more on combination weight regs

[rob10858]

i've seen it time after time as far as which state allows what when pulling with you're truck, "commercially" without getting too complicated, are'nt all states eventually required to meet the federal guidelines for gcvwr, gw, etc. ? it seems that every state has is own guidelines [ and that's fine with me as long as we are informed on what they are] but i've always heard that the feds have main jurisdiction when traveling on federal highways. when we travel thru one state and hear one story, then go to the next state, 50 miles away, and hear another, it makes it tough on someone like me that has to send six trucks to six different states , in a day and comply to each weighmaster's whims...

 

[Joe G.]

That's one thing about living out here in the west. At least we can get it into overdrive before we get into another state. One set of crazy rules for quite a distance before we have to deal with a change.

 

[QRTRHRS]

This section of the code would seem to impy that. Interesting if you read this through. Problem is, even if your in the right, "they" can temporarily make your life hell. Keep in mind this is commerce and not recreational. Would recreational mean all bets are off?



http://www.fmcsa. dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/355.htm

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by QRTRHRS

Keep in mind this is commerce and not recreational. Would recreational mean all bets are off?

I believe if you're non-commercial, you're governed by the state laws where the rig is registered. If you travel out-of-state, you'd better pray for reciprocity between the state where you're traveling and your home state. (Reciprocity, simply translated, means that if you're legal in your home state, the "foreign" state won't hassle you. )



Rusty

 

[drees1]

I think in general, the states can tighten over the federal regs, and use the federal regs when they don't overide it with something tougher.



Registration seems to be the main issue with the states. It seems like you have to register for the worst case state you will drive in as they are begining to stop honoring each other's registration procedures.



I talked to the MV dept here in TN extensivly about this and they will allow over registration so we are covered elsewhere. I am going to register my 3500 at 20,000 lbs and my trailer at 14,000. since Penn requires the non com truck to carry all the combined weight on it's tag, and other states want the traler tag to carry it's fair share. Can't really win here, just try to cut your losses.

 

[rob10858]

we register our 2002 ram duallys at 25999, and our trailers at the lowest feasible weight. remember that in all but a few states that we travel, the truck registration carrying the combined weight seems to satisfy the dot's tax needy requirements. i,d rather register the truck and trailer at equal weights, but believe me fellows, that aint the way it works. the pull unit is where the revenue in registration fees is much more fo a 40 thousand dollar pickup than a 10 thousand dollar trailer..... simple as that , it,s kind of like a game now for me to hear all the new young dot guys telling me that we are illegal, then after a long radio conversation with his superiors over the radio, telling me that "this time we'll let you off with a warning" it just suggests to me that even those guys can't understatnd the regs...