# Why are refrigerated trucks required to have "FISH" on them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928 "2003-06-10T18:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/1 "2003-06-10T18:27:11Z")
Why are refrigerated trucks required to have “FISH” on them? If they are are carrying fish, that is? I have seen this all my life and wondered about it. They aren’t required to say “BEEF” or “CHICKEN.” Why single out “FISH?” Are they a health hazard or something??? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/2 "2003-06-10T18:31:26Z")
I never heard of this. What makes you think such a requirement exists? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/3 "2003-06-10T18:38:39Z")
So that if it breaks down and the refrigerator cuts out, you know to _run!_ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/4 "2003-06-10T18:55:38Z")
It’s a conspiracy of cats. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/5 "2003-06-10T18:55:53Z")
I see this on small trucks all the time, at least here in Texas. Today a cow-orker asked me if I knew why. He said go on-line and ask “The Smart Group!” Hee-hee! I talk about this place sometimes… ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/6 "2003-06-10T19:08:59Z")
It’s a Texas thing, and it’s a requirement of the Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife. It originally had something to do with keeping track of commercial fishing. Any truck that carries fish must pay a licensing fee and have the lettering “FISH” in a certain size on the back of the truck (that’s why it always looks the same). Most fishmongers think it’s more of a pain in the ass than anything. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/7 "2003-06-10T19:44:27Z")
More detail: [http://www.seafood-sales.com/faq2.htm](http://www.seafood-sales.com/faq2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/8 "2003-06-10T20:41:00Z")
Wow! You guys _are_ the smart group! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/9 "2003-06-10T22:50:33Z")
I’m sure glad that you asked that question. I see them all the time and wondered, but not enough to ask here. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/10 "2003-06-11T02:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*So that if it breaks down and the refrigerator cuts out, you know to _run!_ \*\* No, silly, that’s the trucks that say “FROZEN DINOSAUR” on the back. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/11 "2003-06-11T06:42:35Z")
How about this … why do all buses in New York State have the word “OPERATOR” on them? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/12 "2003-06-11T12:16:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*How about this … why do all buses in New York State have the word “OPERATOR” on them? \*\* That`s an easy one. So that if there is an accident nearby people will know there is a surgeon on board. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/13 "2003-06-11T12:19:59Z")
The word “operator” is placed on buses in proximity to the name of the operating company/school district/transit authority/whatever. The idea is to point out that all that paint isn’t just a slogan or something. Take this with a grain of salt, it’s just something I was told by a friend who works for a local school district. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/14 "2003-06-11T12:21:49Z")
Gah. That couldn’t have been less clear, could it? The purpose is to unambiguously idendtify the bus company. There. That’s better. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/15 "2003-06-12T01:41:11Z")
It’s times like this when we fish have to stand together and walk tall, and link arms and raise our heads up high and fight the evil oppressive trucking companies! But we don’t, 'cos we don’t got arms or legs. 🙂 FISH ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-refrigerated-trucks-required-to-have-fish-on-them/180928/16 "2003-06-12T02:09:18Z")
I don’t believe that it is limited to TX. I think we did this before, and I posted a link to an OHIO regulation that said the same.