WARNING to dually owners!

[GIT-R-DONE]

I understand the "non commercial operator" thing..... just hoping it stays that way. Sounds as if that is going to change though... . I will post more when I find out more.

 

[RustyJC]

I understand the "non commercial operator" thing..... just hoping it stays that way. Sounds as if that is going to change though... . I will post more when I find out more.

Tell ya what... . let's wait and see. If each state starts enforcing it's own licensing and registration regulations on non-commercial operators from other states, though, I can promise you that all HECK will break loose when John Q. Public can't drive wherever he wants in the United States. We'll be right back to the situation where out-of-state drivers are nothing but targets since there's no way they can meet the differing regulations of every state in the U. S.



Time will tell... .



Rusty

 

[klenger]

aseigworth: Take my word for it, Rusty knows exactly how much his truck and trailer weigh.

 

[RustyJC]

OK, let's take one more try at this. I picked a state other than Texas just for grins. Here's what Nebraska has to say about this subject:

Q: I have a pickup, do I have to stop at the scales with my pickup?



State law requires all trucks to stop at weigh stations while open. However, pickup trucks with a factory rating of one ton or less are exempt from stopping at weigh stations, except when they are pulling a trailer that is not a recreation trailer. (i. e. , Trucks pulling recreation trailers don't have to stop at scales. )



Q: Do I have to stop at the scales with a rental (U-Haul, Ryder, etc. ) truck?



Yes. All trucks, except pickups pulling recreational vehicles, must stop at weigh stations.

The following is what the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has to say about applicability of Regulation 383 (issuance of commercial driver licences [CDLs]):

Question 3: Does part 383 apply to drivers of recreational vehicles?



Guidance: No, if the vehicle is used strictly for non-business purposes.

Now, I've cited source after source with links to same showing that recreational vehicles don't come under the purview of USDOT. As I said, if this were about to change, as a Moderator on iRV2.com, I guarantee you that the RVers nationwide would be discussing it and that I would have seen these discussions. They're not. I really don't know what more I can do to make my point.



Rusty

 

[MMeier]

Most of this new "lets pick on the dually owner" stuff started 01/01/2004, I found this out while hauling back from Oklahoma last summer. I now have a USDOT # and "company" name on signs on my truck while I am hauling my trailers back out this way. Just got in today with another load. I am a distributor for a manufacturer back there, also helps out the racecar program.

 

[RustyJC]

Are you sure this requirement for a non-commercial bobtail 3500 dually to stop at a weigh station isn't a Pennsylvania only regulation? Note that Nebraska doesn't require it (see my prior post above), nor Texas so I don't see how it can be a nationwide DOT requirement.



Rusty

 

[GFrance]

Boy if that was the case of non comercial pickups having to cross the scales, they better start building more scales . They may have to put transponders in pickups. For those that don't know what transponders are. I have a little box in the window of my tanker truck (I haul gas & diesel) that the scale house reads before I get to the scales off ramp that tells them who I'am, company & weigh in motion. If I'm legal weight, height, speed, & the time that I passed the last scale they shoot me a green light on my transponder & I don't have to pull into the scales. If they are inspecting or I'm over weight I get a red light on the transponder & have to pull into the scales. This program is called the green light pass program. Not every state has it yet. Not every co. has transponders. This system was set up to prevent over crowding at the scales, especially at port of entry. Could you just imagine how crowded the scales would be if Rv's or empty p/u's had to stop. Don't think it's going to happen, for the trucking industry would lobby against delaying trucks at scales do to over crowding.



Just my . 02 worth.

 

[RustyJC]

Boy if that was the case of non comercial pickups having to cross the scales, they better start building more scales.

THAT'S my first reaction. If every dually in Texas has to go through the scales, there aren't enough scales and License and Weight enforcement officers to even begin to handle the workload!



Rusty

 

[RustyJC]

I hereby apologize to Rusty for my offense.

No offense taken and no apology required, but thanks anyway. It's an interesting topic and one filled with LOTS of gray areas.



Rusty

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

The lady from my local Representatives office found out that you , by law, should go through the scales. In a pick-up, loaded or not. They, at this time, choose not to enforce it. I only know what I am told by the Representatives office, and I also only know it to be for PA.



I think its kinda like the open container law, they dont enforce it but could use it against you if they choose to. As Rusty said before, time will tell.

