Weigh Stations in Indiana
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Topic: Weigh Stations in Indiana
Posted By: CORY
Subject: Weigh Stations in Indiana
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 4:59pm
Someone told me that all trucks and trailers need to pull over into a weigh station in Indiana? Is this true? I have to go into Indiana next weekend empty and was wondering what I might be in store for. I should be going through fairly early on a Saturday morning if that makes a difference from Illinois on I-74 towards Indianapolis. Thanks in advance.
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Replies:
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 5:04pm
Depends on size , weight , and type of license on truck, also on trailer if pulling one.
http://www.coopsareopen.com/indiana-weigh-stations.html - http://www.coopsareopen.com/indiana-weigh-stations.html
Was looking at another post on Indiana and said they were also pulling over RV lic viehicles pulling race cars and such and ticketing or impounding them for no DOT number as drivers had no CDL and such as they were for profit cargo carriers.
------------- Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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Posted By: firebrick43
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 5:11pm
Early Saturday morning on 74 weigh station should be closed. I have never seen it open during that time. I drive through there maybe a dozen times a year going to indy. The illinois DOT is much worse than the Indiana DOT. The weight station is a few miles past the Veedersburg exit. DOT officers drive white crownvics, Regular state police drive black crown vics.
Update Sorry brainfart, DOT is light blue. Keep changing damn colors of state trooper cars. I amazingly haven't been pulled over by the DOT in a long time. We live near the Illinois border and all the truckers around here swear that the Illinois pigs are #$$ho#4s in comparison to the indiana boys. Yes they are more aggressive this year in indiana, they were told that they would provide enough revenue to pay their salaries.
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Posted By: clovis
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 5:36pm
DOT officers that I've seen are driving light blue Crown Vics.
What type of truck and trailer are you pulling?
This past year, IN DOT has been super aggressive with both semi trucks and pick ups pulling equipment trailers, looking for working tail lights, registrations, proof of insurance, etc.
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Posted By: DaveCinIN
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 5:54pm
Indiana DOT drive light blue Crown Vics. Regular marked cars can be white or black Crown Vics. They also use unmarked Crown Vics, Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers or anything else. The only times I was stopped pulling a trailer was for speeding or lights not working. Never been in a weigh station.
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Posted By: ToddBinNY
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 6:54pm
If you're empty, they won't care your alive. Big rigs generate revenue. If your in a pickup with a trailer that's weightis less than 26,000, you don't have anything to worry about. If your load doesn't look like a Sanford and son load, you'll get a green arrow. ALL SCALES get rolling weights. There's no stopping. Follow the instructions on the signs. 20 mph. 200 foot spacing between the rig ahead of you etc...........No one in the shack knows what your max GVW is. A big rig: 80000, or overweight/heavy hauler permited. A pickup with a trailer? They don't have a clue.
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Posted By: Curt-Indiana
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 7:47pm
GO TO THIS SITE FOR INFORMATION ON TRUCKS IN INDIANA
http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP-68.pdf - http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP-68.pdf
farm trucks as you see have a different set of rules.
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Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 9:16pm
Isn't one of catches in this whole mess now is once you cross the state line you are now involved in interstate(?) commerce. log book medical card and all that crap?
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Posted By: clovis
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 9:33pm
ToddBinNY wrote:
If your in a pickup with a trailer that's weightis less than 26,000, you don't have anything to worry about. If your load doesn't look like a Sanford and son load, you'll get a green arrow. A pickup with a trailer? They don't have a clue. |
Generally speaking, I would agree with you.
Seems like everywhere I go, the State Police have some working man in a pick up pulling a trailer pulled over on the interstate.
Somewhere I heard that the SP are targeting pick ups with equipment trailers. They are looking for working lights, proof of ownership, proof of insurance, valid drivers license, etc.
They will have guys pulled over empty or loaded. I heard they are trying to crack down on stolen trailers, as well as working lights, insurance, etc.
They have gotten HARD CORE about this over the past year.
I haven't really seen local cops worrying a bit about trailers...just seems like the SP on the interstates.
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Posted By: AllisChalmers37
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 9:33pm
You might want to pull over. LOL
------------- 1937 WC, 1950 CA, 1959 D14, 1967 190XT, 2006 Ram 3500
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Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2010 at 10:54pm
Ok back into the 1 ton truck (and above that GVW) thing and the 10,000 lb. trailer. It can be a commercial and could require a DOT number but also I may need a annual inspection sticker on both truck and trailer.
