Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

Like passenger car plates, truck plates from 1916-1919 were all-embossed, but were otherwise similar in appearance to the earlier porcelain plates.  Truck plates again had the column of small stars to the left of the state abbreviation, the keystone, and the year, but now the stars were embossed directly onto the plate itself.  Again, the number of stars indicated the weight class of the truck, with five stars used for the heaviest trucks.  1916 truck plates were embossed with the state abbreviation Penna and the four digit year, above and below the keystone, respectively.  During 1917-1919, on truck plates the state abbreviation was shortened to just Pa, and only the last two digits of the year were indicated.  The stars were on the right edge of the 1919 plates. 

1916 truck plates again always had all-numeric serials in the 20000 series.  The 30000 series was used for passenger car plates in 1916.  Since the stars now had to be stamped on the plates at the time of manufacture, if they ever did previously just issue any leftover truck plates to passenger cars, that was no longer even an option. 

1917 to 1919 truck plate serials always have prefix letters "C" or "S"; the meaning of these letters is not certain.  It's been suggested by others that perhaps "S" stood for "solid tire" while "C" stood for "cushioned (pneumatic) tire".  However, after seeing and recording details of numerous 1917-1919 Pennsylvania truck plates, I've determined that this theory is clearly incorrect.  Among the many examples I've come across, all 1917 truck plates had the "S" serial prefix, while all 1918 and 1919 truck plates were made with the "C" prefix.  It's pretty apparent that a single letter was used for all truck plates in a given year.  Who knows what "S" might have stood for, but since the 1920-1923 truck plates bore the legend Commericial, I'll go out on a limb and say that probably the "C" also stood for "commercial". 

Similar to passenger cars, the embossed keystone was enscribed with the VIN number of the vehicle; if the registration was transfered to another vehicle during the year, a silver-colored keystone was rivited to the plate with the new vehicle's VIN number engraved on it.  Similarly, if the new truck was of a different weight class than the original, a silver band with the appropriate weight class stars was attached to the plate over top of the embossed stars.  It's also possible that these silver bands were used in instances where the DMV office ran out of truck plates in a given weight class. 

For the first four years of the 1920s, Pennsylvania truck plates were identified with the legend Commercial.  There was no apparent way to identify the vehicle's weight class on these plates.  Serials were again all-numeric. 

The three 1920 truck plates I've seen have all had Commercial along the top of the plate, with the abbreviation Penna and the year at the bottom.  Each of these were taller than a passenger car plate to accommodate text both above and below the serial.  I believe these plates are seven inches tall.  The four-digit plate shown at left, and a five-digit plate in format 00-000, were both only wide enough to accommodate the serial.  The third was a long plate with a six-digit serial in format 000-000. 

It's been reported that some 1920 truck plates were also made in the same style as was used in 1921 through 1923, but I can't confirm or refute this. 

I've seen various 1921, 1922, and 1923 truck plates, all of which had Penna Commercial 19yy (where 19yy indicates the actual year) running along the bottom of the plate, and were 16 inches wide regardless of serial length, in order for this text to fit on the plate.  With no text at top, the plates were the standard 6 inch height.  I've seen these with five-digit serials in format 00-000, as well as six-digit serials in format 000-000. 

During these years there was no legend to identify truck plates.  They were distinguishable from passenger car plates or other types of plates only by the single serial prefix letter, which on truck plates could be R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, or Z.  (Letter X was reserved for dealer plates.  Also note that TE prefix plates were issued to farm tractors, and TT prefix plates were issued to trailers.  Other prefix letters indicated vehicle types other than trucks.)  On truck plates, prefix letters were weight class codes, with "R" indicating the lightest weight class and "Z" indicating the heaviest.  These truck weight class codes were used from 1924 through 1967, with the exception of 1930 and some 1931 plates. 

Truck plate serial letters were the same size as the numbers from 1924 through 1926.  At least since 1927, and also possibly on late 1926 issues, serial letters have always been noticeably smaller than serial numbers.  In 1924 and 1925, six character serials, and some five character serials, had a dash between the third and fourth characters from the right.  Starting in 1926, five character serials consistently had a dash in this same location.  I've only seen one example with four or fewer characters from these years, a 1929 four character U-class truck plate, which had no dash. 

