

Vinyl lettering decals are a more semi-permanent solution for those who will be trucking for a while. Also, it’s perfect for those who have a personal vehicle and a commercial vehicle. Professional truck lettering looks a lot more professional than magnets, it shows you are dedicated to your trade.

Vinyl lettering will withstand the elements and highway speeds a lot more than magnets, so please keep that in mind.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact us.

We recently had a valued customer reach out to us wanting us to make them a truck door decal using their logo. We happily said yes and told her to send us her logo. Upon receiving it, we noticed it was in very bad shape, it looked very pixelated, the image size was small (meaning low quality/resolution). So we told the customer that we would recreate the logo for her, send her the editable files (photoshop & illustrator) along with a high resolution JPG & PNG for her files. The customer was beyond happy, especially since it was free of charge.

Below is the customers logo, before and after. Notice how the new logo looks a lot cleaner, better resolution. She will now be able to use her files for her website, truck decal logo, hats or whatever she needs.

Are Your Decals Printed?

No! All of our products are cut from color vinyl rolls bought from our suppliers. Our products are not injected with any ink which means they will last a very long time against the elements! Whenever you inject ink into any surface, the ink will fade with time, such as an old tattoo. Since we cut our vinyl’s out of colors, they are guaranteed to last 10 years!

How Are USDOT Decal Stickers Cut?

Our Vinyl USDOT products are produced from a computer driven plotter with a very sharp blade that precisely cuts through the vinyl film. Excess material is removed so you are only left with the die cut characters and designs on a wax back paper. To finish, a transfer paper is placed on top of the cut design. This makes it very easy for our customers to apply their products on their commercial vehicle and have a professional finish.

Does The USDOT Come With A Background?

Nope! All of our products are die cut to give you that professional appearance.

I Want You To Design A Custom Design For Me Using A Fancy Font, Can You Do This?

Yes! We thrive on creating new designs for our customers! We can even create a new font that is exclusive to your business! We have thousands of custom design templates to not only be up to code but give your business an aesthetic appearance! We have a big staff of designers ready to help you with your next design!