Health card is another item they are now enforcing , along with the proper class license. Now there is also a Nation database of all carriers and drivers. Next the log-book item can become a issue.
One gets the feeling you should stay home and not come out from underneath the blankets ... LOL
------------- Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 7:29am
We went through Indiana just two weeks ago, they had signage at the weigh stations that said ALL trucks with trailers over 16000# must weigh; that covers almost all pickups and trailer combinations. And yes, the IDOT as well Kansas and MoDOT are getting serious about this too.
Dumb__s at work decided to refill his O2 and acetylene tanks, picked them up full at weld supply and just laid them down in his truck, cop stopped him for taillight/brakelight out and saw tanks; he got ticket for $250 for unrestrained gaseous tank load and his attorney said there is nothing he can fight here, he also had to stand them up and have rope brought to him before he could move the truck.
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Posted By: JohnCinMd
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 7:32am
States are desperate for money & they'll do anything to get it.
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Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 7:43am
Seems to me like we need to know exactly whst corey is driving and pulling?
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Posted By: DonDittmar
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 8:10am
JohnCinMd wrote:
States are desperate for money & they'll do anything to get it. |
Well Said
------------- Experience is a fancy name for past mistakes. "Great moments are born from great opportunity"
1968 D15D,1962 D19D Also 1965 Cub Loboy and 1958 JD 720 Diesel Pony Start
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Posted By: acd21man
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 4:19pm
when my dad was like 19 in 79 he help his uncle haul nursey for a while went to indiana to drop it off on his way there he had to stop and weigh the truck. he didnt load the truck someone else did and told him it was the right weigh he is going up and had stoped to weigh and they all come out and told him he was like 40000 pound (this is on a 2 ton truck) that should have only been like 25000 he got a big fine
------------- 2 wd 45,2 D-17 diesel/gas 3 pt, 220,d21, 4020,2 4430s used daily http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCudh8Xz9_rZHhUC3YNozupw
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Posted By: clovis
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 5:09pm
I have a friend that owns a trailer repair shop.
I ran into him today, and when I asked him about the crack down on pick ups with trailers, he replied "It is only about the money."
He says that four new SP officers were trained for enforcing trailer laws:
Correct registration, working lights, working brakes, correct insurance, etc.
They are working the central Indiana area, but rumor has it, they have laid off for the time being.
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Posted By: Larry(OH)
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 8:56pm
maybe the "on The Road Again" guy can chime in here. He seems to be all over hauling just about anything
------------- '40 WC puller,'50 WD puller,'50 M puller '65 770 Ollie
*ALLIS EXPRESS contact*
I can explain it to you, BUT I cannot understand it for you!!
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Posted By: Darrell G (MN)
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2010 at 9:31pm
If they are checking for working lights, brakes, etc maybe they will save someone life, Comeon guys these things are necessary for safe operation.
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Posted By: Fred in Pa
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2010 at 7:20am
So hardly anyone thinks safty frist ??????? Fix your lights repair your brakes ,keep good tires on your trailer ,Keep your truck up also ,and go where ever you want!!!.How do you think it got to this ,Buy good chains and straps take the time to FASTEN your load.ITS not all about the MONEY to to them its about the money the guy dose not want to spend to be safe!!! or maybe dose not even care about YOUR family riding the same road as them.COMMON SENSE also needs to be in this BALL GAME. Thanks for Sharing.For 20 years hauling out the road I have had no problems got checked a few times but everything checked out OK because it starts before you leave to hit the road.
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Posted By: JohnCinMd
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2010 at 7:47am
Fred's right. If we just keep everything as it should be, we'll be ok. The inspections are increasing because the gubmints need the money, but unless there's a light out or something, we should be ok.
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2010 at 12:15pm
I asked the Iowa DOT earlier this year at the State Fair and they stated that Oct 1 Iowa would be going the same direction as MO and a few others in that anything with a GVW over 10K COULD be considered commercial. They add the GVW of the power unit and trailer together and if that is over 10K then they define weather or not you're commercial. Hauling your race car to the track, you're pretty much going to be commercial due to potential winnings. If you're hauling a tractor somewhere to do paid work, or if you're going to farm your own property/rental ground, you're commercial. If you're hauling your tractor to a show where you're not going to win anything and don't have a sponsor or someone else helping with expenses, you're private and exempt from commercial regs.
Now that I've said all of this, I'm going to bet that the private vs commercial definitions won't be interpreted the same by each officer.
