The other day had my third run in with the commercial vehicle inspection department of the MN highway patrol.
This time things went a lot better than the other times. Finally got a level headed inspector. He sort of gave me a warning for a cracked wind shield and a warning for not properly registering my DOT numbers.
What is strange is that all three people who have pulled me over while towing the dump trailer have all said different things about DOT numbers and city and state information on the tow vehicle. The first time the officer said I needed my city and state on my tow vehicle but nothing about DOT numbers.
He claimed if the sticker on the truck is over 10,000 lbs you need not only the DOT numbers but also the city and state on the side of the vehicle. Last year the officer told me just DOT numbers on the dually (11,200lbs) was fine. I got nabbed in the F250 so at 8,800 lbs was ok there. Deciding to play dumb asked if I needed annual DOT inspections and he claimed that if the combo was under 26K lbs you did not need to do annual inspections. However the DOT has the green light to inspect any work truck or work trailer they want, he said.
I was actually a little worried he might say my truck was not rated to tow a 14K lb trailer. A guy I spoke with at the dump the other day said he was stopped leaving the dump by the DOT and he was in his F350 towing a 20K lb trailer. The officer said his truck was not rated to tow that type of weight so he got a ticket for that. Next day he said he bought a 4500 Cummins. Has to go to court to find out his fine...
How many TDS members have been pulled over by DOT this year and what type of fines and or problems did you incure???
BTW, I'm glad I didn't get a ticket but now found myself more confused with the laws than before.
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99(4/99)F350 PSD 4X4 crew cab long bed dually lariat isspro triple pod air bags with compressor
99(6/99)F250 PSD 4X4 X-cab short bed xlt 5in str8 piped air bags autometer ultra light triple pod bought 8/15/01 w/40k miles first diesel
00(12/99)Excursion PSD 4X4 limited triple pod
00 BMW 328CI 2dr silver fully loaded
65 Mustang 289 V8 4brl
69 GTO 400 4spd
04 and 09 PJ 15k dump trailer 04 H&H 9K tilt bed 98 Haulmark 7x14 enclosed
Well, my friend, that right there is the problem with the DOT system...consistency!! You could be pulled over 3 times in one day and have 3 different results!!
I have been running a lawn care company for 15 years and have had many run-ins with the MNDOT I got fed up one year and had them come to my shop to help us get all our crap in order so we could reduce the issues we were having. I would suggest just putting all the info you think you need on the side of your trucks and be done, why fight the system it will just cost you in the long run. Cause really, what does it cost to put numbers on your truck......a couple bucks! What does it cost in time and ticket to not have them?? And as far as a annual insp. $85 bucks a year per unit. And what is really nice about that is you have a chance to have a pro look your truck and trailer over so it's hopefully a safer unit!! They target guys like us with bumper pull trailers, so keep everything in order so you can get a "get out of jail" sticker!!
And as far as weights, just keep your registration weights up nice and high (i.e. if you think you will weigh 10k licence it for 12k) from my experience they could care less what the truck is rated to pull they only care what you weigh and are licensed for (taxes) and don't exceed the rating on your tires.
If you have any questions send me a PM. I don't have all the answers on this but I do have quite a few, and I will give you my number.
Well, my friend, that right there is the problem with the DOT system...consistency!! You could be pulled over 3 times in one day and have 3 different results!!
I have been running a lawn care company for 15 years and have had many run-ins with the MNDOT I got fed up one year and had them come to my shop to help us get all our crap in order so we could reduce the issues we were having. I would suggest just putting all the info you think you need on the side of your trucks and be done, why fight the system it will just cost you in the long run. Cause really, what does it cost to put numbers on your truck......a couple bucks! What does it cost in time and ticket to not have them?? And as far as a annual insp. $85 bucks a year per unit. And what is really nice about that is you have a chance to have a pro look your truck and trailer over so it's hopefully a safer unit!! They target guys like us with bumper pull trailers, so keep everything in order so you can get a "get out of jail" sticker!!
And as far as weights, just keep your registration weights up nice and high (i.e. if you think you will weigh 10k licence it for 12k) from my experience they could care less what the truck is rated to pull they only care what you weigh and are licensed for (taxes) and don't exceed the rating on your tires.
If you have any questions send me a PM. I don't have all the answers on this but I do have quite a few, and I will give you my number.
I have to agree bring in DOT your shop/yard. They're not there just to inspect and write tickets. They'll help you if you ask for it. Most people don't realize that.
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Evan-
2003 Ford F-350 Crew Cab L/B/Dually XLT FX4 7.3L/Auto- Gooseneck Hitch Fifth Wheel Rails, Firestone Air Bags/ Toolbox
I have to agree bring in DOT your shop/yard. They're not there just to inspect and write tickets. They'll help you if you ask for it. Most people don't realize that.
