First time - Denver To L.A. - Hauling Heavy - Advise???

[DBabbitt]

I'm hauling 3 cars on a 48' wedge pulled by an 06 CTD dually. I am a car hauler (see link below for pics) and go to the east coast regularly but this will be my 1st time from Denver to Los Angeles. I just loaded 3 cars today and the problem is that right now my GCW is about 26,340 with 1/4 tank of fuel and I don't have a cdl. I've run over 26k before and the truck handles it fine, just never took it out to L. A. before. So my real concern is scales/DOT. I'm considering ditching the spares from the trailer & truck and pulling out the rear seats but I don't think they're worth 340 lbs.

I knew the load would be heavy when I accepted just didn't think it would go over 26k. I'ts hard to get accurate weights on cars when you're a hauler and unless you haul only tiny cars you're always pushing 26k.



If I were going to the east coast I'd be OK avoiding the scales at night and some creative routing to bypass certain scales all together. Sometimes they weight you and just give you the green light even if you're over 26k.



Can anyone tell me what to expect from the DOT and/or scales & check pointes from Denver To L. A. driving the normal route (I-70 to I-15) through CO, UT, NV & crossing into CA? I have crossed into CA on I-10 before and remember there was a check point for all vehicles.



Anybody ?

 

[GAmes]

It doesn't matter what the actual weight is as far as requiring a CDL. If the truck's GVWR and the trailer's GVWR added together total more than 26,000 and you drive for hire you need one, even if the trailer is empty. That law is national. You can go to any DMV and get the book, or look it up on any state's web site.



As to your question NM checks paperwork on a regular basis, they once made me get a permit for a FEMA trailer at the Raton Pass station. AZ requires a permit for both truck and trailer, rumor has it that they will chase down transporters and hotshotters, but have never seen it. If you get to CA you are home free. CA has big signs that say NO PICKUPS at their weigh stations.



*edit. Thought you would take the flatter route to the south. UT has always green lighted me, but I don't tow that heavy. The 30 mile stretch of AZ is the place I have heard of DOT chasing pick-ups down. NV should be OK going south, I've never seen the checkpoint just north of Vegas open. You can bypass the UT/AZ joint POE by heading west out of Cedar City, UT into NV, then south into Vegas. Narrow 2 lane with a few good grades, and very lonely. It adds about 70 miles.

 

[DBabbitt]

GAmes, My combined GVW's = 26k. 12,200 truck & 13800 trailer. I bought a new data plate from the trailer manufacturer for $30 to get the 13,800 GVW on the trailer just so I could = 26,000 but I have heard that if you actually weigh over 26k or beyond your GCVW they will get you.



I have considered taking the south route (I-25 to I-40) but didn't know if the extra 200 miles would be worth it. Also the NM permit suck$$$$.



Where do you run and what do you pull?

 

[GAmes]

I transport trailers, all types, all over. I get a check every month from the Army, so I do it mostly to stay busy, God knows there is no real money in it.



I only had to make that choice of routes once, and took the long way because it was snowing in Vail, ended up getting caught by the same storm in Raton. I didn't carry a computer with me then, so never realized till now how much farther it is. NM permits are by the mile and AZ are by the mile and weight. If you don't mind the Vail pass you wouldn't have any trouble bypassing AZ. It is Ut 56 out of Cedar City. It becomes NV319. Go to US93 which will drop you on I15 a little north of Vegas. Trust me, the cost of fuel will be less than the permits. A 30 day permit cost me $57 and my CW was only 20,000. Then they charged an additional $15 for the tlr for temp tags (or something). I can't comment on being over 26,000 in actual weight, but instincts tell me that is a big no-no. Oh, that checkpoint in CA is for agriculture, no scales there. It's just north of Barstow. One other thing, DO NOT get on the freeway going south of Vegas on a Sunday!!

 

[R C Cola]

Scales etc.

I agree totally. Out of Colorado into Utah and into NV then south into Vegas

and on over to CA. CA almost never stops a pickup along the highway and does not want to see you on the scales. If you are overweight at the UT/AZ

border on 15 they will nail you, so I would definitely go around and have done it many times. I have yet to be stopped at a scale in NV and never asked to go into one in CA. That scale at UT/AZ line is both UT and AZ staffed and they will chase you down and bring you back, they did me anyway with a 40'

goose on and 2 cars loaded (they said I looked commercial) Curiosity, what brand is your trailer and exactly what does it weigh empty? I plan to buy soon and get back into cars. R C

 

[DBabbitt]

I agree totally. Out of Colorado into Utah and into NV then south into Vegas

and on over to CA. CA almost never stops a pickup along the highway and does not want to see you on the scales. If you are overweight at the UT/AZ

border on 15 they will nail you, so I would definitely go around and have done it many times. I have yet to be stopped at a scale in NV and never asked to go into one in CA. That scale at UT/AZ line is both UT and AZ staffed and they will chase you down and bring you back, they did me anyway with a 40'

goose on and 2 cars loaded (they said I looked commercial) Curiosity, what brand is your trailer and exactly what does it weigh empty? I plan to buy soon and get back into cars. R C

RC, my trailer is an Appalachian made in Ohio.

http://www.appalachianmfg.com/index.htm

I looked at many brands of wedges and liked this one the best. It is strong but not too heavy. The manufacturer says it weighs 6k but I think it is a little over that because it has chains. Unfortunately I bought my trailer used and it was a bit rusty. I will repaint it soon though.

