Towing issues / updates

[V M Kauffman]

The thing you all keep forgetting is that this section of the Fed register that is thrown around is Federal standards there are two different standards that are in law Federal and State laws. The real problems in all this is that the states are enforcing some of the Federal laws. The deal about the 10,000 lb is any Combined combination of truck and trailer that is over 10,001 lb and used commercially is subject the whole CDL thing it is in the Fed resister that Joe is quoting

Originally Posted by Jeff Teuton

I am reasonably sure CDL does not start until 26000 lbs. Every truck manufacturers makes a special truck that the GVW is 25,900 or 25,999. GVW is determined by the axle capacities and frame. That is from many audits by the IRS and from the head of taxation for Navistar International. It is up to the manufacturer to establish this rating. I will check with someone smarter than me and get back to this string. We have 1600 leased medium and heavy trucks, and stay informed on this stuff. The IRS focuses on the 'fifth wheel' as an issue on FET which is 12% of the selling price. Motor Homes are not normally subject to this. FET starts @ 33,000 GVW or a Tractor Package. Now does a toter that is in a company name and have a fifth wheel qualify. Just another little gray area. DOT starts @ 10000 lbs is correct, but on smaller stuff normally enough tag to cover what you have is enough. The CDL he is referring to is because of the trailer. This stuff becomes Greek or Russian if you look at it long enough, and I can assure you the officers are not notebook. They just get taught the highlings like "are you getting paid" just to issue tickets. Those guys should be enforcing CMV's as the law was not designed for the amatures like us except by some gooneybird trooper that don't like race cars (boats, horses, etc). Fortunately most troopers are enforcing the laws on CMV's like they should, but that occasional one that first don't know the law, 2 don't like people places or things, and third I just don't know now. More later.

[MrWendy'sJr]

As far as federal find the USC(U.S. code). When I joined the the Coast Guard it was still run by DOT. 82USC comes to mind but its been awaile and that might be just for boats. USC is the laws. Now find the CFR (code of federal regulation) that goes to the USC. The CFR is used to regulate the USC. No CFR for a USC then the USC is meaningless, at least from a law enforment stand point. This is for federal, state is not my area. If i had more time I'd did a little deeper but the FRA is keeping to busy. Take it for what it is, just the way I was able to learn and understand it.

[jim powers]

As i have said before on this matter i just wish the dot, nj state police and nj dept of motor vehicles could all get together:
3 years ago after speaking with a friend of mine who was a current nj state trooper and another friend who was a police cheif in monmouth county i was told by both of them that after researching ,the only thing i needed to do to be legal in nj at least with my 26 ft trailer and chevy dually was to be sure i had the truck registered for the total combined weight of the truck and trailer, no cdl required, i latter decided to try and get my class a cdl anyway, i went to nj dept of motor vehicles with a picture of my dually and trailer and said i wanted to start the process to get a cdl, and this is what i would be using the license for, and taking the test in as the law states you are to test in the combination you will be driving, those dmv guys are probably still laughing at me , as they said you dont need a cdl to operate that type of rig in nj !!!and you could not use that type of rig to test for cdl anyway!!!!!WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lew Silverman]

Here's an interactive map of the U.S. and Canada that displays local towing laws -

http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm

There are also links to State and Province DMV/DOT offices. While it seems VERY confusing, most of the answers are out there if you know where to look for them.


Lew

[Michael Beard]

One of the very few enumerated powers granted to the federal government is to 'make regular' the commerce between the several States. Ironically, it's one of the few things that it doesn't actually do.

[Chris1529]

Originally Posted by jim powers

As i have said before on this matter i just wish the dot, nj state police and nj dept of motor vehicles could all get together:
3 years ago after speaking with a friend of mine who was a current nj state trooper and another friend who was a police cheif in monmouth county i was told by both of them that after researching ,the only thing i needed to do to be legal in nj at least with my 26 ft trailer and chevy dually was to be sure i had the truck registered for the total combined weight of the truck and trailer, no cdl required, i latter decided to try and get my class a cdl anyway, i went to nj dept of motor vehicles with a picture of my dually and trailer and said i wanted to start the process to get a cdl, and this is what i would be using the license for, and taking the test in as the law states you are to test in the combination you will be driving, those dmv guys are probably still laughing at me , as they said you dont need a cdl to operate that type of rig in nj !!!and you could not use that type of rig to test for cdl anyway!!!!!WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I figure that would be the case in most states.

[John DiBartolomeo]

I would love to write another story on this subject (we did one or two several years ago) but attempting to get clear, concise and legal information is about as easy as solving the deficit problem in this country. If anyone has an "in" to getting the correct info, I'd love to hear from them. I'd also like to interview some troopers who have pulled over racers. That in itself could be a real eye opener. Where did they get the info they're quoting?

Then again, this could really open up a can of worms.

[sportsfan]

Originally Posted by jim powers

As i have said before on this matter i just wish the dot, nj state police and nj dept of motor vehicles could all get together:
3 years ago after speaking with a friend of mine who was a current nj state trooper and another friend who was a police cheif in monmouth county i was told by both of them that after researching ,the only thing i needed to do to be legal in nj at least with my 26 ft trailer and chevy dually was to be sure i had the truck registered for the total combined weight of the truck and trailer, no cdl required, i latter decided to try and get my class a cdl anyway, i went to nj dept of motor vehicles with a picture of my dually and trailer and said i wanted to start the process to get a cdl, and this is what i would be using the license for, and taking the test in as the law states you are to test in the combination you will be driving, those dmv guys are probably still laughing at me , as they said you dont need a cdl to operate that type of rig in nj !!!and you could not use that type of rig to test for cdl anyway!!!!!WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried to change my registration (probably at the same DMV office) to cover the combined weight. And I was told I could not do it. Spoke to a trooper had no answer to my question.Can't get an answer,but I bet I can get a ticket!

[jim powers]

when you go to re register the truck just put down the desired weight in the box on the form, they will do it , just dont bother to ask them, sommerville dmv is not customer friendly

[Lew Silverman]

How would you go about changing the weight of your truck? Unless you live in a state where you're not required to have a title, the weight has already been established when you first titled/registered it. Aren't most states' registration/plate fees based on the weight of each part of the combination, truck and trailer separately?

Lew