OFFDUTYEXPEDITOR

I have a 1997 Ram 3500 cab/chassis with a 12' cube body. This truck has a GVWR of 11,000#.
I use this truck commercially (expedited freight) and according to DOT regulations any vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001# or more are required to use a logbook.
I can plate the truck for 10,000 but it doesn't matter because the DOT goes by the manufacturers rating that is stamped inside the driver's door.
My question is can I get the truck re-rated for less than the original?
The stamp I have on the door now is not even from Chrysler but from Supreme Corp who built and installed the cargo box. But I have the build sheet from Chrysler and they also rated it at 11,000.
Any help would be appreciated.

Haulin_in_Dixie

I almost hate to touch this one because so many are opinionated about it, but this is the scoop. The body company that installed the reman sticker on the door can change it and that would be legal for DOT purposes and is the way changes are handled. In your case you already have a reman sticker so they do have the capacity to change it. I would approch them with your problem and they may very well change it for a fee.

DOT recognises the reman sticker but does not specify who may make it up. It generally comes with a basic change to the vehicle, like suspension changes, frame mods, etc. These stickers are changed on trailers all the time to get under CDL requirements.

vssman

One thing - depending on the state your in, going less than 10,001 may require an emissions test.

Patrick Campbell

They should do it no problem, it's going the other way that is a problem, but keep in mind you will also now have to stay under that GVW of 10,001 including your freight.

Also, how far away do you deliver?

I think under 100 air miles you don't have to carry your log book with you....

Haulin_in_Dixie

Yes under 100 air miles you do not have to have a log. That said, it is more complicated. First the air miles is just that, a circle on your home terminal. It has been reported that it has been through court and won that the "air" miles are nautical miles. I have not dared to push that one.

But, you do have to have a "record of duty status" with you. What does that mean? Some cops like to say that you have to have a log anyway. This is not true but you do have to have a record of when you worked and when you did not. A simple little form that shows the time you started work and ended work will do. I have been through a Carrier Safety Inspection with this form. It is legal.

You also cannot spend a night away within 100 miles and not log. You have to start work and end work at the home terminal, within the hours that you can drive. So you do have to have a daily record of each day for the last seven days, logs for over 100 miles. And you cannot go over the hours in a 60 hour week or a 70 hour week as that may be.

OFFDUTYEXPEDITOR

njoverkill,

Who would I need to contact to get the gvwr lowered?

I go way above 100 miles out so the other solution would not work for me.

I have only been stopped by DOT in this vehicle one time. When I go into the scale houses they look at me like I am a moron.

Wish everybody played with the same rule book.

Patrick Campbell

I would contact the truck body company since they did your current tag.

What do you deliver just out of curiosity?

OFFDUTYEXPEDITOR

Thanks njoverkill, I sent them an e-mail but have not yet heard back from them.

I haul anything and everything. Lots of auto parts. We recently acquired a new customer who makes aeronautical equipment. I happen to be the closest driver to the plant so alot my loads have been out of there. The good thing about them is there products are big and bulky recquiring my size truck for space but the stuff is also very light as you might imagine. I rarely have over 1200# on board but will have a full truck. That's what got me thinking about changing the GVWR on this truck. If I could get out of filling out those silly logs it would be worth any time and effort it takes to get the thing changed.