This is directed to private haulers, that move hay for farm or personal use.

Be sure to know your total weight and include the trailer weight in the max capacity.
Recently I've seen many hauling huge loads on 24k goosenecks, but they are way overweight.
The max capacity of your trailer included the trailer weight also.
If you have 24,000lbs max, you can haul only 15,000/16,000lbs max, assuming trailer weight is approx 8,000lbs.

I see many hauling 18, 20 or more 5x5 round bales rated at 1,000lbs each (or more) on 22k or 24k trailers. That means you will be overweight by at least 3,000lbs.

I've met many on the roads that got fined steep for overweight issues, they had to stop the load, call home and come with 2 more trailers, 1 for the extra weight, the other for a skidsteer to load/unload.

I know many of you knows this, but I just wanted to send a reminder to the few. Be sure to calculate the weight of your trailer when you haul.

 

Here is Texas they are not quite so picky - unless you lose a roll on the Interstate. In fact, an improperly restrained load will get their attention faster than one that appears to exceed the trailer rating.
I tend to haul 5X6 Klein/mixed - around 1300 lbs each. I try not to exceed my axle rating by more than 15% (assume pin load).

 

How about covering your load too, like every other trucker has to do. That hay blows all over the place. Cost me over $300.00 to get a piece out of my eye and I had sunglasses on.

 

Not required and a big hassle. Sorry, wont catch me doing it.

 

The key to not getting pulled over is going the speed limit and having the proper flags and straps.
Minnesota is one of those states where if you are overloaded to a certain point off to jail you go.

 

I read in another forum of a semi leaving a farm in NY with bales of hay . A CAT scale was 5 miles away but DOT stopped him before he got to the scale . He was grossing 88,000 bs. . Count on farmers to try to overload you with anything . I've loaded corn on hopper bottoms at farms and had them ask me "Do you want a legal load or a good load ? "

 

I don't think they were farmers, usually they sell their hay at more weight than what it actually does.... dang farmers...

 

Buy your hay by the ton and weigh it at a certified scale. Common practice around here.

 

Ain't gonna happen.

 

I can't speak for Texas specifically, but most states adopt CFR49 as their basis for DOT rules. These rules apply to some vehicles generically and here in Alabama we do have tarp laws and laws that pertain to sifting, spilling or unsecured loads. Basically, you are responsible for keeping your load, all of it, on the trailer or truck. I would suspect Texas has something similar and a tarp or cover may be required. Whether you choose to use on is entirely your choice as long as you are willing to accept the consequences if you guess incorrectly.

 

No tarp required in NM, unless you are going to the dump.

 

The problem is you have to get to the scale before you get stopped . Then if you are overweight you have to make it back and unload some . But then you are in the wrong . You know you're overweight . The correct thing to do is have another truck come and take the extra weight off at the scale .

 

I meant we way it and then pay by the ton........didn't mean the load weight.......never been stopped for that.

 

As nfor the tarp rules, I think that you will find in many Jurisdictionms that "Feed or Fodder" (such as hay) is not prone to the same rules of transport.

That's why you often see loads untarped and a stream of chaff blowing behind them.

 

Yup and it is dangerous. When you read in the paper that a farmer has lost his farm in a lawsuit because they do not want to take the extra few minutes to make the load safe, don't say I did not warn them.