Big Enough Truck?

[farmboy12]

Ohio has no such law that so many of you speak. At least as long as you aren't towing commercially. As long as I obey the traffic laws I can tow as much as I want behind any type vehicle up to the road limitations. If they make it law what will all the farmers do? They all tow wayyyyyy over their mfg specs.

Actually, I think Ohio has one of the most enforced hauling laws a we've dealt with. We got stopped because we were using straps instead of chains on a pretty antique tractor. These are some big straps, too.


Kyle

 

[wkpoor]

Actually, I think Ohio has one of the most enforced hauling laws a we've dealt with. We got stopped because we were using straps instead of chains on a pretty antique tractor. These are some big straps, too.

Who exactly pulled you over? I've called the HP and ask them questions about hauling including the chain issue. They said they only enforce the traffic laws and didn't know anything about proper loads and securing ect. I haul all my tractors with traps but I use 4" ratchet straps only to D rings both on the tractor and the trailer bed, not rapped around axles and the such. And my straps all have the new look, no bad or worn sections or grayed fabric.

 

[Builder]

Builder. Even 3-4 years ago many to most hot-shotters were non-cdl and just put a "Not for hire" tag in the window. Those days are gone. a dually pulling a dual tandem axle trailer is fair game these days.

jb

That's what I'm saying. I see hot shotters along the shoulder of the roads around here being pulled over & fined for being overweight-as they should. No pickup is safe to pull that kind of weight. If it was, the manufacturer would rate these trucks at 35,000 lbs, not 22-26,000 lbs as they do now.

Boats would be the same way. Just cause it's a boat, don't mean it's YOUR boat. If you can't prove to MVCE that it's your boat, then you're towing it for profit, and the fines are the same as if it were a load of coal.

Just because someone comes on this website and says "I've been pulling tractors, boats, cars, whatever behind my truck for 20 years and I can tell you it's safe" doesn't mean it's safe OR legal.

It's not. It's irresponsible and if you do it, sooner or later, you'll pay for your actions.

That's why I believe we should refrain from suggesting it's OK.

Heck, I think it's tough enough towing at or below your limit and keep everything safe and I'm a CDL driver!

 

[farmboy12]

Who exactly pulled you over? I've called the HP and ask them questions about hauling including the chain issue. They said they only enforce the traffic laws and didn't know anything about proper loads and securing ect. I haul all my tractors with traps but I use 4" ratchet straps only to D rings both on the tractor and the trailer bed, not rapped around axles and the such. And my straps all have the new look, no bad or worn sections or grayed fabric.

It was a county officer if I remember. May have been state. We used four 3" & 4" straps. Three 4" and a 3". We fastened them to the rub rails. But he specifically told us we need to use chains. We just didn't want to get rust on the pretty '51 JD MT. So, we did what he said, we just put the chains on top of the straps.


Kyle

 

[wkpoor]

All my antiques have plates made that bolt onto the sides somewhere with D rings welded on them so they are easy to strap securely or chain if you like. If you have to rap I've heard old firehouse works good with the chain ran through it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chirs, is that towing your boats? Rv's Boats and oddly enough horse trailers get the explicit OK to do what you want in the regulations in many states.

Towing with your truck, your trailer and your boat is ok about everywhere. You may still need a CDL if you cross 26k.

Also, once you cross state lines, you are subject to that states highway laws.

I don't know your state's laws. But I have emailed back and forth with one of the fine gents in snazzy blue suits that enfore the highway laws in your state. I'll PM you his email. He may or may not remember me, but he was always a very helpful resource. He is a working officer and may take a couple days to get back to you.

Builder. Even 3-4 years ago many to most hot-shotters were non-cdl and just put a "Not for hire" tag in the window. Those days are gone. a dually pulling a dual tandem axle trailer is fair game these days.

jb

Thanks John.

The problem is one guy will give you the ok and the next will say no way. What I have been told numerous times by a few different cops is that the rules do not apply unless you are for hire. I know it seems stupid and I will be the first to agree to that but that is what I am told. Been doing this for 20 plus years and never had one issue.

