DOT and non comercial traffic

[QRTRHRS]

improper lane change! of all things!

apparrently that's why the city cop was called in.. guess the dot man lost interest in writing a ticket when he found out the guy was private...

soundguy

For the most part, this discussion has focused on tieing things down, weight, etc. with minimal focus on the other aspects of driving larger vehicles and/or pulling trailers. True that you see all kinds of stunts pulled by all kinds of drivers with all kinds of vehicles.

There are a couple of things I see far too often. The biggie would be a lack of trailer lights. Next would be someone pulling out with a total disregard for the extra length of that trailer that is behind them causing others to brake to avoid an accident.

An improper lane change ticket is a minimal intrusion for the regular driver. The same on a CDL can be a curse. Though it should not matter, the threat is enough to make a commercial driver think twice about doing that sort of thing. No matter what you see or think, CDL holders are held to a higher standard.

 

[Bird]

a couple of things I see far too often. The biggie would be a lack of trailer lights

I don't actually see that too often, but then I don't get out after dark very much anymore. However, I just got back from running to the grocery store for my wife, and one of the first vehicles I saw was a pickup truck pulling a 16' to 18' foot tandem axle trailer piled high with brush and no trailer lights. I was behind him a mile or so on the I-35E service road, but then when he turned, his brake lights and turn signals were working just fine on the trailer; just no taillights.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I dont have a problem with the original intent of DOT. But I do have alot of trouble with their policies and the way they handle some things. I was comming home today and got behind a 70 something dadge van with a raised roof, one thats about 3 feet tall and they had a 16 foot traler behind it with 4 foot sides hauling a load of merchandise. Not one light on the trailer or turn signal. he drove between 45 and65 on the 2 lane wit hseveral bow up and stops on the way. What aggravted me there was a DOT officer between us part of the way and he never did anything about the van with a commercial sign on the back. Yet I can have one relctor cracked or a clearance light out and they will hang our trucks.

I really lost all most of my use for them when scrap was really high and folks were carring way over loaded trailer with unsecure items almost hanging off them. saw a stove in the middle of the south bound land sitting up right. A couple DOT troopers stopped investigated and left it standing in the road. during the middle of the busiest road here. we happened to be the 2nd truck back and watched them. I got out to see if I could help them move it and they just kinda laughed and told us they didnt get dirty and that wasnt their job.They got in their car and drove around it. Took the truck and pushed it out of the way I would have hated to seen what would have happened if a car would have hit it.

 

[Bedlam]

We had a trailer loose a couple bales of hay here on one of the slower roads.Our finest went and sat with lights on and directed traffic around the two bales untill the state came to move them.That really took the cake..

 

[sandman2234]

And that is why I dropped the Hazmat endorsement last renewal. Got tired of the hassle every time I renewed it. 30 question test every 6 years.:confused2:

Actually, if you have the hazmat, it drops the six year license down to every four years... and no, they don't give you a price break for the reduced time. My license was just renewed with hazmat, for the tiddy sum of about $200 for four years.
When I went down there with my right "old copy" and my wrong "certified copy", they told me they could issue a license in my "wrong name" but not in my right name. I elected to stay with the right name, and went about getting my birth certificate changed to correct it. In the meantime, my license expired, and the state gave me a piece of paper extending my driving privledges for 30 days(No hazmat allowed on a temp license, dispite me having it on the expiring one) I got pulled over in Ga by a state trooper who listened to my story, took my stack of supporting paperwork and spent about 30 minutes on his computer. Finally he told me "nope, no good" so I called the direct line phone number the lady who gave me the extension gave me, and of course, she wasn't available(on speaker phone). However, he finally relented and decided "MAYBE" I was trying to do it the right way. He let me go, but noted in the computer about my license being expired, and warned me about not getting stopped in Ga (or anywhere else). Luckily my corrected birth certificate came in and I went down two days later and took the tests. They gave me a new license without hazmat and a couple weeks later, mailed me another one with hazmat. Now if I got caught with two licenses, that is a $5000.00 fine. Guess they are hoping some people will carry both and help with the economy crisis.
Soundguy,
Glad your neighbor made it without too much hassle.
The agriculture station is probably who chased down the horse trailer, for the reasons you mentioned. Florida agri will also chase down a "rented truck" such as U-haul and Penske/Ryder.
David from jax

 

[Soundguy]

so now here's a question.. are we, non comercial drivers, suposed to go thru weight stations? I've driven i75 and 10 and 'passed' lots of stations while carrying an old tractor home and have never been challanged.. even with lots of dot's lining the roadway looking for 'escape's ??