I have a buddy running a 48' Big Tex behind a 2005 QC CTD dually and he goes over 26k all the time because it is a heavy trailer. Seems like the average family car has gotten heavier in the last 10 years not to mention all the SUVs needing transport. It's hard to stay under 26k if you are hauling 3 cars. I guess I should have bought a standard cab to save weight. I recently took the bed off my truck and made some small fenders with mud flaps. Saved 550 lbs and I'm still going over 26k !!



By the way, I hauled FEMA campers for Horizon last year so I know there is no money in it. I am making 3 times as much hauling cars and I never deadhead because I am my own dispatcher.



Thanks for the tips guys, I will definitely avoid AZ !!!

 

[TKingsbury]

You might be in for problems with no bed in CA. I have heard conflicting stories about pick-ups with no or non-stock beds being pulled over. Basically the truck is no longer a pick-up (in your case truck tractor?). I know one guy who got stopped for something else, but ended up getting a ticket for incorrect registration because he had a utility bed and it was still registered as a pick-up. The bottom line is, since you are for hire expect to get nailed to the wall.

Travis. .

 

[GAmes]

You might be in for problems with no bed in CA. I have heard conflicting stories about pick-ups with no or non-stock beds being pulled over. Basically the truck is no longer a pick-up (in your case truck tractor?). I know one guy who got stopped for something else, but ended up getting a ticket for incorrect registration because he had a utility bed and it was still registered as a pick-up. The bottom line is, since you are for hire expect to get nailed to the wall.

Travis. .

Good point. I wasn't aware in my first post you had removed the bed. I met a transporter in WA who had a flatbed on his Ford. He told me the same thing, that in CA his was no longer considered a pick-up so he had to go thru the scales. Maybe you would be better off turning this load down.

 

[DBabbitt]

GAmes, I thought about turning it down but this load is for a broker whom I work with often so I don't want to burn a bridge. Is there only one set of scales once you get into Calif all the way to LA? If so I'll enter CA at night bypass the scale and drop off in the morning. Then I'll be fine. My return load will be well under 26k. Seems like if CA has signs saying no pickups I should be ok because my truck is legally registered in Colorado as a pickup even without the bed. At least I can try to argue that point if they chase me down.



I am on the road now, about to leave Denver. I have a laptop with mobile internet access. I'll keep you guys posted as to what I encounter.



Thanks again, Dan.

 

[GAmes]

I don't have my map book here, (truck is in the shop). There are scales south of Victorville that are always open unless traffic is backed up and I can't remember if there are any others. Good luck.

 

[jwilson610]

Are all the cars on the trailer below E on the fuel gauge? Like others have said- I always thought the rule was that the Rating had to be under 26000. Like 15,600 on trailer 9,900 on the truck= 25,500= OK



I'm not real sure where or if they bend the rules(like if your truck is over it's GVWR), but I would want to be under 26K actual weight for sure- I have taken a 20K tandem dually newmar on a 9900 F250(airbags if you're curious) which put me at 29,900 GVWR. Around 20K actual so I figured I'd take my chances.

 

[DBabbitt]

Ok, everybody, I left Denver yesterday (09/06) at about 3pm. I got to the scales just getting into the rockies at mile marker 234 on I-70. They weighed me and flagged me to come inside. Asked for my truck registration & single state reg. He told me I was ok even though I actually weighed over 26k my combined regs were under 26k. He told me the scales at the AZ-UT line may see it differently however. Got into Utah late. Talked to some drivers on the CB as I got closer to Cedar City and they told me the AZ-UT scales closed at midnight so I decided to chance it and head down I-15 instead of the bypass mentioned here in this post. Passed the scales at about 2am and yes they were closed. got past vegas and stopped to sleep for a few hours. Got in to CA this morning and blew past the scales since they say "NO PICKUPS". Didn't look back, didn't get chased down. There were alot of trucks on the road at that time so I'm sure they didn't even notice me. Dropped of my load ttoday (09/07) and will pick up 3 tomorrow and return to Denver over the weekend. I'll try to hit the AZ line after midnight again so they are closed. Of course I'll consult the cb again.

OK not that I'm proud about skipping past these scales but there just some times when you don't have a choice. I have picked up cars more many times that have a full tank of fuel, personal stuff in the trunk or it's a wagon when it was supposed to be a 2-door. What can you do? drive 50 miles out of your way to pick up a car then tell the customer you can't take it because the broker told you it was a two door? I just load it and don't say a word. It's easier that way. I just try to keep the scale-skirting to a minimum. As for the scales in CA I willl bypass them as long as they say "NO PICKUPS" because that's what I'm driving and that what my Colorado registration says.

I will post again on my return to Denver.

 

[GAmes]

Good deal. Closing at midnight must be new, I've been in there at 1:00am while they robbed me. Glad you got thru.

 

[DBabbitt]

Got home Sunday night, no problems. Only had to go through at one scale entering Colorado. Rolled accross and got the green light. Thanks to all for your input.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Good deal. Do you know just for reference what the truck and trailer weigh before any cars?