DOT and non comercial traffic

[Diamondpilot]

I have driven diesel trucks for over 21 years now and never been checked or stopped. I also know tons of guys who drive diesels and tow heavy loads all over the place and never had check. I asked my fuel delivery guy if he knew anyone who had ever been checked last year. He said in 40 years in the business he only knows one guy who got busted and that was at the state fair taking in livestock.

Chris

 

[mustangsallysdad]

The "Hot Ticket" item for Virginia Commercial this season seems to be tarped loads. Miss one grommet with a cinch or hook and you get the "Blue Light Special" full fledged inspection, portable scales and all.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The "Hot Ticket" item for Virginia Commercial this season seems to be tarped loads. Miss one grommet with a cinch or hook and you get the "Blue Light Special" full fledged inspection, portable scales and all.

Out of sight out of mind, a tarp can cover a miriad of sins.

A little "trick" years ago was to open up a stretch trailer, double load those welded steel web type roof girders and cover them with a tarp so that it would look like long cargo. The loads were legal weight wise and the trip paid double. Don't ask how I know about that one.

 

[some zilch]

here in NY the DOT is after the small guys now. how many "lawn care" guys do we see running around with 6 mowers on a car trailer, no straps, stuff bouncing around, loose garbage cans in the bed of the truck, company names everywhere, no dot number, etc. should i go on? i am so sick of these guys who think the rules dont apply to them b/c they pull 20k with an f250. in and out of lanes, no blinkers, no trailer brakes, no breakaways.

they are also cracking down on the horse guys. 99% of them think dot rules dont apply to them, and dot knows it. if you have a "private" semi truck, your somehow making money off your horses. my parents are in the show horse scene, and i know from experience that alot of these people think the rules dont apply; no cdl to drive a full-size semi truck, no dot numbers, etc. states are looking for a way to make $$$$$, and these smaller guys trying to get away with stuff is just the ticket.

 

[Soundguy]

I have driven diesel trucks for over 21 years now and never been checked or stopped. I also know tons of guys who drive diesels and tow heavy loads all over the place and never had check. I asked my fuel delivery guy if he knew anyone who had ever been checked last year. He said in 40 years in the business he only knows one guy who got busted and that was at the state fair taking in livestock.

Chris

Wow.. DOT sticks our tanks *YEARLY*...

never had anyone or anything fail but one time back in the early 90's

long story short...A guy got stuck up in the woods on a job and had no diesel.. put in a couple gallons of red to get to a store.. fileld up at the store, week later filled up when he got low.. next day tank was stuck and there was STILL enough red on the stick to give him a hard time. was going to be a 2000$ fine and other legal troubles. he wrote a leter explaining what happened.. they dropped it to a 500$ fine and no legal troubles...

soundguy

 

[tlbuser]

they are also cracking down on the horse guys. 99% of them think dot rules dont apply to them, and dot knows it.

You know, I don't think that is a "fair" statement. While most of what you're seeing is probably following exemptions for ag. related stuff, MOST people transporting livestock just have too much invested, especially show and breed stock, in their cargo to do things haphazardly.

I think all of us need to slow down sometimes and realize that most things happen for a reason. Every time we see something happen, it's not necessarily the "whole truth and nothing but".

 

[RickB]

You know, I don't think that is a "fair" statement. While most of what you're seeing is probably following exemptions for ag. related stuff, MOST people transporting livestock just have too much invested, especially show and breed stock, in their cargo to do things haphazardly.

I think all of us need to slow down sometimes and realize that most things happen for a reason. Every time we see something happen, it's not necessarily the "whole truth and nothing but".

If your truck is licensed in NY with commercial, apportioned or agriculture plates, there is no "exemption for ag related stuff".

 

[FlaDon]

here in NY the DOT is after the small guys now. how many "lawn care" guys do we see running around with 6 mowers on a car trailer, no straps, stuff bouncing around, loose garbage cans in the bed of the truck, company names everywhere, no dot number, etc. should i go on? i am so sick of these guys who think the rules dont apply to them b/c they pull 20k with an f250. in and out of lanes, no blinkers, no trailer brakes, no breakaways.

they are also cracking down on the horse guys. 99% of them think dot rules dont apply to them, and dot knows it. if you have a "private" semi truck, your somehow making money off your horses. my parents are in the show horse scene, and i know from experience that alot of these people think the rules dont apply; no cdl to drive a full-size semi truck, no dot numbers, etc. states are looking for a way to make $$$$$, and these smaller guys trying to get away with stuff is just the ticket.

Horse trailer that was empty went by the Ag Inspection Station while I was in there. Two miles down is the Welcome Station. Sitting on the off ramp is the trailer with a DOT cop advertising when I go by. Sign states, No bypass for Agriculture, Horticulture, Aquaculture.

 

[Soundguy]

are you talking weigh station or inspection station where they check yer equines health papers.

I know when you transport animals out of the state you have to have your papers with you.. but as far as weight stations.. I've never went thru one when pulling an old trailer home.. and never had a dot stop me for it, even though there were many out onthe road in their cars looking for semi's dodging the scales..

soundguy

 

[Iowachild]

Wow.. DOT sticks our tanks *YEARLY*...

never had anyone or anything fail but one time back in the early 90's

long story short...A guy got stuck up in the woods on a job and had no diesel.. put in a couple gallons of red to get to a store.. fileld up at the store, week later filled up when he got low.. next day tank was stuck and there was STILL enough red on the stick to give him a hard time. was going to be a 2000$ fine and other legal troubles. he wrote a leter explaining what happened.. they dropped it to a 500$ fine and no legal troubles...

soundguy

Yep! We have that dye at the refinery. Very concentrated stuff. When calibrating the dye injectors you may real sure you don't get any on yourself because one small drop goes a long long way!:smiley_aafz: