I'm looking into getting a trailer to haul logs to my sawmill. I've been researching the pennsylvania website and the federal regulations, and my head is spinning. I'm under 26000, so i'm under cdl, I know in some states you can't tow a trailer over 10,000 gvwr w/o a cdl, but as far as I can translate the pa vehicle code, that doesn't apply here. But it seems as soon as you cross the 10,000 gvwr single or combination, you fall into all kinds of commercial regulation, I'm only going to be towing intrastate, 99% of the time under 100 miles, so that cuts down on the red tape alot. So as far as I can tell if I just insure the trailer and fill out an intrastate carrier form I should be ok. I know a guy that tows all the time, his advice was just stick to the back roads, because if you get stopped by the DOT, they'll always find something to write a ticket about. Anybody have any input?

 

Do you run farm plates?

 

i talked to two usdot reps in Wash. d.c and a fed rep for the usdot here in ca and got 3 different answers on my 5500 with a 14k trailer right at 26k. i paid the fees. i am mostly intrastate, (MY OWN equipment and tools), and some interstate.
i do not understand why this country can't get it's act together on anything the gov does.

 

I'm not farm but I wish I was. I'll have to do some more investigating on that because the family has a christmas tree farm, but thats all under my dads name, and the sawmill is all me, so I doubt i'd be able to mix the two without a whole new set of rules and regulations. This stuff ranks right up there with the IRS on the list of screwed up government regulation.

 

I would contact your State DMV and ask for there booklet's on CDL and towing rules. Then find a local state trooper facility and discuss this with them. I would also get the officers name and badge number for further reference.
I have contacted my local state trooper office for other road information and they where very helpful. I have found this to be the best source of information in the past.

 

What are you doing with the lumber you process from your mill? If you are using it to build a shed for your commercial farm or furniture manufacturing company you may be ok but if any of it is sold or traded or used commercially you need a cdl.

 

I think DOT laws are not intended to be understood. That way the feds can change the rules at anytime to benifit them.

Quick story: We had our Frieghtliner in for our Bi-annual DOT inspection from the local inspection office. Withen 3 days we were given a ticket by KY scales for having the improper license display on the tractor. It was off center

 

According to Pa as long as the COMBINED gvwr's of your truck and trailer are under 26,001 pounds you do not need a class a, but you do need a commercial class c. Since you are operating in a commercial manor for your business. You'll also want to make sure the truck/trailer are plated correctly for the weight (over weight tickets are expensive) and also I would get a US Dot # too. Its free since you are not hauling for hire. And last would be inspection stickers for the truck and trailer.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLic..._classes.shtml

 

I wasw stopped towing in Iowa a couple of yrs ago & was informed that I need a Med Card,logbook & DOT#,I knew I needed this but have alot of friends that tow & never get stopped & since I had a 3/4ton I thought this would help stay under the radar,well I guessed wrong.So now I all legal with a med card,logbook,dot#,fire ext.,yearly inspection of truck& trailer.
AND haven't gottened stopped since.Oh I now the our companies name on the trailer in big letters.
It seems like a PITA at first but you can get your dot# online & then do the rest.

 

you don't have to look over your shoulder with a cdl and usdot #. it may in the long run be the cheapest way to go.

 

In Az. if I am hauling my Tandam duel or my triple axle trailer ( loaded or empty ) I am required to have a CDL, log book, and health card , because the gross is over 26,000 , weather I'm hauling for bussiness of personal , BUT, I can hook onto my 32' toy trailer, load the trailer with whatever I want ,
( usually around 33,000 GVCW ) and ADOT or the Highway Patrol won't even look my direction. R.V's have different rules I know one guy that we go to the dunes with , his rig is almost 40K total !

 

Yeah, I don't get the big deal people make about getting what they need to be legal. Especially the CDL. It isn't like there's a rigid time frame for most people; most could do it at their leisure. It isn't costly either. For the cost of a doo-dad or two that most of us put into or on our trucks, you've covered the CDL cost. Med cards aren't costly either. Mine is $35 every 2 years. DOT numbers are free.

 

Seems like the interpetation from the officer you get is what holds water.
One commercial inspection I had, the officer started writing me up for no Fire Extinguisher.
It was right there mounted on the floor beside the drivers seat. When I told him I had the correct one and its mounted...he started to argue then when I said I would go get it he told me I could not. I did anyway.
When I came back into the office he was gone and the other officer looked, nodded and said I could go. Had I not said anything, I would have had a fine and violation instead of a clear inspection report.
Reading all of this and not hauling commercially for someone else anymore, I decided to look into what is needed for me in case I wanted to haul a load for $ now and then. I actually got some good answers and its not that difficult to do. All tolled it adds up to a little over 1200.00 extra per yr for my insurance. Then I am legit whenever I get the opportunity to haul a load.

Scotty

 

Here's a good question:

Are there any Federal Regs for annual trailer inspection when you are NOT commercial? I've searched the Federal site numerous times and have yet to come up with anything. I'm not talking for a 18 ft trailer, I'm talking a 20K trailer loaded with a gross of 28K for truck and trailer. So, it can be viewed due to it's pure size as a large commercial "type" trailer.

Last summer, on my way plowing through Iowa, I spent an hour in a weigh station talking to an officer over my load. No issues and it was never brought up, but I wasn't about to ask. It's last inspection was done right before I bought it and was good from Sept 2008 to Sept 2009.

 

some states require a inspection sticker for trailers texas does it different looking thenb the dot one. also loggers here can run farm tags on their logging trucks since its considered an ag product as told to me by a dot trooper during a road side visit