Those mysterious "R" suffix plates

Pennsylvania plates with a letter "R" at the end of the serial number were also made during at least some of these years.  I've seen several examples of 1925 "R" suffix plates and one 1926 plate; another collector reports having a 1927 "R" suffix plate in his collection.  In each instance, the serial number was in the format 00-00R.  The highest plate number I've encountered on any of these was a 1925 plate with serial number 90-87R. 

No one seems to know for certain the purpose or usage of these plates.  It's been suggested by others that these were either replacement plates for motorists who lost their originals, or plates issued to vehicles rebuilt or reconstructed from multiple (presumably junked) vehicles. 

However, I've become convinced that these "R" suffix plates are actually also R-class truck plates.  I'm basing this on the assumption that the number of R-class registrations exceeded 99,999 during these years.  I've held in my hands a 1925 Pennsylvania plate with serial number R99-935; the existence of this plate makes it a near-certainty that 1925 R-class truck registrations reached the 100,000 mark and beyond.  If this were indeed the case, most likely they just flipped the letter "R" to the end and started over with the numercial sequence.  I've seen no plates other than "R" suffix plates that could have reasonably served as an overflow series for R-class trucks. 

Two-axle trucks

In 1932 and 1933, the style and serial format of two-axle truck plates reverted back to that of six-character 1924-1929 truck plates, with a prefix letter R through Z but excluding X, and five numeric digits following, in serial format x00-000.  Apparently, the numbers started at either 10-000 or 10-001 in each weight class. 

Three-axle trucks

It's been reported that three-axle trucks again had a second letter "Z" in addition to the weight class letter, but with no further details; I presume the serial format for these would have been something like xZ0-000. 

Two-axle trucks

The first serial character was always the weight class code, and there was always exactly one other letter.  In 1934 for all weight classes, and 1935 through 1937 for weight classes T through Z, these plates had a total of five serial characters.  In other words, serial formats were x000x, x00x0, and x0x00.  During 1934, at least in the R- and S- classes, plates with the Truck legend were also issued in format xx000, which was otherwise considered to be a format reserved for passenger car plates.  They're obviously not, thanks to the legend.  Likely, they issued these after the other truck serial formats were all completely used up.  Then, from 1935 through 1937, when R- and S- class plates exhausted the five-character split formats each year, longer six-character plates in format x00-00x were then issued. 

Three-axle trucks

Again, truck plates with a second letter "Z" were issued to trucks with three axles.  By 1936 at least, the second letter "Z" was definitely in the second position following the weight class code, and there was also a third, non-adjacent letter.  In all likelihood these never exceeded five serial characters, and so serial formats definitely included xZ00x and possibly also included xZ0x0. 

Two-axle trucks

From 1938 to 1956, in order to limit the serial number to five characters, two-axle truck plates could now have two or three letters.  Serial position 1 was always the weight class code, and position 2 was always a number.  Therefore, serial formats used through 1956 include x000x, x00x0, x0x00, x00xx, x0xx0, and x0x0x. 

However, in 1956, all of these formats were maxed out, and a six character format x0000x was once again also issued, at least for weight class R.  By 1956, Pennsylvania had brought its plates into conformance with the new North American 12 inch standard width, so they just couldn't make the plates longer to accommodate the sixth character.  Instead, they made the six character 1956 plates with narrower serial dies. 

For 1957, two-axle truck plates were made only with six serial characters, using the same narrow dies introduced in mid-year 1956.  In 1957, format x0000x was used for all weight classes, and x000x0 was also used for at least class R. 

Three-axle trucks

Again, truck plates with a letter "Z" adjacent to the weight class letter were issued to trucks with three axles.  In all likelihood these never exceeded five serial characters, and so serial formats definitely included xZ00x and possibly also included xZ0x0.  I haven't seen a 1957 three-axle truck plate, so I don't know whether they stuck with these five character formats or went to a six character format like they did for two-axle trucks. 

Two-axle trucks

These plates again always had a numeric digit adjacent to the weight class letter, and had one additional letter in the serial.  Serial formats actually used include x00-00x, x00-0x0, and x00-x00, issued in that order, at least for the lighter weight classes.  Heavier classes probably did not use all of these formats. 