It's the old "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" trick
It's really tough to hear all the thing that they require but you just have to suck it up and get the stuff done. It really holds ground too if you open your books to the DOT in case your company is ever involved in a serious accident.
It's the old "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" trick
It's really tough to hear all the thing that they require but you just have to suck it up and get the stuff done. It really holds ground too if you open your books to the DOT in case your company is ever involved in a serious accident.
My friend has DOT go threw the trucks and trailers, and books every year. No problems but lettering and tints. Since he does some work for animal rescue stuff they usually let it go for security reasons since he houses the animals on his property.
On another note, I'm thinking of calling them up myself to get some info on what I need to start my own outfit, since I have a lot of connections in what I'm going to transport(horses) I think it's worth a shot while I'm young.
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Evan-
2003 Ford F-350 Crew Cab L/B/Dually XLT FX4 7.3L/Auto- Gooseneck Hitch Fifth Wheel Rails, Firestone Air Bags/ Toolbox
Last edited by BlueMuleTrucking; 10-07-2009 at 12:47 AM.
My understanding (In Michigan) & I have a stack of citations to prove it!
For business use of a vehicle (regardless of vehicle's registration as business or personal) Anything that takes your GVWR rating over 10K, in most regards you are treated as a Semi. You can break the 10K by having a 11K GVWR on you truck or by towing any trailer who's combined GVWR with your truck is over 10K.
I have a F350 with a GVWR or 11.5K and pull a 7K trailer daily. Because of this I have to obey the following:
Yearly inspections of both truck & trailer.
$500/ yr "declared GVWR plate" 24K
Emergency equipment in truck (fire extinguisher, reflective triangles)
Markings of company name on truck following the Federal DOT guide
Carry a medical certificate (renew every 2 yrs)
Markings indicating your Federal DOT # (renew every 2 years)
The only things I don't have to do is stop at weigh stations & carry a log book.
My truck is in my name, trailer is in the company name. Both are treated as commercial because it's obvious I'm working. Cops around here are having a field day making up for Michigan's budget shortfalls. Even guys who drive F-150's and pull single axle trailers are getting popped. These are guys were previously left alone. They're just self employed carpenters, electricians etc... Who just use a trailer to get the tools to the job.
you must have a guilty look on your face when driving. i drive mostly in a2 with a 16' tool trailer (without fenders until recently) and a 10k dump trailer and never get a second look. no markings of any sort on vehicle (in sig) or trailers. guess i'll knock on wood
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'02 f-250 cc srw 4x4, auto, 4" exhaust, pillar pod w/ post and pre turbo egt, trans temp and boost, black brushguard/bumper, chrome step tubes. bully dog trans kit, ts performance 6-pos chip, stock, high idle, 50, 75, 100, 140, volant air intake
'08 f-350 cc drw 4x4, auto, mini max, 5" downpipe back exhaust. black ranchhand bullbar bumper, S&B intake.
My brother is an A2 cop. I'll tell him to have the A2 DOT cops watch for you!
Kidding of course, about the DOT part anyway.
My initial schooling was from an Oakland County Sheriff. ($1800) He's on a mission to cover the counties budget for the year. Various conversations with guys at HD & Lowe's have revealed most guys with a similar set up know this cop by name.
Second incident was my fault. I changed trucks for the day and transfered everything except my medical card.
what did they initially pull you over for? you got me worried now. pulled over on highway or in town? my truck and trailers empty are over 10k.
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'02 f-250 cc srw 4x4, auto, 4" exhaust, pillar pod w/ post and pre turbo egt, trans temp and boost, black brushguard/bumper, chrome step tubes. bully dog trans kit, ts performance 6-pos chip, stock, high idle, 50, 75, 100, 140, volant air intake
'08 f-350 cc drw 4x4, auto, mini max, 5" downpipe back exhaust. black ranchhand bullbar bumper, S&B intake.
M-5 between 15 mile and pontiac trail. I sped up to 53 so I could merge left where we lose the right lane. He actually said I should have slowed or stopped in the flow of traffic rather than speed up to merge. That are - it's kill or be killed certain times of the day. But that was his initial excuse. He immediately started railing on me about everything else.
You don't have to have anything on the doors in my state if you stay within 100 miles and do not cross a state line. The city and town on the door is so they know where to your 100 mile radius is, at which point you have to have a log book. Never been stopped in MS, AL, LA, or FL with an F450 bucket truck. Yes I know it's illegal, but since it looks more or less just like an F350 I get away with it. Oh, the 20,000# tag is obscured from the right side of the vehicle by the bucket. I live on the edge, and if caught will play stupid.
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