long post about CA registration and flat bed

[RonD]

Here is what I would do, first if your in compliance with the DMV weight rule you should be fine, just claim the weight, go have it weighed at a scale, then put some not for hire decals on the sides, I would then go into a local CHP office and ask them about the scales, being not for hire I suspect your fine, they dont want you there anyway, all California trucks have the same license plates, pick up or flat bed, there all commercial, don't give in, this state has a way of doing people in, just be a little smarter than they are.

 

[HBarlow]

Here is what I would do, first if your in compliance with the DMV weight rule you should be fine, just claim the weight, go have it weighed at a scale, then put some not for hire decals on the sides, I would then go into a local CHP office and ask them about the scales, being not for hire I suspect your fine, they dont want you there anyway, all California trucks have the same license plates, pick up or flat bed, there all commercial, don't give in, this state has a way of doing people in, just be a little smarter than they are.

Good luck with that approach. Try ignoring and bypassing the weigh scales with a flatbed in KA and see what happens.

 

[JoeLeonard]

There is an 06 dually bed on Craigslist Oregon Coast item 1854685816 for $450. Phone number 541 290-4321.

 

[NIsaacs]

Years ago a good trucking friend and I were both hauling house logs to Colorado. He was driving his 94 Dually, twin stacks and pickup bed towing his tandem axle dually 26 foot trailer. I was in my Ford flatbed, twin stacks pulling my smaller 20 foot tandem axle singles trailer when we encountered a portable scale set up along the road. He was waved on and I was pulled over. Everything was okay and I was let go. I got on the radio and asked my buddy what the heck was that?? He laughed and said your flatbed dude!!



Over the years of hotshot trucking I found that to be soooo true.



Nick

 

[Prairie Dog]

Would a person have the same issues if he has a service bed (compartments with doors etc) instead of a flatbed?

 

[HBarlow]

Would a person have the same issues if he has a service bed (compartments with doors etc) instead of a flatbed?

The original poster posted a quote from the KA statute in an earlier post in this thread.

I singled out the operative phrase in a following post in this thread. The phrase went something like this: "AND must have a box bed. " My words are not exact, only paraphrasing from memory but as I remember, the clear intent of the KA statute is a pickup truck must have a pickup bed. Every other type of bed meaing flatbed, towbed, service bed, wrecker bed with winch, etc. etc. is considered a commercial vehicle and must stop at scales.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have yet to see a light duty truck/flatbed combo at any scales in Cal unless it was a HotShot load.

 

[d6c]

The hot-shot boys are running legal and have their numbers posted and know they have to scale and don't question it, they just do it. Even good old boy rv haulers (commercial) that have numbers posted know they themselves have to scale and pickup box or flatbed or bob-tail makes no difference. In Oregon car plates are only good to 10k, lots of duallys over that still run them (illegal) trailers u-plates stop at 8k (not 10k like some seem to think) and the whole thing is really poorly crafted. Crossing state lines with stuff is another long thread unto itself.

 

[HBarlow]

When I was hauling trailers commercially 1/05 through 11/07 with a dually pickup I was legal in every way. DOT numbers, log book, fire extinguisher, reflective triangles, medical card, even a CDL Class A.

CA DOT told me to stay off their scales, on my very first trip into CA. For the next almost three years I followed their instructions and did not scale during many, many trips in and through KA.

If commercial hauler pickups are required to scale now, it is a recent change. I don't think so.

 

[RonD]

I think one could still bypass the weight scales, the big problem I saw in the photo was a white truck with a black painted flat bed, if it was a white flat bed pulling a 5er they wouldn't notice it , it just stands out big time.

 

[10-9jc]

I cant speak for California, but in Michigan if you remove the factory pick up bed and put on a flat bed it is NO LONGER A PICK-UP, it is then a Stake Truck. As a Stake truck / Flat bed it is going to be difficult to convince a Motor Carrier Officer that it is your personal vehicle not used commercially.

I would find a pick up bed.

All pickups -no matter how small- are required to have commercial plates in CA. (anything with a bed).
This even applies to vehicles like a Chevy Avalanche. (there is *no* "private truck" or "non-commercial")

Doesn't matter if you only carry a bag of *your own* groceries - or nothing at all in the bed!

It's been that way "forever". (My '65 El Camino was required to have Commercial plates - as new - in 1965!).