Three-axle trucks

Three-axle straight trucks again had the weight class letter in the first position and were specifically identified by the letter "Z" in the second position.  The serial number also had a third letter not adjacent to the other two.  As far as I know, the only format actually issued was xZ0-00x. 

Four-axle trucks

This new category was probably limited to vehicles such as heavy dump trucks and cement mixers.  These plates were identified with the letter "X" in the second position, but otherwise were similar to three-axle plates.  Most likely, the only serial format was xX0-00x. 

Truck tractors

Truck tractors aren't farm implements, but rather the front part of a tractor-trailer combination.  1958-1967 were the only years that truck tractors were issued plates distinct from straight trucks in Pennsylvania.  These plates used the same weight class codes, but had the letter "T" in the second position, with a third non-adjacent letter in the serial.  Probably the only serial format was xT0-00x.  It's not clear from the information I have whether these plates were specifically for three-axle axle truck tractors, or for all truck tractors regardless of the number of axles. 

The multi-year truck base plates issued from 1968 to 1971 were blue on yellow, matching the 1965-1970 passenger car plate colors, and bore the legend Commercial along the top edge and the fully-spelled state name along the bottom edge.  All trucks, and only trucks, were issued these "commerical" plates regardless of whether they were actually used for commercial purposes.  Weight codes, axle codes, and distinct formats for truck tractors were abolished; the serial format for all trucks was Cx-00000.  The plate again had a border in the shape of the state, more or less.  The legend at the top necessitated redrawing the northern border of the state well into New York.  These plates had a real sticker box with an embossed border in the lower left corner.  Early issues of this base plate had a lightly debosssed "68" in the sticker box.  The plate was used without stickers during the 1968 registration year; stickers were applied to validate the plate during the the 1969-1971 registration years.  Sticker colors again differed from passenger car stickers. 

Sometime between 1958 and 1977, and most likely between 1968 and 1977, the state made some changes to how it registered various types of trucks.  I don't know whether these changes occurred simultaneously, or at different points in time.  Although weight class codes were no longer indicated on the plates themselves, the state continued to classify trucks according to weight.  However, the alphabetic weight classes R through Z were replaced with numeric weight classes.  Second, the expiration month for trucks in light-duty and medium-duty weight classes 1 through 8 was shifted from May to October, while trucks in heavy-duty weight classes 9 and higher retained their May expiration month.  The weight cutoff between classes 8 and 9 is 26,000 pounds G.V.W.  Once this expiration month change was implemented, light and medium truck registrations expired on October 31 of the year indicated on the plate or sticker, while heavy truck registrations continued to expire on May 31 in the year following the year indicated on the plate or sticker.  The last year sticker applied to these plates was for 1971, so at least the heavy truck plates on this base were on the road through May 31, 1972. 

These plates were introduced one year after and continued to be issued one year after the corresponding Bicentennial passenger car plates.  1972 to 1977 truck plates were yellow on blue, again always with Commercial at the top regardless of the actual usage of the truck.  The state name was at the bottom, with sticker wells in both upper corners.  The state map outline used continuously since 1938, which had become grotesquely distorted in 1968, was put out of its misery.  Serial format Cx-00000 was again used, with a small keystone serial separator, for all trucks.  Early issues had a lightly etched "72" in the left sticker well.  The plate was used without stickers during the 1972 registration year; stickers were applied to validate the plate during the 1973-1977 registration years.  Odd years had blue-on-white stickers; even years had red-on-white stickers (opposite from passenger cars). 

Sometime between 1958 and 1977, the expiration month for light and medium trucks up to 26,000 pounds G.V.W. was shifted from May to October, while registrations of heavier trucks continued to expire in May.  This change is addressed in greater detail in the 1968-1971 truck plate section, above.  The last sticker that could be applied to this base plate was for the 1977 registration year, regardless of the truck's weight.  Therefore, the latest one of these blue truck plates could be valid was October 31, 1977 for light and medium trucks, and May 31, 1978 for heavy trucks. 

