Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 16,598
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, Kubota F3680 & ZD331 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, John Deere CX-15
Greetings,
We have a 3500 GMC one-ton single rear axle with a metal dump box at work. The truck GVWR is 11,100lbs. This is mainly a shop run around truck but do on a rare occasion pull a trailer or travel out of the state of CT pulling a trailer to pick up or drop off equipment or supplies that we have purchased or rented. We are not a commercial hauler or purchaser. The truck was driven 4k miles last year. My boss went to pick up a large diesel rented water pump on a trailer recently and was pulled over and cited for a list of items. The trailer GVWR is 5200lbs
What exactly do I / We need to be in compliance when operating said truck or pulling a trailer. I have done some research on my own with the CT DOT website. Just trying to make sure we are not missing anything.
- Does this truck need to go into weigh stations? Does it need to go into a weigh station when pulling a trailer?
We have weigh stations in PA. They say ALL trucks must be weighed, so if the state you traveled in has one, you must pull in and be weighed. Some empty pickups ignore this at their own risk. I have a few times and the chase car just let me go. If you were towing a trailer, and blew past the weigh station, you are going to be viewed with even more suspicion.
- Do we need a "medical card" to operate said truck. My research said no but we have a citation for this.
Med cards are needed when the combo is over 17K in PA. If your truck has a combination weight rating (truck & trailer over the states minimum combo weight rating for a med card) then yes, you need a med card.
- Do we need to have a USDOT number on the truck? If so where, how big etc.
Yes. Look up the size, but I believe it’s 2” maybe 2.5” lettering plainly visible on both sides.
- Do we need a carrier name on the truck?
Yes. If you are doing interstate business, the name of your business is required.
- UCR fee? We have a failure to pay ticket. What is this?
Yes. Uniform Carrier Registration fee.
- Do we need an annual inspection to operate this truck? We had this written twice. I'm assuming the second one is the trailer. Are we obligated to pay a fine for an item which the rental company did not perform?
Varies from state to state. Some states, like PA my state, have an annual inspection for trucks. Some do not. But we are NOT required to inspect small trailers under 3,000lbs. I think the rental company may have rented you a trailer that they believe did not require inspection. Did the trailer have brakes? Usually any trailer with brakes, typically a 2-axle trailer, would require inspection.
- Do we need a fire extinguisher in the truck? Where? Citation also states "NO F/E" what is this?
Yes. Anywhere on the truck where it can be accessed.
- Citation for "Insufficient warning devices" Not sure even what this is? The truck is a 2023
Maybe the state that pulled you over requires a reverse beeper? Maybe the trailer or your truck had insufficient tail lights/signals?
Are there any other things that we may need that are not listed above?
Also, If we have a lawn mower on a 7x14' single axle trailer is there a minimum of how many tie downs it needs or what weight capacity the tie downs have to be?
The tie downs have to be sufficiently in excess of what the towed item weighs. Look for “WLL XXXX lbs” on the ratcheting straps. That will tell you the capacity of the straps.
Does there have to be specific tie down points that have weighted rate capacity on the trailer?
Would we have to have our 7x14' single axle cargo trailer inspected yearly?
Yes.
The length & width of the trailer is irrelevant. Its what the weight of the trailer is.
My questions are just to make sure we are in compliance.
Thanks for any assistance.
Sean