I do agree no matter if you are personal or for hire you are free game if any limitation is exceeded on the tow vehicle or trailer.

Chris

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, I too have gotten contradictory information from the police. Funniest was when 3 officers gave me 7 opinions on a question. I didn't know something technical and went to the state trooper station and we chatted for 2-3 hours. Very nice folks, especially when they are not afraid of getting shot, run over, dragged down the road, etc. They kept bringing up various statues and how they applied etc. So they had evolving opinions and contradicted themselves. It took calls to the state headquarters to get the actual factual.

Those were the officers that would be putting on a jump suit and crawling under your rig, not the normal speeding / red light cops. They were trained on this stuff and they used my question as an opportunity to learn more themselves. Seemed they had gotten bad information earlier on pulling over a class of "violators".

The name I gave you is (I think) one of the guys that trains the troopers on these hauling laws. Just because you haven't been pulled over and given a $3500 ticket, doesn't mean you haven't been at risk. I would still say to check with the contact and get his opinion as he will be able to quote statutes and regulations that apply. I'm harping on this as the laws changed in 1999 and the enforcement of them have been slow to be phased in. The phase in is resulting in what Builder posted about - hot shotters getting rectal enlargement tickets, farmers getting the same and even goof balls like me and you.

Here is a quote from the USDOT web page. You do know that the states can make laws more restrictive, but not looser than the federal standard, right?

Classes of License:
The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.



You will note that there is not one "jot or tittle" about commercial, for hire, etc. Just weight. This is a change put out by the Clinton administration to appease the Teamsters as it means more people will either have to get a CDL or hire out the work to a (hopefully) union hauler.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well the current book I have here on the law specifically states the rules do not apply to boats, campers, and recreational vehicles as I stated before. I agree 2 guys in the same truck, one pulling a 15K camper and the other pulling a 15K trailer full of hay for his farm are treated different. The guy in the camper is fine, the guy with the hay can get a ticket in Indiana.

Chris

 

[Turbys_1700]

In North Carolina to be legal you must have CDL's for any trailer over 10K in weight. That's the law. DMV will pull you over and check you out. They do it all the time and people ignorant of the law get's ticketed.

The 26K threshold also is in effect.

The other stipulations are that you must have enough tagged weight on the truck and trailer and you must be under the axle ratings of both truck and trailer.

RV's, on the other hand, are never checked.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Here is a quote from the USDOT web page. You do know that the states can make laws more restrictive, but not looser than the federal standard, right?

Classes of License:
The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.



You will note that there is not one "jot or tittle" about commercial, for hire, etc. Just weight. This is a change put out by the Clinton administration to appease the Teamsters as it means more people will either have to get a CDL or hire out the work to a (hopefully) union hauler.

The only place I could find that quote is at
Commercial Driver's License Program (CDL/CDLIS) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
which is a "summary" page for the COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1986.

From the actual CMVSA 1986:

(5) Motor vehicle.--The term "motor vehicle" means a vehicle, machine,
tractor, trailer, or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power
used and on highways, except that such term does not include a vehicle,
machine, tractor, trailer, semitrailer operated exclusively on a rail.
(6) Commercial motor vehicle.--The term "commercial motor vehicle"
means a motor vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property--
(A) if the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or
more pounds or such a lesser gross vehicle weight rating as the
Secretary determines appropriate by regulation but not less than a
gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds;

From the Virginia (my state) DMV:

The following situations exempt operators of certain vehicles from the CDL requirements.
1. Operation of a vehicle for personal use only,
such as a recreational vehicle or truck to move
your personal belongings.

From Ct.

Definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle

A commercial motor vehicle can be defined as:

* Vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds
* Vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver
* Vehicle designed to transport 11 or more passengers, including the driver, and used to transport students under the age twenty-one years of age to and from school
* Any vehicle transporting hazardous materials which is required to be placarded.

note "can"

So basically it depends on your state and it seems many do not define what a CMV is and post it where I could find it.