For those of you who know,help me out. I have a 06 quad cab with a gvwr of 9000lbs. I tow a 7x14 tandem axle trailer with a gvwr of 7000 lbs.
I sell clothing,and what not at flea markets,and such. recently for the first time in 20 yrs. I was stopped by an enforcement officer for not having a DOT registration no. visible. he was very nice,and said I probably didn't know so he wasn't going to site me but wanted me to be aware that when towing anything for commece any combination over 10,001 lbs. req. Dot registration,log book, fire extinguisher,road flares and medical certificate. I only do this a few times a year. I looked at the DOT web site,and although it is confusing he semmed to be right about the 10,001 lbs. combination rating. I have a suv and a smaller trailer that will put me at 9600lbs. that I can use and will do just fine. I just would like to know from those on here that tow all the time if he was correct in everything he stated. I know many people who do similar to what I do,and the all say he was wrong that only applies to for hire motor carriers. but the DOT web site shows pictures of buses, tractor trailers,and pick-ups with trailers
and says any combination over 10,001 lbs. requires a DOT number. it makes no distinction between semi's for hire or the poor joe blow trying to make a buck on weekends. sorry for the long post, but would like those that truly know to comment. Thank you

 

When I brought this page up http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registratio...escription.htm it looked like it may be what the officer showed you . It will answer all your questions and you can go ahead and apply for your DOT number . The officer was very lenient with you . Just about any clinic will do a DOT physical . They cost around $50 and they'll give you a card good for 2 years unless you need medication for high blood pressure (higher than 140/90 ) then the card has to be renewed annually . People that say only for hire carriers need a DOT number are wrong . It's the MC number for hire carriers need that private carriers don't need .

 

....and as Rick pointed out, it is because you are "engaged in the furtherance of a business enterprise", IE: "in commerce" (no profit required, just the effort) that is the tripper, in addition to the weight.

Same set up, hauling your personal goods (and you can prove it), in no way-shape-form engaged in any sort of business (and a lot of race car and bike drivers/riders/racers are finding out that when it is no longer a hobby, it is a business...), no issue.

A "private carrier" simply means that you are not-for-hire. You are still commercial, as it is your business enterprise, so as RickG points out, you need the DOT# and to comply with all requirements stipulated.

 

Excellent reply Bonshawman, you described it very clearly, simple, and easy to understand.
DOT should hire you to write their reg books, no kidding

Another question: I went to Chicago yesterday to pickup 2 cars I bought for our personal use. They were purchased at a dealer's auction, I used my 30ft gooseneck flatbed. Do I need all that above ?

Same as when I buy hay for my horses ?

Thanks

 

Where does it say this ?? All I see that mentions that number is the weight of the trailer being pulled, and the class of cdl

 

go to the linl RickG posted. under help me register,go to the bottom where it says step by step registration guide.follow that link it will ask you several questions to determine if you need a DOT number,and show you the pictures,and weight limits I stated. hope this helps

 

One fact I forgot to mention is you WILL have to get a DOT number if you buy a 1 ton truck, at least that's the way it is in Minnesota.
They will not license it with a regular plate, you will get a commercial white plate on ANY 1 ton truck ( or above) and you'll have to get a DOT number

 

Ummm... No. I have a 3500 srw with Y/A (comercial) plates at 9,000 lbs. For personal use only at a $120 per year. No DOT number required. I also have a 30' 15K gooseneck that I haul my Samurai and a buddies jeep for trail riding/rockcrawling. I only have a Class D license. I am legal. If you look at the regs its good for combinations up to 26K for personal use. If I do anything for Hire, or start a business and use it for that, then I would have to get a DOT# and possibly a CDL.

 

I'm sure all states have different regs. for intrastate use. I'm only pointing out
my experience. like I said I have been doing this for 20 yrs., and I know plenty of people who do the same thing as I. Some with larger trailers pulling more wait,and the don't have DOT numbers. but FED.DOT requires any vehicle
or combination over 10,001 lbs. doing anything remotely commercial to have a DOT number. I don't believe a CDL is required until 26,000 lbs. but I could be wrong on the cdl part,but the officer who stopped me said i did not need a CDL. my GCWR was 16,000. so for what I do I have other vehicles I will use to stay under the 10,001 lbs. and not get a DOT No.

 

Recently there has been some crack down on "hotshotters". There has been an increase in people hauling comercially without the proper licensing and DOT regs. You may have been the first to get spotted and pulled over.

How many of people in your business have an RV, Just curious. When I go to Trade shows, flea markets, art fairs, etc... I see a number of the venders showing up in RVs, either pickup and trailer or motor home and cargo trailer. This might be a way around the DOT number regs.