I should add that the regs state that all trailers 3K and up must have working brakes on ALL wheels. Doesn't matter if it's like mine and only has one axle with brake mounting brackets. If you don't have brakes on all wheels, you have to do what's necessary to put them on.
------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: j.w.freck
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2010 at 10:34pm
i have a 32 foot goose neck,cked with the dot here in texas.do not need a dot sticker,comm,licenses or anything else.have farm tags on the trailer and have made several trips to my farms in northeast indiana.never a problem..
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Posted By: Leonard
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 5:05am
What happens when you are legal in your home state and are traveling through other states to pick up a piece of equipment? Do you fall under your states DOT regulations or are you mandated to comply within the states you travel through? I'm curious as the reg's are getting more and more confusing.
Leonard
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Posted By: Butch(OH)
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 6:19am
Ohio just passed new regs that will be enforced starting January 1 2011, for now they are giving warnings. Basically they affect any vehicle or combo over 10,000 GVW. Medical cards, anual inspections etc etc call the PUCO to get up to snuff, I dont have all the details handy. All of my mechanics and forman have to get up to snuff before Jan 1. They are nailing the commercial mowers and landscapers big time, of coarse most of them arent even legal citizens, LOL along with all the 3/4 ton and larger pick ups pulling trailers. The only ones they did not include was RVs ( go figure???) You can still be 85, blind, deaf and half goofy and drive a Petercar towing an Explorer as long as it has RV plates.
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 7:53am
J.W., when did you check with TX D.O.T.? I'm just curious. When I talked with the IA D.O.T. they said the determining factor would be are you Private or Commercial. With a dedicated farm lic plate, Iowa would almost surely define you as commercial.
------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: John (C-IL)
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 7:54am
Butch(OH) wrote:
The only ones they did not include was RVs ( go figure???) |
That is why both my Freightliner and 35 foot moving van have RV plates on them.
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Posted By: Butch(OH)
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 8:28am
John (C-IL) wrote:
Butch(OH) wrote:
The only ones they did not include was RVs ( go figure???) |
That is why both my Freightliner and 35 foot moving van have RV plates on them. |
I was thinking of you John when I typed half blind and goofy, LOL
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Posted By: BurtIA
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 5:45pm
If you're that worried about scales buy a map that shows where they are at and drive around them. I'm with John (C-IL) our Pete is licensed as a motor home. I was stopped by the IDOT this summer for speeding, wanted my log book, told him I didn't need one it was licensed as a RV. He asked if we had all the things in the Pete that made it an RV, I said yes, he then wanted to know what was in the trailer, I told him a couple of four wheelers (that was true, an ATV and our MOD FWD pulling truck). He wanted to look in the trailer so I showed him and he said "Have a nice day" and returned to his car. No speeding ticket either.
------------- Life's tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid!
John Wayne
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Posted By: Bull
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 8:21pm
I drove through Indiana to get a tractor back in 2009, I called Indiana DOT to find out if I needed to stop at the weigh stations, they told me that if I did not they could pull me over for not stopping even though they would likely wave me through if I did stop. I went on Memorial weekend and it tuned out that they were all closed from MO to OH coming and going.
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Posted By: j.w.freck
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 9:05pm
brian..dont know how long ago it was when i cked with the texas dot.i pull a 32 foor goose neck with farm tags on it.according to tx.dot.as long as i am hauling my own farm equip. i am legal where ever i go.have made several trips to my farms about 20 min south of ft.wayne.never been stopped.have been thru iowa and no problem...
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Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 6:16am
Friend got pulled over yesterday with his grain truck. It wasn't the MNDOT but a county deputy. He wasn't speeding and he didn't have anything visibly wrong but the deputy told him it looked like he was over weight. Made him pull aside and wait for MNDOT to show up with a scale. He was 1,600# underweight. Then the DOT guy checked over his whole truck and only found his mud flaps were about an inch too high. No ticket but delayed him about 45 minutes to an hour while combine sits waiting in the field just to satisfy an idiot deputy. Truck was MNDOT inspected a couple days before. Is one officer's tape measure different from another's?
------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot
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Posted By: DonDittmar
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 8:03am
Working lights, brakes, saftey chains, good tires aired up properly and a secure load are all saftey issues and I go along with all of them. Stopping one of us hauling are own tractor to and from a show and telling us we are commercial......not going to happen for me. I am not going to pay commercial plates on my one ton truck and 20 +4 gooseneck, I cant afford it.