Regular trucks

The Truck legend resumed after a ten year absense, and was embossed at the bottom of the plate.  The serial format was once again Cx-00000 until this was exhausted in 1982; then serial format 00000-Cx was issued on this base through the CC series.  Unstickered plates used in 1978, 1979 stickered plates, and 1980 stickered plates cannot be distinguished between light and heavy truck usage, unless they also have subsequent month-year expiration stickers.  May expiration stickers were only isused to heavy trucks over 26,000 pounds G.V.W., while expiration stickers for months other than May indicate a light or medium truck under this weight. 

Apportioned trucks

Apportioned plates are issued to certain commercial vehicles that cross state lines.  Apportioned truck plates have an Apportioned legend at the bottom, and serial format AA-00000.  They were only issued in the AA series on this base.  Apportioned plates in format BL-00000 were issued to buses. 

All apportioned plates expire annually each May, regardless of weight.  Pennsylvania entered the International Registration Plan (IRP) on June 1, 1983, so logically, the earliest stickers on apportioned plates should indicate a May 1984 expiration.  However, I've seen Pennsylvania apportioned plates bearing May 1983 stickers, which I can't explain. 

Farm trucks

These have the legend Farm Truck at the bottom, and serial format FM-00000.  This was another new truck plate type introduced on this base, however, I don't know exactly when farm truck plates were first issued.  I've seen a number of these with 1979 stickers, and I've even seen a couple of them with blue-on-white 1977 stickers on this base.  I haven't yet come across any without stickers or with 1978 stickers, so I'm not completely sure what's going on.  It's possible that farm truck plates made their debut in 1977 and were initially issued on the yellow base with 1977 truck stickers, but I'm not prepared to state that as fact.  Passenger car plates came out on the yellow base in 1977, but without stickers during that first year. 

I don't know in what month farm truck plates expired prior to staggered registrations.  Once staggered registrations were begun, farm truck plates could expire in various months, including May; I don't know whether May expirations are reserved for heavy farm trucks. 

Heavy and apportioned trucks

Heavy trucks over 26,000 pounds G.V.W., did not convert to staggered registrations, and such vehicles renewing their registrations as well as subsequent newly registered vehicles retained their May expiraiton months.  Heavy trucks renewing in May 1980 or newly registered through May 1981 were given blue-on-white "80" stickers that were of the same design as the "79" and earlier year stickers.  These "80" stickers expired on May 31, 1981.  Subsequently, heavy trucks were issued standard passenger car-style May expiration stickers each year, with the earliest being a blue-on-white "MAY" sticker with the year 1982 in very tiny characters in the upper right corner of the sticker. 

Apportioned truck plates were introduced after staggered truck registrations began, but they are not staggered and always expire annually each May. 

Light and medium truck registration renewals

Existing registrations for light and medium trucks up to 26,000 pounds G.V.W. were also not staggered, but retained their October expiration month.  Such trucks renewing their registration in October 1979 were issued a blue-on-white "80" sticker, which was valid through October 31, 1980.  Upon expiration of this "80" sticker, all light and medium trucks with existing registrations were then issued red-on-white "OCT" stickers, the same as were used on passenger cars.  These stickers indicated the expiration year 1981 in very tiny numbers in the upper right corner.  In subsequent years, light and medium trucks plates issued prior to staggered registrations continued to get renewal stickers indicating an October expiration. 

Light and medium truck new registrations

At some point, newly registered light and medium trucks began being registered for 12 inclusive months and were issued staggered passenger car month-year expiration stickers.  I don't know precisely when this occurred, but the earliest it could have been was October 1979, with the earliest staggered expiration sticker being SEP 1980.  Perhaps the latest it could have begun was in February 1980, since the earliest truly staggered expiration sticker I've come across on a truck plate was dated JAN 1981.  In any case, an exception was made for light and medium trucks newly registered in June; these registrations are prorated and assigned an expiration month other than May, since May expirations continued to be reserved for heavy trucks. 

Regular trucks

The Truck legend was moved to the top of the plate, and the state name to the bottom.  Initial format 00000-Cx continued from the previous base, starting in the CD series, but in 1986 this format was discontinued well before it was exhausted, in the upper CJ series, for no apparent reason.  Then, formats Yx-00000 followed by Zx-00000 were used.  Truck plates were being issued toward the end of the Zx series when this base was discontinued in 2000. 

As far as I know, all heavy trucks (over 26,000 pounds G.V.W.) had May expiraitons, and all light and medium trucks expired in any month except May. 

Apportioned trucks

Apportioned trucks continued with serial format Ax-00000, and were issued in the AB and AD series on this base.  The AB series had the state name at top, and Apportioned at the bottom (the same as on the yellow base, and opposite from most other plate types on the blue base); with the AD series they brought this plate type in line with the others, and put Apportioned at the top and the state name at bottom.  The AC series was apparently skipped for reasons unknown.  The Bx series of apportioned plates were issued to buses. 

The expiration month on apportioned plates is always May, regardless of vehicle weight.  Apportioned truck expiration stickers are slightly different than standard May expiration stickers; they say Pa Apportioned along the top edge, rather than Pennsylvania. 

Circus-carnival trucks

I don't know exactly when during the time this base was issued that this plate type was introduced.  The legend Circus-Carnival Truck is embossed in mixed case letters at the top edge, while the state name is embossed in upper case letters at the bottom edge.  Serial format is B/Z00000.  The text Valid Apr 1 Thru Sept 30 is embossed on the left side of the plate.  In addition to these embossed dates, a regular expiraiton sticker is also used to indicate the year; for obvious reasons, the expiration month indicated on the sticker is always September.  Since the plate is only valid for six months each year, the registration fees are half that of full-year truck plates. 

Farm trucks

The legend Farm Truck is embossed at the top; serial format FM-00000 continued from the previous base, starting at about FM-50000.  Farm truck plates can expire in various months, including May; it's possible that May is reserved for heavy farm trucks. 

Repair/Service Towing and Repair Towing

While these were seen on tow trucks, they are more correctly classified as a type of automotive business plate, similar to a dealer plate, rather than a type of truck plate.  These plates were issued to vehicle repair and/or towing companies and were not assigned to a specific vehicle.  The plates could be legally used either on vehicles owned by the business, or on unregistered customer-owned vehicles being test-driven or moved. 

The legend was originally Rep/Ser Towing, but this was later simplified to just Repair Towing.  Serial format was RS-00000 with either legend. 

Regular trucks

Regular truck plates have the legend Truck embossed along the bottom; and serial format Yxx-0000.  (However, as of this writing in May 2009, this format is nearly used up and a new one will needed in the near future; I imagine it will be Zxx-0000.) 

Fade band plates were issued with prefixes YAA to YRR and had a dash separator; solid band plates introduced in 2005 started at prefix YSA and use a keystone separator.  As far as I know, all heavy truck (over 26,000 pounds G.V.W.) plates continue to have May expiraitons, and all light and medium truck plates expire in any month except May. 

Apportioned trucks

The embosssed Apportioned was moved back to the bottom of the plate, while the serial format Ax-00000 continues from the previous base.  AE and AF serial prefixes through AF-49999 were issued on the fade base with a dash separator.  In the summer of 2007, apportioned truck plates began to be issued on the solid band base, with a keystone separator rather than a dash, beginning at serial AF-50000.  BN series apportioned plates are issued to buses. 

All apportioned plates expire in May each year regardless of weight and, although you have to look closely to see it, have distinct stickers.  While normal May expiration stickers say Pennsylvania across the top edge, stickers for apportioned plates say Pa Apportioned. 

Circus-carnival trucks

Circus-Carnival Truck is embossed in mixed case letters at the bottom edge; Valid Apr 1 Thru Sept 30 is again embossed on the left side.  Serial format B/Z00000 and numbering continue from the previous base.  Expiration month is always September.  These have not yet been spotted on the solid band base as of November 2008. 

Farm trucks

Farm Truck is embossed at the bottom, with new serial format FM-0000x.  Serial numbers advance before the letter suffix.  Farm truck plates can expire in various months, including May; it's possible that May is reserved for heavy farm trucks.  No solid band plates yet for farm trucks, either, as of November 2008. 

Repair Towing

While these are seen on tow trucks, they are more correctly classified as a type of automotive business plate, similar to a dealer plate, rather than a type of truck plate.  These plates are issued to vehicle repair and/or towing companies and are not assigned to a specific vehicle.  The plates can be legally used either on vehicles owned by the business, or on unregistered customer-owned vehicles being test-driven or moved. 

Serial format is RT-00000 on both the fade base and the solid band base.  Solid band plates began at about serial RT-49000.