attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"

Charlie Ford · 02-25-2009, 11:03 AM

Since we're getting started again, and since I was stopped by a Texas State Trooper at the end of last year for the first time in 30 yrs. of towing, I have been checking up on my actual requirements. After getting kinda' pissy, the officer got pretty nice about the whole thing. He was an actual "weights & measures" officer, so he had all the books, charts, & 8X10 glossy's to explain my obligations. Now for all these years, I was under the impression that, since it was a personal rig & the actual weight was below 26K lbs., I was OK. Evidently, by law, this is not the case. I contacted a friend who is a retired weights and measures trooper. We talked and he agreed that they don't normally mess with rigs that look like private rigs if their not doing something wrong. He got me in touch with an officer to give me further info. What this man told me came as a shock. First, my trailer GVWR is 18K lbs. My truck is 10,5K, giving me a total of 28.5K That total requires me to have a CDL period. The real kicker is crossing state lines. He informed me that, if you cross state lines, the total permisable GVWR drops to 10K. If your over that you're required to have all kind of stuff. USDOT, some kind of "united carrier", log book, physicals, etc., etc. , and that's for anybody, in any state.

Anybody got any info on this??

Lou SG2340 · 02-25-2009, 12:26 PM

Don't know where the 10,000lbs is coming from You have to have a class A for your weight.

If the truck & trailer is registered in your name you do not need DOT regestration & are not subject to DOT rules such as log books fuel stickers etc. If truck & trailer are registered in a company name you do have to get a DOT # & go by there rules

DOT will tell you that you have to go by their rules because you are racing for prize money.

Federal Motor Carrier 390.3 says as long as you claim all monies won & do not claim expenses on you taxes you are exempy from DOT.

Bottem line I would stop at scales out of state to be safe.

Larry Hill · 02-25-2009, 01:28 PM

Its always easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission.

Randall Klein · 02-25-2009, 02:27 PM

When this flared up awhile ago, I thought this is just the kind of "member issue" that needs to be addressed nationally by NHRA and reported in Nat'l Dragster as a service to the members. NHRA should partner with NASCAR, SCCA and all "sportsman" series that involve hobby-racers using pick-ups/tow vehicles and trailers (not pro semis)....they should all have a vested interested in helping their members navigate national regulations, instead of individuals getting differing views from the local Barney Fife.

You'd think

RJ Sledge · 02-25-2009, 03:37 PM

Charlie......did you offer him one of your MGD's while he was explaining all this to you???

RJ

Phillip marvetz · 02-26-2009, 02:09 AM

In washington state any vehicle over 10,000 gvw can be considered a commercial vehicle and ticketed even though the sign's at the weigh station's say vehicles over 16,000 need to stop. I was ticketed for not having a log book and fought it all the way to the supreme court and lost, that means your 1 ton diesel with a trailer and racecar are over the limit! Carry a log book even if you don't fill it out, at least you can if you get pulled over. it's no fun when the state patrol **** tell's you your out of service until you can provide a log book..
I cross the border to race in canada and have been told that since I can win money I am considered a business and need to get authorization from the B.C goverment, I counter with the argument that if I was going to a casino to gamble would I be a business? they always say no ,so I tell them that racing is a gamble, I don't get paid to race I only get money if I win. They drop there questioning after that.

1chassishop · 02-26-2009, 02:33 PM

Any questions about Trk & Trl length and laws.....call Larry Allen! I hear is an expert!

jmantle · 02-26-2009, 02:51 PM

It sure would be nice if there was a standardized set of rules that covered all of North America. On a related subject, would my truck and camper be considered a RV or a truck and what speed limit applies to RV's in the states with a different speed limit for trucks?

Jim Mantle

Ed Fernandez · 02-26-2009, 07:30 PM

Just curious,Anybody have a ballpark weight for a Dodge 4500 dually with a 42'LQ 5th wheel setup,one car about 3000K tools,spare motor about 400lbs,trans etc?Curious if it would require a Class A lic.

Ed F.

Jeff Teuton · 02-26-2009, 09:33 PM

DOT starts @ 10,000 lbs. One way that will probably get you out of a jam is to have at least enough tag to cover the weight of your truck and trailer. CDL starts @ 26k. Your combined GVW of your truck and trailer if over 26k makes you need the cdl. I sell a few trailers and the manufacturer can rate them less than the weight capacity of the axles. GVW is determined by axle capacity and frame. All truck manufactureres make a truck @ 25999 GVW. Quite legal. Maybe I could upgrade my paper I did for National Dragster and get them to print it again. This seems to come and go. Florida needs an overlength over 65 ft. Can get it on the net with a credit card. Cheap. You can't be a "little bit" under DOT. You really need it all. But they don't usually bother with us, thank goodness.

