Trailer GVWR

[hhw]

FWIW:

In PA. you may register a vehicle at what ever you wish provided that:

The registered weight is above the Manufactures supplied Vehicle Weight, and does not exceed the Manufacturers supplied Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

This comes from Title 75, Pa. Vehicle Code.

Now, if you register your trailer at say 10K(to save on registration fees) when it has a GVWR of say 20K thats ok. Provided of course your trailer and load don't exceed 10K in the event you get weighed.

However, if you purchase a trailer that has a GVWR of over 10K, you need a class "A" CDL to pull it, regardless of what weight you register it at. Hope, that all makes sense?

 

[Bird]

Steve, I was a city cop and never got involved with weight enforcement, but I think it all boils down to the fact that they just don't mess with farm equipment at all. You can do just about whatever you want to do if you have farm tags. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[stevenf]

Bird as far as farm tags and farm equipment is concerned I know what you mean when I take my tractor for service I give the sheriff a call and let him know I'm on my way and then hop on my tractor and drive down IH10 about 16 miles I try to stay on the access road when possible but regretably the county ran out of money years ago and most of the way I'm on the Interstate shoulder heading west. They just smile and wave when I drive by course I do display my slow speed vehicle triangle and hazard flashers but I'd sure figure one of em would get out and ask me where you going boy.
Steve

 

[Highbeam]

"In PA. you may register a vehicle at what ever you wish provided that:

The registered weight is above the Manufactures supplied Vehicle Weight, and does not exceed the Manufacturers supplied Gross Vehicle Weight Rating."

Was this a whoopsie? The WA DOL will allow me to buy tonnage and register my truck for way more than the stickered GVWR. In fact, when I bought the truck with a 6200 lb stickered GVWR the registration listed 8800 as the licensed GVWR. The next time I renewed the gal asked if I want 10,000 or 12,000 but I thought 8800 is plenty for a half ton.

If you do something to make the coppers suspicious, they will pull you over. They have corny laws that are subjective like driving too fast for conditions. Make sure the load looks good when going down the road even if you are well within your ratings just give it a look for presentation.

 

[hhw]

Actually, as complicated as the verbage makes it sound it shakes out fairly simple:

You MUST register at a weight above what the EMPTY Vehicle weighs.(as provided by the manufacturer)

You MAY register at ANY weight as long as it is not above the MANUFACTURERS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING.

So, if I buy a dump trailer with a GVWR of 10K, but I only use it to haul 4K, then I can register at 7K and save a few bucks.

It really isn't worth the trouble, but the option is there.

 

[RayH]

I hate to start a whole big thing that isnt really related to the thread but just to clearify.
CDL B is for any vehicle or combination over 26000lbs provided the trailer is less than 10000lbs.
CDL A is any combination over 26000lbs with a trailer of 10000lbs or more.

This means, for example, its legal to pull a trailer with a GVWR of 12000lbs as long as the GVWR of your truck is less than 14000lbs without a CDL because you stay under the 26000lbs combined limit.

EDIT: This is for commercial vehicles only. If its operated privately, the weight limits are irrelevant.

 

[hhw]

Again, this is FWIW;

I contacted the Pa. State Police, Department Headquarters, Bureau of Patrol, Division of Motor Carrier Enforcement. According to the Cpl. in charge the following is applicable to vehicles registered in Pa.

A Class B CDL entitles the holder to operate a single vehicle having a GVWR of 26001 or more, provided that any vehicle being towed does not have a GVWR exceeding 10,000. When I questioned him regarding the effect of GCVWR he advised it would be irrelevant. He advised that regardless of the towing vehicle registration, once you hook to any vehicle which has a GVWR exceeding 10,000 you need a Class A CDL.

Armed with this information, I went to the Pa. Dept. of Trans. web site, Driver Services Section, Pa. Vehicle Code-Title 75, Chapter 16-Driver Licensing, Section 1612, and there it was in print, as stated by the Cpl.

 

[RayH]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Armed with this information, I went to the Pa. Dept. of Trans. web site, Driver Services Section, Pa. Vehicle Code-Title 75, Chapter 16-Driver Licensing, Section 1612, and there it was in print, as stated by the Cpl. )</font>

You must have been drunk when you looked it up because section 1612 deals with driving under the influence of alcohol. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
1603 is the section that defines "commerciial vehicle" as having to be over 26000lbs.
I dont want to ruin this thread. Would you like to contuue in another one?

 

[hhw]

It is regrtable I inserted the incorrect section number. My attempt here was to obtain some information that might be of use to someone on the net. If your request to go to another thread is to initiate a debate on this matter, thanks, but no thanks.

Since it was the Corporal from the State Police who provided the initial guidance perhaps you could contact him and dedbate Pa. statute.

 

[RayH]

Ok, no debate and I really dont care enough about it to call the State Police and try to get ahold of this guy.
Please understand that I drive for a living. Check out my occupation, my office has 18 wheels and Im absolutely certain about this.
Now we can carry on with the original thread.