If you play Spot the States on the highway, you may notice something strange: Indiana plates seem to show up on a lot of big trucks.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the truck is from Indiana. Indiana is a major registration hub for commercial carriers. Its Department of Revenue runs a large Motor Carrier Services operation that handles interstate truck registrations through the International Registration Plan, or IRP.
Indiana says its Motor Carrier Services division serves nearly 25% of the trucks and trailers on U.S. roads.
What Is an Apportioned Plate?
Large commercial trucks that operate in multiple states often register under the International Registration Plan.
Instead of obtaining a separate registration in every state they travel through, a qualifying carrier can receive one license plate and one registration cab card from its base jurisdiction. Registration fees are then apportioned among the jurisdictions where the vehicle operates.
That means an Indiana-plated tractor-trailer you see hundreds of miles from Indiana may still be properly registered through Indiana even though it operates all over the country.
Why Indiana?
Indiana has built a large Motor Carrier Services operation specifically for commercial fleets. The Indiana Department of Revenue says its Motor Carrier Services division provides services to carriers in Indiana and beyond and serves nearly 25% of trucks and trailers on U.S. roads.
Indiana also emphasizes online processing for commercial registrations, including adding vehicles, renewing plates, transferring plates and printing cab cards. The main verified explanation is simple: Indiana is a major administrative hub for commercial vehicle registrations.
The Spotting Trick
If you’re looking for Indiana during a road trip, don’t just watch passenger cars. Pay attention to:
- tractor-trailers
- large commercial trucks
- truck stops
- interstate rest areas
- distribution centers
Indiana can sometimes be easier to find on a commercial truck than on a passenger vehicle.
Just remember: The plate tells you where the commercial vehicle is registered. It doesn’t necessarily tell you where the driver lives or where the truck spends most of its time.
Sources: Indiana Department of Revenue — Motor Carrier Services · Indiana Department of Revenue — International Registration Plan (IRP)
More field notes from the road are on the way. Keep an eye on the guides page.