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.

Kirk Morgan · 02-26-2009, 07:04 AM

The answer to this problem is to change the registration weight to a lesser amount on the trailer if you are under the rated max gvw. to bring the amount below the 26,000 lbs. I think Charlie normaly tows with one car.

Kirk, AKA, Mutt

Bob Verwold · 02-26-2009, 07:18 AM

I'd say with all the cut backs everyone's making their just looking for extra money..........And we are prime targets, if you can afford to race, you can afford one of these B.S. tickets. That's my take on this.

Charlie Ford · 02-26-2009, 08:25 AM

Phillip, your statements reflect exactly what the Texas weights & measures supervisor explained to me. After he told me about the Federal regulations, I ask him, 'You mean to tell me, that, if a person tows a bass boat, with a dually, across the state line, any state line, he's subject to all these regulations?". He said "By law, yes". He went on to say that, for the most part, scenarios like that aren't inforced.

Kirk, I always thought it was what you actually weighed. Over the years, racing 2 cars, I would periodically weigh my various rigs to make sure I was under 26K lbs. I've been to Ca. a couple of times from Texas and the AZ/CA inspections are some of the toughest. They've checked my registration, contents, & safety stuff a few times. I never had a problem. When I informed the Texas officer about this, he asked me "When was the last time you made that trip?". It's been over 15 yrs., and he informed me that the laws have changed. As far as registration, I had my trailer in for Hurricane Ike repairs and talked to the service guy about trailer ratings, and could they be changed. He said absolutely not. The axles are what they are and that determines the GVWR. I have 3-6K lb. axles thus the 18K lb. rating.

treessavoy · 02-26-2009, 10:56 AM

A buddy of mine (Ed Chandler and his 82yo Mother) towed with a slant back car hauler with one car and pulled a 26' trailer with the other car got stopped in TN and was made to pay 300.00 for a fuel stamp...on the way back from the race he pulled in to the weigh station directly across the interstate form the one that stopped him on the way up and the agent on that side told him he did not need a fuel stamp.

It's the Government......have they ever known what they were doing?

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: 10,584 Likes: 1,869 Liked 10,583 Times in 2,187 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: 479 Liked 287 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, 07:04 AM	#7
Kirk Morgan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 224 Likes: 1 Liked 71 Times in 40 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" The answer to this problem is to change the registration weight to a lesser amount on the trailer if you are under the rated max gvw. to bring the amount below the 26,000 lbs. I think Charlie normaly tows with one car. Kirk, AKA, Mutt

02-26-2009, 07:18 AM	#8
Bob Verwold Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fayetteville Ohio Posts: 656 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" I'd say with all the cut backs everyone's making their just looking for extra money..........And we are prime targets, if you can afford to race, you can afford one of these B.S. tickets. That's my take on this.

02-26-2009, 08:25 AM	#9
Charlie Ford Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 169 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" Phillip, your statements reflect exactly what the Texas weights & measures supervisor explained to me. After he told me about the Federal regulations, I ask him, 'You mean to tell me, that, if a person tows a bass boat, with a dually, across the state line, any state line, he's subject to all these regulations?". He said "By law, yes". He went on to say that, for the most part, scenarios like that aren't inforced. Kirk, I always thought it was what you actually weighed. Over the years, racing 2 cars, I would periodically weigh my various rigs to make sure I was under 26K lbs. I've been to Ca. a couple of times from Texas and the AZ/CA inspections are some of the toughest. They've checked my registration, contents, & safety stuff a few times. I never had a problem. When I informed the Texas officer about this, he asked me "When was the last time you made that trip?". It's been over 15 yrs., and he informed me that the laws have changed. As far as registration, I had my trailer in for Hurricane Ike repairs and talked to the service guy about trailer ratings, and could they be changed. He said absolutely not. The axles are what they are and that determines the GVWR. I have 3-6K lb. axles thus the 18K lb. rating. __________________ Charlie Ford 4729 STK

02-26-2009, 10:56 AM	#10
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again" A buddy of mine (Ed Chandler and his 82yo Mother) towed with a slant back car hauler with one car and pulled a 26' trailer with the other car got stopped in TN and was made to pay 300.00 for a fuel stamp...on the way back from the race he pulled in to the weigh station directly across the interstate form the one that stopped him on the way up and the agent on that side told him he did not need a fuel stamp. It's the Government......have they ever known what they were doing?