soundguy

 

[Big Bri]

so now here's a question.. are we, non comercial drivers, suposed to go thru weight stations? I've driven i75 and 10 and 'passed' lots of stations while carrying an old tractor home and have never been challanged.. even with lots of dot's lining the roadway looking for 'escape's ??

soundguy

i have always wondered about this as well. I use to go form Gonzales (Baton Rouge area) LA to Juarez Mexico (out side El Paso TX) to pick up Mailboxes.
I never stopped at weight stations. I was driving a f350 pulling a 24' open Tag trailer with 250 mailboxes stacked on top of each other. I've even made the trip with an enclosed trailer the same size and never stopped.
The only thing i ever had to stop for was an immigration check point just out side of El Paso. and that was a joke. would have to roll down the window and was asked by border patrol "are you American" i reply "yes" and they reply "have a nice day" that was it. They didn't even ask to look in the trailer. (could have been full of illegals.)
Anyway i would like to know if i was supposed to stop and if i should stop in the future?

 

[Soundguy]

Yep. I was driving thru alabama and their weight station was super busy.. had 4 dot's on either side of the raod ready to pull out. and they were.. had one pull out, pass me, and pull over a box truck in front of me..

so far I've never been challanged.. I also see lots of 3/4 and 1t trucks with various trailers pass em.. though non of them have decals or emblems of companies on them.. ie.. personal vehicles hauling private stuf.. ( or wanting to look that way ).

soundguy

 

[FlaDon]

Actually, if you have the hazmat, it drops the six year license down to every four years... and no, they don't give you a price break for the reduced time. My license was just renewed with hazmat, for the tiddy sum of about $200 for four years.
When I went down there with my right "old copy" and my wrong "certified copy", they told me they could issue a license in my "wrong name" but not in my right name. I elected to stay with the right name, and went about getting my birth certificate changed to correct it. In the meantime, my license expired, and the state gave me a piece of paper extending my driving privledges for 30 days(No hazmat allowed on a temp license, dispite me having it on the expiring one) I got pulled over in Ga by a state trooper who listened to my story, took my stack of supporting paperwork and spent about 30 minutes on his computer. Finally he told me "nope, no good" so I called the direct line phone number the lady who gave me the extension gave me, and of course, she wasn't available(on speaker phone). However, he finally relented and decided "MAYBE" I was trying to do it the right way. He let me go, but noted in the computer about my license being expired, and warned me about not getting stopped in Ga (or anywhere else). Luckily my corrected birth certificate came in and I went down two days later and took the tests. They gave me a new license without hazmat and a couple weeks later, mailed me another one with hazmat. Now if I got caught with two licenses, that is a $5000.00 fine. Guess they are hoping some people will carry both and help with the economy crisis.
Soundguy,
Glad your neighbor made it without too much hassle.
The agriculture station is probably who chased down the horse trailer, for the reasons you mentioned. Florida agri will also chase down a "rented truck" such as U-haul and Penske/Ryder.
David from jax

Last renewal that I had the Hazmat it was still at 6 years. That was 3 years ago. They changed it around 2008 or 2009. Same time as they went to the 4 year background check. Wasn't worried about that but the cost was rediculous. My FBI file is only one day younger than I am. It has been checked enough times that it stayed on an agent's desk for one 6 month period about 20 years ago. As for the two license issue, simple, don't carry both.:thumbsup:

And believe me, I know the difference in a FDOT and a DACS cop. It was a FDOT cop that did the horse trailer stop. You can't miss their lettering on the side of the car. FDOT

vs the DACS OALE

cars which say Law Enforcement below the green and yellow band. But both can ruin your day though.

 

[QRTRHRS]

It may pay to buy one of those magnetic signs for the side of your truck that says "Not for Hire".

FlaDon, I hear you loud and clear. The thing is, no "perp" is going to give a tinkers darn about none of the safeguards. A couple of years back, I would have to run to Toronto on occasion. I always came back empty, often as not with a single pup. Usually, it was two or three am. The border guards woud go through this big xray scenario. Darn guys, just open the doors, lol! Guess they were bored.

Back in 07', it cost me fifty some bucks to renew my hasmat in PA. Moving to KY in 08', I again had to renew it to keep it. Cost me 115 bucks! Having an other than driving gig these days, I think I may just drop it next time but sure as heck that will come back to bite me.