Since the commercial registration fee on a pickup is based on factory spec load carrying capacity - suspect the CHP figured you were not paying enough for the commercial portion (fee) for your plates.
Or - as lawdog says - a flat bed or stake bed may require a weight declaration.

IMO - DMV doesn't know squat! One office may tell you one thing, the next something different.
I would go to a CHP office and ask - make sure you talk to a commercial enforcement officer (the guy that cited you just might be wrong!).

~

JC

 

[HBarlow]

Registration categories such as requiring pickups to register as commercial vehicles is a separate matter from flatbeds being required to stop at scales. Pickups, although they are required to have commercial plates, are not treated as commercial vehicles by CHP or CA DOT enforcement officers because they have so many thousands of trucks to deal with they don't want them on their scales. All light trucks with other than a pickup bed are treated as commercial vehicles required to stop at all weigh scales and, in some cases, depending on usage, may be required to have signs on their doors, keep logbooks, etc.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Like I said, . . . . I have yet to see a personal use truck with flatbed at any scale here in Cal.



I'm in Cen Cal/foothills w/ lot's and lot's of cattle ranches. Every other truck has a flatbed and no here or where I grew up in Norhtern Ca, has ever been cited for having a flatbed on a personal use pickup.

 

[RonD]

Harvey, you have a Flatbed RV Hauler, do you stop at California Truck weight stations ?, or any other state weight station ?, I just passed a station on I-5 a few days ago, there was an RV Hauler in front of me, he didn't stop, I still think personal use is exempt, but please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[HBarlow]

No, I am strictly private now and when passing through CA I ignore the scales because I have Texas license plates. When pulling my own fifth wheel I am also private.

You are correct. RVs are exempt in all states although the wording in the law in some states is less clear.

When I was hauling trailers commercially I had a Ram dually pickup and did stop in most states. I did not stop at scales in CA because I was told by a CHP or CA DOT officer to get off their scales and stay away. I usually did not stop at scales in OR either and WA only at some entry points.

Generally speaking, private use RVs pulled by owners are not required to scale weigh. Light trucks pulling RVs for hire should always stop unless the scale tells them not to.

Some states will chase you down and lay a large fine on you if you're commercial and ignore the scales.

 

[mikeberry]

ALL commercially registered vehicles are required by CA law to stop at an open scale or roadside inspection, (when the DOT pick-up guy has his rag-sign out). This means a Mazda B-2000 p/u with comm. plates is required by law to stop at scales.

This is why you see "no pick-ups" signs at scale entrances especially on main routes, (5, 80, 15, etc. ).



By CA law a vehicle can no longer be a "pick-up" once the GVWR is over 11,500. For example, all new Ford F-450's even with a factory p/u bed are Motortrucks by CA law not pick-ups.



ALL motortrucks over 10,000 GVWR must have CA motor carrier permit, (MCP), (goes w/ CA#) or have US DOT registration and non-expiring MCP.



Many CA DOT scale workers are unaware of the above and thus when gramps pulls into the scale in his f-450, OR Freightliner conversion, flying his proper DOT or CA# he gets hollered at for following the law.



If you operate a motortruck over 10,000 GVWR over 100 AIR miles from your base, over statelines, or over 12 hours a day, you must maintain a log.



If you operate a comm. vehicle in excess of 10,000# Gross weight you must run declared gross weight reg, (the little white square stickers on the doors with 25, 35, 75, 80, etc. ) But if you own an F-450 ford for example that requires CA#, MCP, and or DOT etc. and you never exceed 10,000# operating weight with it, you don't need declared gross weight registration.





Examples: 1= A 3500 DRW ram with a factory p/u bed hauling any trailer less than 10,000 GVWR or a 5th wheel RV under 15,000GVWR needs no special permits or numbers. Technically you must stop at the open inspection area unless it says "no pick-ups"



2=The same truck with a Knapp utility box mounted to the back requires CA#, (MCP), and or DOT, and is a motortruck NOT a pick-up and must stop at all open inspections.



3=If either of the above is towing a 12,500GVWR flatbed with their Uncles Bobcat on it for example, they need a Class A commercial D. L. and all the appropriate CA, DOT #'s etc.



Clear as freaking mud. And this just scratches the surface. Please don't shoot the messenger.

 

[10-9jc]

Looks like the OP should simply go with his original solution -
go back to a pickup bed, sell the flat bed to somebody that hasn't visited the forum!

Might be easy to find a trade!

~