Invisible areas showing up black

[Roadmaster259]

I downloaded a couple of 3D models to experiment with texture applications, and so on, using 3ds Max 2019 (I have installed the RW plug-in for exporting). I downloaded an airport radar that came with a single .png file already laid out with the texture map. The image itself has the background checker-board appearance in the areas that are supposed to be invisible. However, when I apply the texture to the model with the "Train Basic Object Diffuse" shader (or any shader, for that matter), the invisible areas come out black, rather than see-through. This phenomenon has occurred with a few of the models I have experimented with, especially foliage. Invisible areas show up black. I'm baffled as to what causes this or what I can do to fix it. Would someone please offer some guidance as to how I can get the texture to apply properly so that invisible areas of the model turn out like they are supposed to?

Even after exporting and blueprinting, the invisible areas show up black in the sim.

I'd like to attach the texture file but the forum won't allow .png images. If re-saved as a .jpg, the checkered areas turn out white.

Any ideas?

[RailWanderer]

I am not so sure this is your answer, but having worked in Max, I was wondering, did you set the Transparency in the texture? It should be set to transparent.