rich

best way to avoid them is late at nite or early in the morning or so they say wouldnt know anything about avoiding them lol

bdog

Thanks for all the info.

Looking at this and deciding what to do.

1) Log book is no problem.
2) Med card should not be a problem either I don't think?
3) What are the implications of getting a DOT number? By that I mean if I get one does it make for any other problems for me?

AggieJustin

I'm guessing your truck and/or trailer are marked with your business name on the side. If not, I would think it would be easy enough to say you went to help out a friend in OK and it was unpaid work and a personal trip.

Going full commercial does seem to be a lot of work/expense for a limited number of trips across the river.

rebal

Yup! I just went through this same thing last week . But I got a DOT that was real nice and explained things very clearly . even weighed my truck and trailer for me to show me and make sure I was legal .gave me a list of what was needed ...CA# MCP # name on ether truck or trailer ETC. best of all no ticket. there are still good public servants out there who help rather then give tickets. Not gona fight the system anymore just play the game

sewman

I just went through this last summer in Ia.
I am now legal,they go by your combined weight,you have 2 no 3 options ditch your trailer & put all the stuff in the truck,get a camper as someone else mentioned & you'll be good tilll you get in an accident or# 3 what I did get DOT#,Med Card,fire extingishers,first aid kit,get truck & trailer inspected.
Now I don't have to drive around looking over my shoulder.
get DOT# here; http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
HTH,
Bob

chaikwa

Just do all the DOT stuff that they asked you to. After a while, you'll get used to getting all your money taken away from you by the government and you won't think it's any big deal! Seriously tho, it all seems like a lot of confusing hoops to jump thru, but it's not all that bad. It's all unfamiliar to you at this point, but after you get all the stuff together and submit it, it'll seem like you've forgotten something.

They are correct. It is the RATING, not the actual weight.

You'll never get everything you need in a week, so I'd get what you are able to and keep the paperwork in the truck with you to show you're making the proper efforts. The DOT number is pretty much instant if you do it on the internet, but it may take you awhile to get the truck lettered, get a physical for your medical card, etc.

Not really if you are 'legal' to begin with. You'll have to keep records of all the stuff you're supposed to have anyway, ie; the med card, your driving history, maintenance records on the truck, etc., but beyond that it's no big deal. I've had my number since the early 80's when they first came out, and with a recent re-registration I was told I would probably be audited to make sure all my paperwork is in order, but I have yet to receive notification of that audit, and that was 7 or 8 years ago.

That's the way it should be. They'd make more money and have safer/more legal vehicles on the road if they'd change their approach a little.

It wasn't a big deal to do all that, was it?

chaikwa.

sewman

No,it's not a big deal just a pita ,but I did get stopped once & got warned 6 yrs ago & pd some $$ then & now since they are crackin down.
They do have a selfhelp test you can take @ the site (http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ )that is supposed to tel you if you need# or not I took it & it said NO!?!?
But I know it's wrong since I'm hauling my merchandise across state lines & selling it f/$$ & MY COMBINED WEIGHT IS OVER 10k!
Bob

HotRodTodd

Same crap happened to me in my bucket truck just after the last hurricane.
DOT stopped me and said he was going to red tag me for no DOT # on my truck. I argued with him and asked to speak to his supervisor. Supervisor showed up and I explained that it was my PERSONAL truck and tools, and I have the right to travel. The supervisor agreed with me as my truck, registration and insurance were all in my name.
I would fight it, you have the right to travel, and your tools are for your use, as is your truck.

rich

its only for your use if its for you if someone is paying for your services or tools then its a different story

sewman

gdh11,Even though your towing cars for your own lot your hauling f/commerce
(your in the car biz) this requires DOT# & all the other regs when you go over state lines,you can do one of 2 things look @ this site http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

OR let the friendly DOT officer explain it all to you like he has to me along w/a couple of tickets.

chaikwa

I'll give you THAT!

That's a test I'd take, print it out and have it with me in my truck. Just because I work for them doesn't mean I agree with everything they say. More people need to hold them more accountable for ALL this stuff. You can ask 20 enforcement officers the same question and get 20 different answers, and it not the officers fault. Some of it is the way they were taught, some of it is the state they work for and some of it is left to their interpretation. It NEEDS to be the same across the board, everywhere. This is something that's being worked on but God only knows when (if) that'll ever happen.

I agree. The inception of the CDL rules was SUPPOSED to do just that, but you can all see how well that worked out!

I'm supposed to be hauling our fire safety trailer from Michigan to Massachusetts this coming fall. I'll be doing that with a truck that has a GVWR of 33,000lbs. The trailer weighs about 12,000lbs. I'm legal for the most part, but I'm out of compliance on a few things, but then again, it's all non-profit, (a 501 c-3 corporation), so no money changes hands and there IS no profit being made and no goods being transported. If nothing else, I ought to have a good story or two to tell when I'm done!

chaikwa.

sewman

I think that is a big problem here state laws & federal laws,
When I was stopped in Ia by a state cop I doubt if he knew as much as I did about the law,he had to keep calling & asking questions all the time.
So it looks like the state can enforce federal laws on us to when your towing & over the 10K limit.

chaikwa, Can't you haul that load sooner I can't wait to hear what happens.
ROMFLMA,Bob

chaikwa

Well, the state HAS to enforce Federal law, there's no leeway on that. But what's muddying the waters is the Feds let the states make the Federal laws more stringent if they want to. Or add to them. But at a minimum, they have to enforce what the Feds give them to begin with.

It's not a L O A D!

chaikwa.

RickCJ

If its your personal truck and trailer you do not need CDL or DOT or FMCSA!
390.3(f)(3)

I used to worry about this crap till I was shown this exemption. I only haul my stuff occasionally.