 

[RustyJC]

I only know what I am told by the Representatives office, and I also only know it to be for PA.

That's what appears to be the case.



Rusty

 

[Hammer]

Alan. .

What your trying to say is partly correct but all dually owners are not affected. The ones who are are those who tow in combinations over 26,0001lbs(the same as the Federal DOT standards for a big rig license). IF,even being a "not for hire" carrier like most racers are,your combination is over that weight you are mandated by the Federal Government to be CDL certified and abide by all their laws along with being properly tagged for the total gross weight. Now,IF you combination is under that all you need is to have your pick up and trailer tagged to the total gross weight of your combination and no CDL is neccesary. If you use your dually for nothing more than a daily driver than it has to be tagged at the normal GVW of the truck. The way it was informed to me by my MCSAP officer friend of mine is that way to many guys are towing way beyond their trucks capabilities and after several fatal crashes the State has decided to enforce the rules a little tighter(which includes the old and I mean Old rule of us going thru a scale if they want).



The problem arises from owners who are pushing the envelope of our trucks with campers or race trailers which are way to heavy to even think about stopping in a emergency situation. Hot shot owners are the biggest abusers he told me towing way over capacity,constantly playing games with their signs that display company name and federal numbers/permits and many of them do not have the ability to log any off duty time due to not being able to use a sleeper berth.



Along with the new "combination tag" comes very expensive fees for the tags which amount alot more than I want to pay. Being caught without though you will pay alot more in fines and fees for trying to slip by... ... . Andy

 

[Hammer]

Alan. .

Again. .

I had already said that and its well known across the state that this is going on. Too many RV'ers towing with insufficent equipment(i. e. -camper way to big for the truck or toters with trailers overlength behind them to try and circumvent laws)and too many accidents happening. Yesterday here in my locla area they had one involving a weekend Rv'er who lost control of his 1/2 ton Toyota when he couldn't stop for a traffic light while towing a 35ft fifth wheel camper. One would ask why someone would even think of trying that but I'd be willing to bet somewhere a camper salesman had showed him in the "book" it could handle the job(how many of us have seen or heard of that happening). GVW and combination weights are being checked and its about time they are. I look at this from seeing way to many hauling to much on the backs of their pick-up trucks all across the country while I am driving truck. yes,I agree its a pain,but,realistically I have often wondered why it had not happened earlier.



If your properly tagged for the weight your towing in our state or if your over 26,001 lbs and have a cdl license and physical you'll only be checked,explained to why your were checked and sent on your way. Drug testing for cdl certified drivers is not mandatory and is at random by companies so we,cdl drivers,do not carry any cards showing our testing,YET. If your driving your dually and do not use it to tow(like alot of owners do) then you are not subject to any checks except if they decide to see you back at a state scale house and give you the escort back(which you do not see often with a pickup very often).



In my opinion its way past time some of these who weekend RV get checked for weights,proper equipment and safety items. I also in firm belief that toters or rv's built on bus cahssis should fall under the Federal laws for the persons operating them for licensing and they should need a special license to opertate them over xxxxx amount of feet. Why should the commercial drivers of today have to carry special endorsements to operate a bus or school bus type vehicle and Joe Blow Magillicutty be able to go buy his own Prevost or School bus style Motor home or toter without being licensed?. Have you ever gone to a local bracket race,NHRA drag race or a local sprint car race and seen some of what these guys are hauling on the back of dually trucks?. Its been a going trend to get bigger and larger to haul what they need to support them and yet many do not upgrade their tow vehicles and alot of that is cost and licensing. Its a fact we will now have to live with so its either compliance or citations which amount to nothing short of huge for trying to cheat the system... ... ... Andy

 

[csevers]

This is just another way for the Gov to jab us in the butt for more money!



It is true many states maybe cracking down on it. I found out about this last fall in the great state of O hi O If you cross state line you will need Fed Med card and even if in state you need Co name, usdot #, E W. It was exlpained to me that you will need to comply if you are hauling ANYTHING that you can "gain" from monitarily. ie a pulling truck that you "could" win money with or anything else. Sounds very DUMP to me!!!!



I am under 26,001 and under truck/trailer rating so I find this to be a bunch of B S . The last time I checked the profit to investment numbers there was NO gain to be had truck pulling> :-laf <





Craig