In Michigan if you have a 1/2 pickup load of firewood that you cut up and you are selling.....guess what. In Michigan, if a cop stops you, its YOUR firewood..........
------------- Experience is a fancy name for past mistakes. "Great moments are born from great opportunity"
1968 D15D,1962 D19D Also 1965 Cub Loboy and 1958 JD 720 Diesel Pony Start
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 12:07pm
Once you cross state lines, if you fall under commercial, it's federal regs that apply and not state. Kind of like Don says, if you get stopped, it's your _____ on the trailer. If it happens to be farm machinery, "I'm just a collector, I don't farm with it."
------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: Skyhighballoon(MO)
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 12:40pm
Brian - in court you could possibly make a legal case for your last statement...if you really are engaged in farming, file a schedule F to the IRS and depreciate your equipment you have to state when it was placed in service. Until you place it service on your farm you could argue it's not a piece of commercially used farm equipment. You may get that plow home, decide it's too worn out to use, etc and it's just a collector's piece to go on the back of the tractor for show and never place it in service for commercial farming use.... Of course that'll be about mile over the head of the cop on the side of the road trying to stick it to you for $$$$. Mike
------------- 1981 Gleaner F2 Corn Plus w 13' flex 1968 Gleaner EIII w 10' & 330 1969 180 gas 1965 D17 S-IV gas 1963 D17 S-III gas 1956 WD45 gas NF PS 1956 All-Crop 66 Big Bin 303 wire baler, 716H, 712H mowers
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Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2010 at 11:54pm
Okay, there's plenty of vague info here. Since my company's business is intimately interoperative with the subject, I'm gonna step in and help sort a few things out.
The ORIGINAL question, was "Do I Have To Stop At The Scales".
The answer is: Depends on state, your vehicle, your trailer, your vehicle and trailer's liscense. Each state is different. Feel confident that if you drive past a sign that says "All Vehicles Over 6000lbs MUST WEIGH", and you're over 6k and don't, they'll come GET you. If they say "TRUCKS OVER 13 Tons GVW", and you're driving a 16k gvw pickup, you have CAUSE FOR ARGUMENT.
Next: WHAT is a COMMERCIAL VEHICLE?
The answer is: Definition depends on state. I'll dispel the comment that a vehicle is automatically commercial if it crosses state lines. Next, just because a vehicle is somehow involved in business operations, that does not automatically make it a regulated 'commercial motor vehicle'.
Next: DO I NEED A (Logbook, medical card, etc)
The answer is: Depends on state. IF you think you'll be identified as a CMV, having a medical card is a good thing, even if not required. Keeping a logbook is terribly critical if you're driving on behalf of a company or business, but if you're driving your private vehicle, on personal or farm circumstances, they'll find it very difficult to prosecute you for hours-of-operation violation. One of the primary methods of fending off an Hours Of Service attack, is to have good reciepts (ones that cannot identify you as having exceeded hours of service regulations), and of course... having hotel bills. This is one of the reasons why my company removed all sleepers and installed storage and passenger accomodations in our trucks- everyone stays in a hotel, every night.
Next: Don't FARM RULES allow me (xxxx)?
The answer is: Depends on state. Iowa rules, for example, allow an individual to operate a vehicle or machine on public roadways that would, in any other circumstance, require a CDL... with the provision that the vehicle is being used for agribusiness purposes, and operating within specified legal limits (axle weight limitations and gross weight limitations, lighting, fire extinguisher, etc) and within 150 air-mile distance from the farm. Unfortunately, for farmers living on the border of another state, travel into the adjoining state puts that farmer under the adjoining state's rules, which may be different.
Do I need a CDL to drive my (xxx) towing my (xxx).
Answer: Depends on state. First and foremost, is the combination REGISTERED or IDENTIFIED for over 26,000lbs? you'll need a CDL in most states. IF your tow vehicle and/or trailer uses AIR BRAKES, you'll need a CDL. If you're transporting passengers for hire, you'll need a CDL. These are all conditions which essentially all states abide.
Other notes:
In many states, there are exceptions to rules. For example- If you're operating a tow vehicle over 10k GVW, you cannot tow a trailer where the tow vehicle and trailer's GVWs exceed 26k without CDL... HOWEVER, if your tow vehicle's GVW is UNDER 10k, you can pull ANY trailer you like (and even exceed 26k) provided your ACTUAL WEIGHT falls under 26k. (oh, and you haven't exceeded the tow vehicle manufacturer's ratings.
