Act dumb if you get caught remember it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

 

Longhorn..
I am with you and am very glad to see that they are addressing this issue.For too many years those who pulled race car trailers here in PA have gone from mild to toters and very few are licensed to drive them.Here in PA hot shotters,pullers and alot of the dirt racers are being gone over regularly and you can throw in the drag racers.I know a gentleman who thought it was cool when he bought a Kodiak with a sleeper bunk on it,outfitted with a couch and table,no other motor-home items and a 53ft trailer and used motor-coach tags so he didn't get a license to drive it.Well coming back last year from Norwalk they got him at Knox,PA at the scales in a federal checkpoint and nailed him to the wall.His fines were in the 5 digit area and I had to go up and drive his rig home.

Many will think this stuff is not fair or stupid but all you need to do is look at whats towing out there and you will see why they are cracking down on it.The next scope of this deal will be the Feds mandating a licensing procedure for those driving long motor-homes.Many retirees buy them not even knowing what they are getting into or thinking of the size and become a hazard on the road.Making them be licensed to operate their equipment means they will learn about it and not just buy it and jump in and try to drive it to Arizona.


Below is a perfect example....
This photo was taken by me on my way to a quaker Steak and Lube meet recently.It shows a guy with a Dodge Dually GASSER with a nearly 8800 lb Caterpillar Backhoe on a CAR trailer which had a GVW of 4500 lbs.If you look the axles are bowed outward and he had no anti-sway control,no load leveling bars and no emergency brake-away switch.Not to mention he could not see anything in the right side mirror at all due to the tractor.I asked the guy at the fueling station up the road about the items and he said he NEVER uses them and he was on his way to Erie to help his son.I only hope he made it but he is a good example of why the average trailer user is now being checked.

I say let them check you and get legal,its alot better than loosing your beloved puller in a lawsuit because you couldn't stop because you were found overweight and improperly braked.Man the day I don't have to see some idiot driving down I-81 with their new Nissan Titan pickup and a triple axle 5ver on the back will make me very happy........Andy

 

Not arguing semantics, but break aways weren't mandated until a few years ago. Then they weren't required to retrofit older trailers.
That trailer being a 2 axle car trailer had at least 3500# axles under it.

I'm all in favor of correct licensure and education. BUT don't make me have a medical, whiz quiz and log book to take my and my boys Jeeps to the woods.

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

Just did some research with a CDL school and the Motor Carrier enforcement people here in GA.

If the GCVW is less then 26,001# a CDL is not necessary BUT a Class A non-CDL is if the trailer is over 10,000GVW.
My truck which loudly advertises my business is not a commercial vehicle because it's GVW is <10,000#.
If I tow my 38, with 3 Jeeps to a comp with a trophy or purse I'm not a commercial venture. If I get sponsors, I am a commercial venture. This is because of the preexisting business relationship with the sponsor. If I use this trailer to tow for my business, then I have to abide by the motor carrier rules.
GVW's in GA are determined by the vin plate on the door and trailer. When a vin plate is not available. They will total the load rating of the tires. This is per Sgt FC McCaleb with the GSP MCCO.
as always, don't argue with the officer pulling you over. Take your tickets, make him happy and go to court.

If your pulling for compensation, all bets are off, and you better get legal or pay.

I hope this helps

 

Still be interested in knowing some of this stuff if anybody can help out. Springs comin and I'm gonna have to get this sorted out by then so I'm ready to roll.

 

One Man Gang has spoken.

It's true....too many people are out there in too-small trucks with too-heavy trailers and absolutely no concept of why it's not a good idea...

"My truck can pull that no problem."

Can you stop it?

Huh?

 

Here in New Mexico you can get a CLASS 'E' license. It is a non-commercial license. It's rating says 'Exempt vehicles in excess of 26,001 lb'. This is the license you get when you are NOT a business but DO haul horses, tractors, etc - those things relative to your horses. This is also the license you need to pull your RV 5th wheel, GN or RV motor vehicle. Your truck plate is another story, it must have the right relationship to your loads that you haul regardless of type. The NM DMV tells me that the license and vehicle licensing DO comply with the regs that are being discussed here.

It IS also a good idea to keep a record book regaring your fuel purchases and their receipts so you can prove your mileage and type of fuel being used. I carry a small journal book designed for recordkeeping of mileage/maintenance/etc by month/year. The physical is done separate from licensing, you actually get a DOT physical card issued to you, it is needed for your license to be issued. The ClassE license here in NM does not require the physical however some states DO require it for this type of license SO getting the physical is your option.

NP

 

man, there making it harder and harder for anyone to make any money in this buisness anymore.

 

If you are hot shotting or doing it for compensation I agree with Uncle Sam, get legal, get your numbers and proper liscense. If you are doing it for pleasure then I think that as long as you have the proper liscense you should not have to get DOT numbers. Just my .02

 

Us guys hauling our own jeep on 2 axle haulers behind our f-350's for weekend fun should not need to get either a CDL or DOT#. When the LEO stops me and says I do, I'll politly take his ticket and go to court.

GVW 13,000 + GVW 7000 = 20,000

I searched the Arizona census for a number on trucks that are registered. A lot of them are 3/4 and 1ton trucks too! I got an aproxamate 740,000 trucks. (we love our trucks here in AZ) If DPS is going to pull them all over they are going to be busy!

 

A lot of that is stupid. They should let it be if you are below your truck's limit. I will admit they need to crack down on the people that are pulling out of their class, like the people you see every day pulling a car with rangers and S-10s. For the most part they could do away with this if they were to just enforce the laws they already have instead of creating new laws that will be half *** enforced...