Texas Now Enforcing Trailer Inspections

[WM75Guy]

Just FYI with the new one sticker registration/inspection process all trailers over 4500 GVWR except farm trailers have to be inspected prior to registration. Trailers over 4500 GVWR always required inspection, it just was not enforced until now. Not all inspection stations can accommodate large trailers. Motorists | Two Steps. One Sticker. Texas DMV

 

[Bird]

When we were RVers, I always got my trailers inspected as required by law, but usually the guy doing the inspection had no idea how to do it, so they just took my money and gave me the sticker.:laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

 

[STx]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

Yes but if you do that and tow more than 4000#, including the weight of the trailer, you can get a ticket and they can make you leave the load where you're at until you get it below the registered carrying weight. Probably easier to just get it inspected.

 

[WM75Guy]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

That's correct. Also if it's over 4000 it requires a title. I have two registered as home made at 4000#, no title or inspection was required. My other 3 trailers are all over 4500# but two have farm tags.

 

[newbury]

When we were RVers, I always got my trailers inspected as required by law, but usually the guy doing the inspection had no idea how to do it, so they just took my money and gave me the sticker.:laughing:

In Mississippi they just dropped the requirements for inspections. Part of the argument was that one could always find a station that did not really inspect, so if 1 place turned a vehicle down another would pass it.

 

[STx]

In Mississippi they just dropped the requirements for inspections. Part of the argument was that one could always find a station that did not really inspect, so if 1 place turned a vehicle down another would pass it.

In Tx its all computerized and stored in a state database so if one station was showing a lot of passing inspections on trailers that were failing at other stations, they'd get caught. I don't necessarily agree with this rule, I think it's just another "tax" but it is what it is.

 

[Bird]

In Tx its all computerized and stored in a state database so if one station was showing a lot of passing inspections on trailers that were failing at other stations, they'd get caught. I don't necessarily agree with this rule, I think it's just another "tax" but it is what it is.

In the late 50s, the state had troopers in plain clothes driving cars that had some problem that would cause them to fail inspection. They visited inspection stations to see if they were really doing the inspection. I remember a local Ford dealer who got caught passing one. I think that cost the dealership a thousand dollars (which was a lot of money in the 50s) and I know they also got a 30 day suspension. It was a bit comical because they had to get the Oldsmobile dealer down the street to put inspection stickers on any NEW Fords they sold. I don't know whether the state still does that or not.

But I had two different dealers put stickers on a motorhome I had in the early 70s without doing the inspection. Of course I had inspected it myself before going to a dealer so I knew it would pass if they did the inspection properly.

 

[dusty3030]

When Arkansas still had inspections when I was younger and worked for my Dad I would take a check to the place that did them (a car dealer) and all the renewal paperwork and walk out with a stack of inspection stickers for all the pick ups and semi trucks we had for the farm - the lady never got up from her desk and no inspections were ever done on any of them.

 

[bdog]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

That's good until you get caught loaded heavy. Texas revised their overweight fines a few years ago. It is now roughly $1 per pound you are over your registered weight. Sure would stink to get a 5k fine pulling 9,000 lb with a 4,000 lb registered weight.

 

[clemsonfor]

Does that mean if I register my trailer for 4,000 pounds, I don't have to worry about this?

Eddie

Yes but i dont think i would want to get the curious...wanting to make an example transprot cop that knew you were hauling excess of 4000# and pulled you and got the scales out!!!

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I've already heard of trailer dealers telling guys that they can just register the vehicle with farm tags or register it below 4500#. People that cheat will still do so.
A guy told me the other day he got his registration. He has a homemade trailer with two 6k or 7k axles, no brakes, a few lights, and just registered it under 4500#. I think at that weight the trailer doesn't need separate insurance? The weight rule will allow the same folks who slap farm tags on a commercial trailer to just run under the radar while us honest folks continue to pay our tax and put up with the PITA of inspections, insurance, etc.

And someone mentioned inspectors not knowing what to do? I have experienced that. I've gone to inpsection stations to get my trailer inspected and I had help the inspector figure out which sticker to put on my trailer. Geesh!

I

 

[East Texan]

I've already heard of trailer dealers telling guys that they can just register the vehicle with farm tags or register it below 4500#. People that cheat will still do so.
A guy told me the other day he got his registration. He has a homemade trailer with two 6k or 7k axles, no brakes, a few lights, and just registered it under 4500#. I think at that weight the trailer doesn't need separate insurance? The weight rule will allow the same folks who slap farm tags on a commercial trailer to just run under the radar while us honest folks continue to pay our tax and put up with the PITA of inspections, insurance, etc.

