The Debate That Never Ends...

[Dougster]

Well..... just shooting up Rt. 3, you have no worries anyway. I think the reason Larry hasn't been fined in Union is he lives "local". I suspect there are more tickets written to out-of-staters since they are more likely to mail in a check than actually spend a day in court.

Let's be honest here... Larry couldn't get a citation out of that Union weigh station even if he ran over the cop's foot!!! On the other hand, I could get one simply for smiling crooked.

I know i avoid going through Conneticuts scales at ALL cost. Its way cheaper to spend an extra hour taking an alternate route. Boy.... has Ct. got a logbook fetish ! I'd suggest you have one if you are driving through Union.

Never did a logbook and never intend to... this despite the horror story I read in an old thread about an 8-hour hold-up at a weigh station for someone in a pick-up not having one!

You headed to Florida, perhaps ???????

Ha!!! Gawd, you are the nosey one!!! Not quite that far I don't think... and certainly not for that used 7520 deal (scam?) I was looking at... but stay tuned for a possible new acquisition in September after some of my financial dust clears.

Dougster

 

[Z-Michigan]

Just my 2 cents - you may want to pick up a trucker's road atlas that will have information on state by state requirements, and quite possibly show weigh stations on the map. Just a thought.

Other good thought is to leave Mass. forever and find some state where laws make sense and aren't intended as sophisticated thievery (try to stop before you reach California and have the same thing all over again).

 

[Dougster]

Just my 2 cents - you may want to pick up a trucker's road atlas that will have information on state by state requirements, and quite possibly show weigh stations on the map. Just a thought.

If it will address the particular issues relating to commercial pick-up trucks and pick-up trucks with trailers, I will gladly do that! Thanks for the tip!

Other good thought is to leave Mass. forever and find some state where laws make sense and aren't intended as sophisticated thievery (try to stop before you reach California and have the same thing all over again).

I'll be out of here within 2 years... but as much as I dislike Taxachusetts, I think this lack of definition in regard to weigh station requirements re: commercial pickup trucks (with or without trailers) is a larger problem than just the corrupt, dysfunctional government here.

Dougster

 

[jsborn]

Dougster

Just think if Ted K. had been driving a pickup instead of a car they would have arrested him for no log book and being over weight at the very least even if they couldnt get him for any other offences.

I would make a guess that every state in these United States has the same problem, no training for officers and or power mad officers.

All you can do it try to do whats right as you understand it and pay the fines for being wrong

 

[hemiguy]

Dougster,

I haul my TLB/trailer behind my 1/2 PU all over here in upstate NY and just drive right by any/all open weigh stations. I NEVER ever see any PU trucks there with or without trailers and have the impression that if you do pull in with one you will get dirty looks and be waved through by the NYS police. They have their hands full with all of the heavy duty trucks that come in. Now the rules down near and in NY City/Long Island may be quite different. They may have much stricter local ordinances. Also if you were driving something like a 1 ton dually pulling a 50' gooseneck fully loaded car hauler you may get some attention.

For reference, commercial registration for PU's seems to be the default here in NY. Mine have always been commercial even though I don't remember ever requesting it. Like you I also have no lettering or advertising on my truck. I'd say don't worry about NY state, but not sure about any others.

 

[rback33]

OK.. I'll first admit to having read all of the first 20 posts, but barely skimmed the rest...

The go by the mfg sticker weights otherwise I could take a F450 and 25' 30K trailer or something and tag it for almost nothing and skate by...

Yes, as a commercially tagged vehicle, you are SUPPOSED to roll through the scales as well have your pickup marked with your DOT number, name, business location and everything. We have had our guys hauling loaders up into NE and SD get popped at scales and get full inspections. Hate to be the bearer of bad news... But we follow the law to the letter. have the vehicle marked. it's obvious that it is commercial... I figure Brian has been lucky and the don't think he is a big enough fish to mess with. Those scales at Limon have been know to be interesting at times...

 

[Dougster]

Dougster Just think if Ted K. had been driving a pickup instead of a car they would have arrested him for no log book and being over weight at the very least even if they couldnt get him for any other offences.

