Seeing how my construction company is just limping along, I ave decided to try my other interest. Repo-ing.
Eventually I wil get a hidden under bed lift for my Dodge, but for now I found a cheaper solution. An old neighbor is moving to N.Carolina so he is selling off a few trucks he has. One jst happens to be a mid 80's chevy extended wheelbase with a Dynamic auto loader wheel lift. He only wants $3,000 for it. :-))) That's cheaper than a manual junk wheel lift by itself.

Anyway, I'm looking for tips of the trade and such. I believe i have found someone to sub for until I can afford the 3 mill. ins. policy that the banks want.
I wanna jump in and work my *** off. :-)

 

in tesa you have to have a dot # for a wrecker dont know about their mite check with the state

 

Well, if I read the law right, there is a very fine line regarding the PUCO numbers. And I THINK as long as I stay in a certain area I don't need the numbers. I'm going to try and find the wording and see what you guys think, OR better yet, if anyone here knows for SURE what the rules are??

 

Here is the law. I just need to figure out if I fall into the "not for hire " category like I am thinking. ????



TOW TRUCK REGULATIONS

The Ohio Gneral Assembly passed House Bill 87, and it was signed by Gov. Taft on March 30, 2003.
HB 87 removes the exemption for tow trucks hauling wrecked or disabled vehicles. They now fall under Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) jurisdiction under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 4921.07 and ORC 4921.02.
Just like motor carriers that haul everything from produce to hazardous materials, for-hire tow trucks operating on Ohio’s roadways must register with the PUCO. For-hire towing companies must also follow federal motor carrier safety regulations governing maintenance and repair, record keeping, driver licensing, drug and alcohol testing, and hours of service. The PUCO conducts regular inspections to ensure that tow truck operators are in compliance with the federal rules and assesses fines when violations are detected.
Several categories of tow truck operators are exempt from PUCO registration requirements and federal motor carrier safety regulations, including:

• Owners of tow trucks used for private business and not for-hire (This category includes salvage yards hauling only vehicles purchased for salvage and companies that operate tow trucks to service fleet vehicles.).
• For-hire tow truck companies that operate entirely within one or more contiguous municipal areas.
• Government agencies.

The PUCO does not have the authority to set towing rates or vehicle impoundment fees and does not regulate the customer service quality or operating boundaries of tow truck companies. Questions and concerns regarding the service of a particular towing company should be directed to the Ohio Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau.
Safety Rules

The PUCO has adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) under Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 4901:. These safety rules will apply to commercial motor vehicles as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)49 Part 390.5.
All motor carriers must maintain a driver qualification (DQ) file for each driver they use, which includes all items in CFR49 Part 391.51.
All motor carriers must comply with hours of service regulations and maintain record of duty status, or, as the industry knows them, log books, for a period of 6 months, as required by CFR49 Part 395.8. If you operate locally then you can use the exception found in CFR49 Part 395.1(E).
All motor carriers must maintain maintenance records as required in CFR49 Part 396.3. All drivers must complete a daily inspection of each vehicle operated listing any and all safety defects, and carriers must maintain these inspections as required by CFR49 Part 396.11 and effect repairs of safety items before the commercial motor vehicle may be dispatched again.
All motor carriers are required to have all commercial motor vehicles inspected on an annual basis, and documentation that the commercial motor vehicle passed the inspection must be carried on board as required in CFR49 Part 396.17.
Alcohol and Drug Testing is required by CFR49 Part 382 if the size and or weight of the commercial motor vehicle requires the driver to possess a commercial drivers license (CDL) as required in ORC 4506.
Note: The definition of a commercial motor vehicle in CFR49 Part 383.5 is for that part only.

 

I wouldn't think that you'd be in the 'not for hire' category just from the wording in the three points above;
1) You'll be working for someone who has financed a car for someone and they're not paying for it as they promised, there-fore, the finance company has hired you to go get the car for them.

2) I wouldn't think that you'll be operating in one contiguous municipal area. Repo's come from all over the place.

3) You aren't a government agency. (are you?)

It sounds to me that you'll have to comply with all commercial motor vehicle regulations that apply to the class of vehicle that you'll be operating to achieve this new venture.

chaikwa.

 

Yes, but #2 says one OR more contiguous municial areas. SOOOO... If I only work in 4 connected counties (contiguous), wouldn't THIS be my loophole ?

 

That's a good point. I don't know if they consider a county a municipal area or not. When I hear 'municipal', I think of a city, not a county. But I could be wrong... it happened once before.

chaikwa.

 

It really is sad that ya have to consult a lawyer, just to try and figure out the laws. If you click on the blue links to other parts of the laws, they seem to be even MORE confusing.
It's like ...person A,B, &C can talk to person D, & E as long as neither D or E nows X or Z or anybody who is related to X or Z except in a case where the related is also related by A,B, or C but not in a case of marriage. Then section 1827.blah blah goes into effect and both parties must wear yellow hats while speaking. UNLESS there was a full moon out on the fifth night of the previous month, then said parties must wear all black.

 

you will be for hire. you would be contracted by a company to find and repo items