IT IS A GRIEVOUS MISNOMER To think that the average DOT officer does not have a fair idea of your GVW. Most are very familiar with all common light and medium-duty trucks, and can rapidly look up anything they'd like to know. They can also look at a trailer, count lug nuts, and determine the axle ratings for a trailer. They can also identify the differences between passenger, light truck, and trailer tires, and judging by the amount of 'squat', they can determine how heavily that trailer is loaded.
Finally, realize that the DOT, regardless of wether the patrol car says "Commercial Enforcement" or not, has the authority to stop ANY vehicle for a safety concern. Unlike most other patrol officers, a DOT officer's authority to stop commercially-identified vehicles requires no specific cause. They can, at will, subject you to a very thorough safety inspection, including crawling under and checking brake lining thickness, emptying your truck to look for any number of things, demanding MSDS sheets for any chemicals you're carrying on board, pulling you onto portable scales, or escorting you to a certified scale at some other location.
Finally, yes, in many cases, the attitude of the officer has a substantial impact on the result. Having courtesy will usually serve you very well, and in the circumstance that you're doing something not-necessarily commercial, with a vehicle which isn't a 'normal' commercial truck, most reasonable officers will be lenient with the understanding that since you don't do this everyday, you're really not sure what they expect of you.
So try your best. When in doubt, err on the side of safety, and make sure everything is safe, solid, and secure.
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Posted By: Jamie (KY)
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 5:35am
In KY, we have "Farm Tags" on the truck. Not sure if other states do, but most likely some of the others have them anyway? We've been told that we can have a gross of 30,000 lb and be alright as long as it's my own stuff being hauled. It makes a difference if I'm hauling it for someone or if I'm hauling it for profit. I asked the lady at the courthouse when I got my truck licensed if I needed one for the gooseneck and she said no. No plates for the trailer and according to her I can go anywhere in the U.S. under 30,000 making no profit and I'll be fine??? I'm pretty sceptical. I'm finding all kinds of tractors that I am willing to go buy out of state for me to restore and show, but am too scared to go get one.
------------- Just when I thought I was finishing my "honey-do-list", she turned the page!!!
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Posted By: warrens9
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 9:44am
Always remember, Just because you made "several trips" and never had a problem, does not mean everthing you were doing was completely in compliance.
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Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 9:52am
No plates on the trailer will probably get you stopped in Iowa. Truck plates from KY will probably get you back on the road in a while.
Gerald J.
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Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 10:24am
Jamie- No worries about buying a tractor out-of-state, and getting it to bring home and restore... take you pickup and gooseneck and go get it- it is personal property, not a commercial haul. As long as your combination is under 26,000 (and unless it's a Steiger, you're light enough), and you're not overloaded on any axles, you'll be fine.
As far as the lady at the courthouse, your state tags SHOULD be good as specified, as liscense plates and titles are wholly under the control of your local DMV, a DOT officer in some other state can raise an issue, however, it will not stand unless you're in that state for longer than some set length of time (like... 30 days).
If I were you, the only concerns I would have: 1) Air brakes- if your truck and/or trailer use air-brakes, you'll need a Class A CDL... even if you don't have a trailer... even if you're well under 26,000... air brakes require Class A in every state... and 2) Weight category: If your total combined weight RATING is under 26,000 (i.e. 10,000lb GVW truck, and 15,000gvw trailer), there's no reason for concern. If your combination exercises your state's 30,000 tag by being over 26,000, I would WRITE the DOT offices of the states you intend to cross, to get WRITTEN clarification of what you're allowed.
Don't Email or call on the phone- WRITE... that way, they WRITE BACK... and when you travel, keep photocopies of those letters in your truck... NOT the originals. If you're cited, then satisfy the officer's requirements, thank them, continue on your way, and keep track of every and all expenses, etc., required to recover from the incident... then hire an experienced attorney fight the citation, not only to exonerate the citation, but to recover your additional effort and expenses.
And a shameless pseudo-plug here: when you're making a haul, ALWAYS know what you weigh. An officer equipped with portable scales can slap a fine on you, and you'll have absolutely no defense REGARDLESS of circumstances. Most certified scales have a guarantee policy that will provide you with some measure of protection in the event that you're tagged as overweight... consider that an insurance policy, and use it as such.
