I have a 2006 four door Dodge dually measuring in at around 20ft and I pull a 2004 Take 3 car hauler measuring in at 51ft...The combination measures in at 66ft total. Which I found out is over the limit in every state (65 ft.)for a commercial vehicle since it is not considered a tractor because if the bed on the truck.

The limit for a tractor/semitrailer combo in TX is unlimited as long as the trailer isn't over 59' for hauling automobiles...and the same for a commercial truck/semitrailer combo.

The trailer I pull is defined as a semi trailer...

So here is the definition of a tractor here according to the texas CDL handbook...

"Truck-tractor" means a motor vehicle designed or used primarily for drawing another vehicle:

(A) that is not constructed to carry a load being drawn; or

(B) that is engaged with a semitrailer in the transportation of automobiles or boats and that transports the automobiles or boats on part of the truck-tractor.

But I was told in Florida that if the truck has a bed it is a "strait truck" even if it is empty and pulling a gooseneck. And the only way for it to be a tractor is to take the bed off and having nothing at all on the back of the truck.


I just got into the car hauling business after talking to a friend who has been doing it for more than 3 years who has never recieved a ticket for this...and after being out only 3 weeks I get busted...

Anyone else had any experience with this? I tried looking up the laws in Florida (where I ran into trouble) but no luck...


Thanks in advance...

 

Yup , that's Florida . Their regs have been discussed repeatedly at hotshothauling.com .

 

Aso watch for states that add the gvwr of the truck plus the gvwr of the trailer to determine if you need a CDL . Federal regs use the GVWR of the truck plus the ACTUAL weight of the trailer and load .

 

looks like your over almost everywhere.
http://www.wecamp2.com/size.html

 

WOW I am a car hauler myself. My trailer is 48 foot but I have been thinking of getting the larger trailer just to have the extra room. So if we take off our truck bed and put on a flat bed will we be put into a different class? There are so many guys that run the 51' trailer I dont see how it could be illegal. I will do some checking myself and see what I can come up with as well.

How do you like car hauling so far?

 

If you register your truck as commercial you should be ok! Are you currently running a commercial inspection? If you pull a trailer over 10k you have to have it commercially inspected. Here in Texas it is like a big red sticker in the place of our regualar inspection sticker and says commercial. If you have that then you will be good to go because your trailer will be under the 59' limitations!

 

Did you get busted in Florida or elsewhere ? It seems like Florida is the hot spot for getting busted for this particular "crime" and haven't heard of anyone else "being" overlength in other states.

 

Yeah Florida, Ohio and sometimes Virginia they kinda make the rules work for them!!!

Depends on how his truck is classed and registered! He is over lenght if he is a plain truck. If his truck is registered as commercial he is allowed 59'

 

By the definition posted above, a flatbed will not work either, since it can carry a load. Haulin_in_dixie removed his box, having the hitch sitting on the bare rails, with mudflaps and lights like a regular semi tractor. I think he even registered his truck as a dedicated tractor! He has since upgraded to a freightliner for business reasons, but he might have picks of his old truck in the gallery yet.

 

Yeah not just a regular flatbed. Sorry I didnt clarify! you are correct no bed just hitch or the "flat beds" that have a hitch, headache rack, extra fuel tank and runners for a hitch. The bed is made in such a way you couldnt even put a pallet on it!

It really depends on how he has his truck registered! If he is tagged as a commercial vehicle then he is fine but if he is personal than no he is over length!

 

I have spent a lot of time on the "Florida" issue that you speak of. Reviewed the statutes (Chap 320 and 316), contacted DMV staff attorney, AG's office, both of my state representatives. In FLORIDA, a "truck tractor" is defined as a truck which "carries a portion of the weight of the trailer with a fifth wheel connection", and a "heavy truck" as a "truck with a weight in excess of 8,000# that draws the weight of a trailer". No mention in Florida law is made of a gooseneck connection, and the fifth wheel connection is specified. Therefore, if you have a gooseneck set up you have two choices: you tag as a heavy truck, because your "connection" is specifically NOT a fifth wheel, even though you CARRY (not DRAW) a portion of the weight of the trailer, or you tag as a truck tractor BECAUSE you CARRY not DRAW a portion of the weight of the trailer, but you are not using a fifth wheel connection. There is also the issue of the ability of the hauling unit to "carry" cargo, IE: such as a pickup type bed. You have a number of issues: Chapter 316FS is the Uniform Traffic Code, Chapter 320FS is the vehicle license (tagging) chapter, and of course you have the driver's license issue of needing a CDLA if the"combined gross vehicle weight RATING is in excess of 26,001# AND the trailer RATING is in excess of 10,000#". I am hoping to have the specific "fifth wheel connection" dropped from the definition of "truck tractor", so that no matter what the connection, if one is "carrying" not "drawing" a portion of the weight of the trailer, they are a truck tractor. My request states that various chapters in the Florida Statutes should be uniform and agree when defining the same thing - Chapter 320 considers a commercial vehicle as any vehicle with weight in excess of 26,001# (allows applicant to declare WEIGHT, but not USE), where Chapter 316 defines a commercial vehicle as a vehicle "used in commerce". There is the DOT manual, which the DOT officers use, which advises that "proof of the furtherance of a business enterprise" must be present to consider a vehicle as commercial, and the DMV Handbook (for tag agencies), which defines what a commercial vehicle is strictly by weight, not use. It is a mess that perhaps someday will; be straightened out.

 

Tell me about it. They have so many laws and bi-laws and doulbe talk it is insane for the normal person to keep up with. I hope that someday they get it all straightened out! Right now it is a nightmare. The Texas DOT handbook says one thing then the Federal DOT say different but the feds are the boss then you go to california and they do the what the Feds say to do then the live in their own dream world of rules. It is very hard to stay within the confines of the rules when you get so confused reading them!!

If they want to give you a ticket the average DOT cop will find something wrong wih you!

 

Heads up in Tejas....

I have a client that was pulled over with his 3/4 car hauler to be checked... the Cop said that they were starting to focus on checking these rigs out... they are looking for details also... They are watching for trailer inspection? Weight? Correct License Etc... This guy walked away feeling lucky with a $135 ticket for no trailer inspection sticker. He was pulled over North of San Antonio but the officer said that it is a statewide thang.

Oilguy

 

Yeah, because so many of the guys out there get a truck buy a trailer and get DOT numbers and go to work. They forget to do some homework. Like have the truck commercially inspected as well as the trailer. Also they have to change plates to Apportion or combo and have their total weight limit registered correctly. Then if you run over 26000 or more than 3 axles then you have to go into all your IFTA stuff as well as your CDL for being over 26,001LBS. Then not to forget about having to large of an auxillary fuel tank plus tons of other stuff to worry about.

So it isn't as simple as buying a truck and trailer and hitting the road!!

 

I had read all about these overlength tickets here and on hotshothauling, so with a 48 foot trailer and took off my bed and had a 5th wheel. With a 19,000 lbs loaded trailer, I wouldn't really want a gooseneck anyway. Didn't end up hauling cars though...