fun chat with Texas HP

[BGlidewell]

Got stopped last month and the guy said I was overweight. I looked at him like he was an alien and said, "what!!?" He said my truck and trailer combined were over the limit for a non commercial license and I would have to take the truck and trailer to the DMV to pass their commercial test, get a license and have DOT letters on the side of my truck. This time he just gave me a warning but added that his supervisor would probably make him send me a ticket.
The truck GVWR is 12200
The trailer GVWR is 7000
Thats 19200 combined

So I get home and google it up. Turns out Texas limit is 26001. It's been over a month and I'm still looking for that ticket to come in...


Maybe if I lose some weight I can get off this BP medicine...

 

[B.G. Smith]

If you don't mind my asking, what type trailer were you pulling? bg

 

[BGlidewell]

If you don't mind my asking, what type trailer were you pulling? bg

pace two axle 16' enclosed

 

[B.G. Smith]

Hope you don't hear from that. Sound weird. bg

 

[Bill Stockard]

How did he determine your truck/trailer combo was overweight? Portable scales? Maybe he thought you had contraband hidden in your trailer and used the overweight story after he realized he stopped the wrong truck.

Bill

 

[SSteilow]

So let me ask a newbie question.

If my truck and 5'er are Registered in another state and over 26001 limit. Will i be pulled over by the Texas HP for being over? As i drive through Texas to a camp Ground in Texas. Is this just Texas registered Vehicles and trailers.

Thank you for the replies,

Scott

 

[MChrist]

So... if the limit in your case is 26,001#, why was he threatening to give you a ticket? Am I missing something?

 

[jhenderson]

I believe Texas might have graduated liscenses for non commercial registrations. If you are from out of state they must honor the issuing states liscense regulations.

 

[MelvinPierce]

So let me ask a newbie question.
If my truck and 5'er are Registered in another state and over 26001 limit. Will i be pulled over by the Texas HP for being over? As i drive through Texas to a camp Ground in Texas. Is this just Texas registered Vehicles and trailers.
Thank you for the replies,
Scott

Nope. Only need to be legal in your home state.

 

[jwduke]

Glad I have a class A CDL...

 

[Wingate]

yeah u had a dumb*** for a DPS officer... Was he in a cruiser or one of the Tahoes? What part of Texas did this happen in?

 

[BGlidewell]

RVs are like farm vehicles, exempt.

 

[BGlidewell]

yeah u had a dumb*** for a DPS officer... Was he in a cruiser or one of the Tahoes? What part of Texas did this happen in?

cruiser on the DNT at Frankford.

So... if the limit in your case is 26,001#, why was he threatening to give you a ticket? Am I missing something?

He had a pad and went around the trailer twice taking notes. I think he added the front and rear WR to the GVWR

 

[B.G. Smith]

The HP in the cruisers don't usually do the weights and measures stuff and especially off the beaten path, that looks like a residendial area on the map. You may have encountered a fake wannabe? Just saying. bg

 

[BDW]

Might have been a toll road cop being on the DNT. The limit is 26K and there is not a graduated license in here. Ag and RVs are pretty much exempt for the normal rules. The same license is good for a pinto or 18 wheeler tractor pulling a RV trailer. There is a length limit on pulling a goose neck trailer with a second trailer attached, but I don't recall the specifics. And with farm tags the sky is the limit, Just about anything goes.

 

[DennyDay]

Might have been a toll road cop being on the DNT. The limit is 26K and there is not a graduated license in here. Ag and RVs are pretty much exempt for the normal rules. The same license is good for a pinto or 18 wheeler tractor pulling a RV trailer. There is a length limit on pulling a goose neck trailer with a second trailer attached, but I don't recall the specifics. And with farm tags the sky is the limit, Just about anything goes.

Better check your understanding of Texas regs - - - you are required to have a DL not a CDL that covers the gross weight of the vehicle - -that is if you drive a motor home with a gvw of over 26,001 bs you are required to have a class B DL and if you have a tractor (semi) type pulling a big 5th wheel you may have to have a ACL nor a ACDL

 

[GAmes]

Got stopped last month and the guy said I was overweight. I looked at him like he was an alien and said, "what!!?" He said my truck and trailer combined were over the limit for a non commercial license and I would have to take the truck and trailer to the DMV to pass their commercial test, get a license and have DOT letters on the side of my truck. This time he just gave me a warning but added that his supervisor would probably make him send me a ticket.

The truck GVWR is 12200

The trailer GVWR is 7000

Thats 19200 combined



So I get home and google it up. Turns out Texas limit is 26001. It's been over a month and I'm still looking for that ticket to come in...





Maybe if I lose some weight I can get off this BP medicine...

It was a profile stop because of the enclosed trailer and he was just busting your balls. If you actually did need a Class A, DOT numbers, etc by law he would have had to make you park and get a CDL holder to continue the trip, or at least park the trailer.

 

[BDW]

Better check your understanding of Texas regs - - - you are required to have a DL not a CDL that covers the gross weight of the vehicle - -that is if you drive a motor home with a gvw of over 26,001 bs you are required to have a class B DL and if you have a tractor (semi) type pulling a big 5th wheel you may have to have a ACL nor a ACDL

Had a conversation with DPS today and you are correct. The magic number is 26001 lbs.

 

[jdross440]

If you want to see some wild requirements, go to Nevada's DMV website. These are for Nevada residents of course.

 

[GAmes]

If you want to see some wild requirements, go to Nevada's DMV website. These are for Nevada residents of course.

At least their weight requirements a pretty much in line with CDL-A requirements. The J endorsement is a bit wierd though. The really stupid requirements are in CA. Non-commercial class A for 5ers over 15,000 GVWR and TTs over 10,000 GVWR. CDL-As required for all cargo type trailers over 10,000 GVWR, commercial or not. CDL-A with doubles endorsement for RV doubles (5er & boat for example).