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Posted By: NickT(Ky)
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 5:41pm
Dave, in Ky our drivers at our utility who drive our bucket and derrick trucks with air brakes just carry a class B CDL. That is all that is required if the trailer is less than 10,000lbs or/and the truck is over 26,000lbs. Jamie, I always thought the farm tag in Ky. is good for 36,000? I need to check that cause when I haul hay I'm at 33 to 34K. I do have a CDL A, but my brother and nephew don't need one to drive our grain trucks in the 150 mile range. The Ky DOT has really been going after hopper and dump grain trucks on the Interstate lately. From field to farm you are allowed 10% over. Better be leagal going to market!
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 7:10pm
Dave, a Class B CDL air brakes endorsement is optional. Class B is for straight truck. According to MCE in Ankeny, they add the GVW of the power unit and trailer together to figure the GVW. Under 10K, not commercial. I agree whole heartedly that you should know how much you weigh. I would recommend stopping at a "Cat Scale", usually found at truckstops, and weighing. If the DOT stops you with the idea of you might be overweight, a Cat Scale ticket showing you're legal normally is enough to stop them from getting the portables out.
------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: Rick of HopeIN
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 7:52pm
I have thought about passing over the scales at the feed store down the road when I load my various, usual tractors. I think I am way under in every case but maybe good to know anyway.
------------- 1951 B, 1937 WC, 1957 D14, -- Thanks and God Bless
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Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 7:59pm
Ah- Nick- you're right- for some reason, I was thinking combination. Iowa also has Class B with air-brake endorsement, but you still need Class A to pull trailers with air brakes.
Yes, Brian- I wasn't going to name the company, so thanks for the 'plug'... you weren't home when I stopped by, otherwise you'd've seen my service truck... That yellow scale ticket is also an insurance policy- we expect drivers to put our guarantee to work when a problem arises, and while many do, some don't realize the power of that guarantee.
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Posted By: firebrick43
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2010 at 8:22pm
First, there is no such thing as "commercial plates" in many states. All standard plates are weight ratings only, you pay weight fees, doesn't matter what you carry, its based on the weight. In indiana, and other states as well, farm plates are half price, as the figure that you are only going to be using them half the year, not the entire year. Many states are mileage limited, typically 150 Miles, indiana is. Some such as Kentucky are not mileage limited, but in either case, if you are hauling something for sale, even a farm product, and cross state lines, you need a DOT number. You may also need IFTA sticker for fuel taxes.
http://transportation.ky.gov/dmc/CMVCS/faqs_qp.htm#Q21
You need tags on the trailer no matter what.
Getting a DOT number cost nothing if you are a private carrier Getting an IFTA sticker is not much
Maintaining a full ClassA cdl cost me 25 dollars a year. A log book, not much 10 dollars? Last years Maintaining a safe vehicle, should be done no matter what.
One ticket, a lot more than the above, even if you can prove your innocent, the time and effort to defend yourself is going to cost you. Good luck trying to prove your right on the side of the road, been there done, that, was right, still cost me hours of time prove that I was right.
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Posted By: Jamie (KY)
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2010 at 10:29pm
I talked to my county clerks office again this week. She said that I'm covered by the KY laws as long as I'm not making profit. She said that I may want to come by and get a copy of the law printed on paper from them just in case I get stopped. A buddy of mine said that he got stopped everytime he left the state until he put a John Deere license plate on the back of his trailer.
------------- Just when I thought I was finishing my "honey-do-list", she turned the page!!!
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2010 at 6:37am
Brick, I asked the DOT guys about getting a number just in case. They said getting a DOT number implies you are commercial. Having one would pretty much remove any chance of being private. Yep Dave, I remember being told many years ago when I drove a truck that Cat Scales were the best. If you got an overweight ticket, and had a Cat Scale ticket showing otherwise, your company would pay the fine if it was their scale that was off. I also remember being told on the side of the road that portables were on the way, and showed the cop the Cat Scale ticket and he cancelled the portable guy.
------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Posted By: firebrick43
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2010 at 7:59am
Yes brian, it would. But 90 percent of the guys running out there with big trailers/1 ton trucks are commercial sometimes(yet everyone tries to skirt that fact) The cost of getting it and maintaining it is small compared to the cost of getting a ticket, or even to travel back to that state/hire lawyer to fight the ticket. You can argue till your blue in the face how "right" you are with a cop, he can still give you a ticket that you will have to go fight in court.
I wonder how kosher it would be to put your dot number on a magnet that way only when you really know that your pushing the limits that it gets put on. When tooling around otherwise you just run without it.
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Posted By: EricPA
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2010 at 11:45am
I agree with Todd slow down go across and you will get the bypass signal
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