And someone mentioned inspectors not knowing what to do? I have experienced that. I've gone to inpsection stations to get my trailer inspected and I had help the inspector figure out which sticker to put on my trailer. Geesh!

I

If you register or renew a registration for a trailer or truck with farm tags, they now require you to have an Ag/Timber exemption number and put it on the registration form. We've been running (legitimately) farm tags for as long as I can remember and do have an Ag/Timber number but they have never asked for the number when registering a trailer or truck until this year.

I went in a few months ago with my yearly stack of renewals and the clerk had to enter the exemption number in the computer for every single trailer and my truck that I was renewing at the time. They had a sign at each of the windows saying they will no longer renew or register a farm trailer or truck without a valid Ag/Timber number.

 

[bdog]

This new law causes an interesting problem. I know needing a trailer inspection is not new but the fact you can't register without it is. I currently own seven trailers and some of them rarely get used. I have one that hasn't moved in a couple years. I don't keep them all current on registration and inspection unless I use them. For example we have a boat and haven't used it in over a year. The tags are out. In the past if I was going to use it I would go to the reg office in my truck and register the trailer and then put the sticker on before the trailer moves. Now with the law the way it is if your tags are expired you have to take your expired vehicle / trailer on the road to the inspection station before you can register it.

 

[Oaktree]

Why are farm trailers exempt? Sounds like some farmers' association made a sizeable "campaign contribution" to the right legislators. :laughing:

 

[clemsonfor]

Why are farm trailers exempt? Sounds like some farmers' association made a sizeable "campaign contribution" to the right legislators. :laughing:

Farms are exempt from a lot? They can have underage family workers. In this state farms dont register trailers and you dont need a CDL to drive a farm truck even if its a large 18wheeler low boy for hauling equiptment or hay.

 

[bindian]

If you register or renew a registration for a trailer or truck with farm tags, they now require you to have an Ag/Timber exemption number and put it on the registration form. We've been running (legitimately) farm tags for as long as I can remember and do have an Ag/Timber number but they have never asked for the number when registering a trailer or truck until this year.

I went in a few months ago with my yearly stack of renewals and the clerk had to enter the exemption number in the computer for every single trailer and my truck that I was renewing at the time. They had a sign at each of the windows saying they will no longer renew or register a farm trailer or truck without a valid Ag/Timber number.

You are right. I just got registration renewal for July on my dual tandem, 29 foot gooseneck with farm tags. I was asked for my timber/ag exemption number. I found my card and showed her. Before handing it to her, she stated she could look up the number. She said lots of trailer owners have been having to re register their trailers as they had no timber/ag exempt number. I know without my farm tags, my trailer would have needed annual inspections. But did not know it is down to 4500 pounds now.
Most folks don't know, but if you tow a non farm tag trailer over 10,000 pounds, you need a commercial license. It's such a grey area now...........I went ahead and got my commercial license last year.........pulling my 29 footer.

Eddie,
Yes, you can get your trailer registered for a lower weight. You are okay as long as you are under that weight if you get put on portable scales or asked to go to a weigh station. Which can take a while for a trooper with scales to get to your location.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bdog]

Most folks don't know, but if you tow a non farm tag trailer over 10,000 pounds, you need a commercial license. Brandi

No you don't. At least not in Texas.

I have a Class A CDL, a DOT number, operating authority, big trucks, small trucks, etc. and deal with the DOT all the time. We have four trailers with a 14k GVWR that I have non CDL drivers haul all the time and we have been through numerous weigh stations, DOT roadside checks, etc and it is not an issue.

A lot of people get confused because the way the law is worded. It says for a vehicle over 26k not towing a trailer over 10k you need a class B CDL and for a combination over 26k with the trailer over 10k you need a class A CDL. If your combined GVWR(truck and trailer together) is under 26k you do not need anything other than a class C even if the trailer is over 10k.

Go here and go through the flow chart and get it straight from the horses mouth. https://www.dps.texas.gov/cve/cdlmain.htm

 

[bindian]

I stand corrected. That is a cool flow chart.
hugs, Brandi

 

[C4Ranch]

Buddy hauling in a 1 ton truck + skidsteer got ticketed for no CDL.... This was earlier this year in Granbury.