I believe the correct charge would have been DUI.

I would make a guess that every state in these United States has the same problem, no training for officers and or power mad officers. All you can do it try to do whats right as you understand it and pay the fines for being wrong

And that's why I'm asking these questions here after getting nowhere through official channels: To try to understand what the law really is in these situations.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, I haul my TLB/trailer behind my 1/2 PU all over here in upstate NY and just drive right by any/all open weigh stations. I NEVER ever see any PU trucks there with or without trailers and have the impression that if you do pull in with one you will get dirty looks and be waved through by the NYS police. They have their hands full with all of the heavy duty trucks that come in. Now the rules down near and in NY City/Long Island may be quite different. They may have much stricter local ordinances. Also if you were driving something like a 1 ton dually pulling a 50' gooseneck fully loaded car hauler you may get some attention. For reference, commercial registration for PU's seems to be the default here in NY. Mine have always been commercial even though I don't remember ever requesting it. Like you I also have no lettering or advertising on my truck. I'd say don't worry about NY state, but not sure about any others.

It used to be that way in Massachusetts as well... commercial plates on every pickup. Not sure when that changed, but now you have a choice... even for certain limited business users not sporting lettering or signs.

Anyway, thanks for the input about New York state!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

OK.. I'll first admit to having read all of the first 20 posts, but barely skimmed the rest... The go by the mfg sticker weights otherwise I could take a F450 and 25' 30K trailer or something and tag it for almost nothing and skate by... Yes, as a commercially tagged vehicle, you are SUPPOSED to roll through the scales as well have your pickup marked with your DOT number, name, business location and everything. We have had our guys hauling loaders up into NE and SD get popped at scales and get full inspections. Hate to be the bearer of bad news... But we follow the law to the letter. have the vehicle marked. it's obvious that it is commercial... I figure Brian has been lucky and the don't think he is a big enough fish to mess with. Those scales at Limon have been know to be interesting at times...

Hi Jeremy - I didn't want to get into the markings thing... but since you bring that up, are there any exceptions for size??? There must be! There are TONS of pick-ups and vans running around here with commercial plates and no markings at all other than maybe a company name and phone number on the doors. Can they all be running illegal???

BTW, I did pass a truck lettering place the other day that warned all commercial drivers on a sign to "Get their trucks legally lettered OR ELSE!!!" Maybe I should have gone back and quizzed the guy about exactly which trucks that warning applied to!

Dougster

 

[Reg]

If the sign says (paraphrased) "all trucks", or "all vehicles pulling trailers", I take that to mean even the li'l micro sedans pulling pop-up tent trailers. There is a toll house right in the corner of NY, NJ, PA on route 209 south of Milford like this and I was waived back one time for by-passing it. I backed up rather than have them send the ranger after me and after about 3 minutes of explanation that I was NOT hauling commercially they let me go.

If I'm pulling a 2 horse bumper-pull trailer I will typically by-pass the "regular weigh stations". If I'm pulling the 39ft gooseneck trailer I just about always pull in, but get waived through. There is usually a dumb comment, such as "You got Clydesdales in there ?" or "I hope he comes in first and wins Ya lotsa money."
Anyway, in New England I've always been waived through, never asked if I'm hauling for myself, friends, or MONEY.
The only place I actually managed to get weighed was going into New Mexico, and that was because every lane has a scale and I had to ask what my weight was.

So, if you're moving your own equipment for your own purpose - OTHER than to get it somewhere to do a paying job - I think you don't need to.
e.g. "taking it up to or bringing it back from your summer place".
If in doubt stop, explain that your truck is registered for in state commercial use, but this is an out of state non-commercial journey. Plead ignorance/uncertainty if you have to, thank the officer (-:
ALWAYS thank the officer.


BTW, I have seen "truck" defined as a commercial vehicle with 5 or more wheels in contact with the road.
"Pick-up truck" was supposedly coined to mean a little truck.
Different rules apply to duallies.