02-25-2009, 11:03 AM	#1
Charlie Ford Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 169 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Since we're getting started again, and since I was stopped by a Texas State Trooper at the end of last year for the first time in 30 yrs. of towing, I have been checking up on my actual requirements. After getting kinda' pissy, the officer got pretty nice about the whole thing. He was an actual "weights & measures" officer, so he had all the books, charts, & 8X10 glossy's to explain my obligations. Now for all these years, I was under the impression that, since it was a personal rig & the actual weight was below 26K lbs., I was OK. Evidently, by law, this is not the case. I contacted a friend who is a retired weights and measures trooper. We talked and he agreed that they don't normally mess with rigs that look like private rigs if their not doing something wrong. He got me in touch with an officer to give me further info. What this man told me came as a shock. First, my trailer GVWR is 18K lbs. My truck is 10,5K, giving me a total of 28.5K That total requires me to have a CDL period. The real kicker is crossing state lines. He informed me that, if you cross state lines, the total permisable GVWR drops to 10K. If your over that you're required to have all kind of stuff. USDOT, some kind of "united carrier", log book, physicals, etc., etc. , and that's for anybody, in any state. Anybody got any info on this?? __________________ Charlie Ford 4729 STK

02-25-2009, 12:26 PM	#2
Lou SG2340 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Disputanta Va (30 minutes from VMP) Posts: 122 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Don't know where the 10,000lbs is coming from You have to have a class A for your weight. If the truck & trailer is registered in your name you do not need DOT regestration & are not subject to DOT rules such as log books fuel stickers etc. If truck & trailer are registered in a company name you do have to get a DOT # & go by there rules DOT will tell you that you have to go by their rules because you are racing for prize money. Federal Motor Carrier 390.3 says as long as you claim all monies won & do not claim expenses on you taxes you are exempy from DOT. Bottem line I would stop at scales out of state to be safe.

02-25-2009, 01:28 PM	#3
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,622 Likes: 1,912 Liked 10,670 Times in 2,216 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Its always easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

02-25-2009, 02:27 PM	#4
Randall Klein Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 785 Likes: 45 Liked 316 Times in 67 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" When this flared up awhile ago, I thought this is just the kind of "member issue" that needs to be addressed nationally by NHRA and reported in Nat'l Dragster as a service to the members. NHRA should partner with NASCAR, SCCA and all "sportsman" series that involve hobby-racers using pick-ups/tow vehicles and trailers (not pro semis)....they should all have a vested interested in helping their members navigate national regulations, instead of individuals getting differing views from the local Barney Fife. You'd think

02-25-2009, 03:37 PM	#5
RJ Sledge Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 783 Likes: 497 Liked 288 Times in 90 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Charlie......did you offer him one of your MGD's while he was explaining all this to you??? RJ

02-26-2009, 02:09 AM	#6
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" In washington state any vehicle over 10,000 gvw can be considered a commercial vehicle and ticketed even though the sign's at the weigh station's say vehicles over 16,000 need to stop. I was ticketed for not having a log book and fought it all the way to the supreme court and lost, that means your 1 ton diesel with a trailer and racecar are over the limit! Carry a log book even if you don't fill it out, at least you can if you get pulled over. it's no fun when the state patrol **** tell's you your out of service until you can provide a log book.. I cross the border to race in canada and have been told that since I can win money I am considered a business and need to get authorization from the B.C goverment, I counter with the argument that if I was going to a casino to gamble would I be a business? they always say no ,so I tell them that racing is a gamble, I don't get paid to race I only get money if I win. They drop there questioning after that.

02-26-2009, 02:33 PM	#7
1chassishop Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hohenwald, Tn Posts: 31 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Any questions about Trk & Trl length and laws.....call Larry Allen! I hear is an expert!

02-26-2009, 02:51 PM	#8
jmantle Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Black Creek, BC Canada Posts: 331 Likes: 77 Liked 172 Times in 81 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" It sure would be nice if there was a standardized set of rules that covered all of North America. On a related subject, would my truck and camper be considered a RV or a truck and what speed limit applies to RV's in the states with a different speed limit for trucks? Jim Mantle

02-26-2009, 07:30 PM	#9
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Just curious,Anybody have a ballpark weight for a Dodge 4500 dually with a 42'LQ 5th wheel setup,one car about 3000K tools,spare motor about 400lbs,trans etc?Curious if it would require a Class A lic. Ed F. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

02-26-2009, 09:33 PM	#10
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" DOT starts @ 10,000 lbs. One way that will probably get you out of a jam is to have at least enough tag to cover the weight of your truck and trailer. CDL starts @ 26k. Your combined GVW of your truck and trailer if over 26k makes you need the cdl. I sell a few trailers and the manufacturer can rate them less than the weight capacity of the axles. GVW is determined by axle capacity and frame. All truck manufactureres make a truck @ 25999 GVW. Quite legal. Maybe I could upgrade my paper I did for National Dragster and get them to print it again. This seems to come and go. Florida needs an overlength over 65 ft. Can get it on the net with a credit card. Cheap. You can't be a "little bit" under DOT. You really need it all. But they don't usually bother with us, thank goodness. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK