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State DOT chasing small trailers now.
#15555
06/14/05 01:02 PM
06/14/05 01:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,225
Bloomington, IN
HoosierTA
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,225
Bloomington, IN
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I just learned that the guys who are assigned to make sure semi trucks are safe, have been tasked with checking small trailers, including car trailers. Seems with the boom of lawn care businesses, there is a problem with people not securing their ZTR's while going from job to job.
I was told there had been a few fly off the trailers, so now DOT is really cracking down. I'm afraid to pull my car on a trailer now, for concern about spot inspections.
'70 Challenger R/T 383
'16 Hemi Durango SSV (work vehicle)
'15 Ram Police SSV
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: HoosierTA]
#15556
06/14/05 01:03 PM
06/14/05 01:03 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,649
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
amxautox
Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
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Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,649
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
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If it's tied down properly then there would be no worries.
I loaned a guy one of my tiedowns when his car slid off the back of his trailer. He was using a small old chain and it broke, car was in neutral. He mailed it back to me later. He was going to the road race and I was going to the autocross. Didn't know him. Saw him on the side of the road with the car half off the trailer and stopped to help him.
Tom
"Everyone should believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."
-Henry David Thoreau
Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths
author unknown
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: EV2DEMON]
#15560
06/14/05 01:22 PM
06/14/05 01:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,477
Minnesota
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They are tring to force anyone with a truck an trailer at 10,000 combined gross weight to comply with all the regulations that over the road truckers have to follow. There is a whole giant book full of rules, it is CFR49. Do a google search on cfr49 to see it. If you have your vehicles tagged in a company name, if you have company or sponsor names on the truck or trailer, if you admit that you can win any money at the show/race that you are going to, they call it "commerce" and nail you. 
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#15561
06/14/05 01:35 PM
06/14/05 01:35 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,512
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
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Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,512
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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Quote:
They are tring to force anyone with a truck an trailer at 10,000 combined gross weight to comply with all the regulations that over the road truckers have to follow. There is a whole giant book full of rules, it is CFR49. Do a google search on cfr49 to see it.
If you have your vehicles tagged in a company name, if you have company or sponsor names on the truck or trailer, if you admit that you can win any money at the show/race that you are going to, they call it "commerce" and nail you.
I weighed my trailer with my 69 D200 in it and it was 11,140 lbs! How does Indiana handle plates. In Illinois each level of trailer plate has a limit, then you have to buy the next size plate. The truck plate also has a limit and works the same way. Do they do that in Indiana or do they have plates like in Pennsylvania that correlate to the combined weight of truck and trailer that goes on the truck? I have seen people who paid hefty fines in PA for not following THEIR rules! 
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: HoosierTA]
#15562
06/14/05 03:06 PM
06/14/05 03:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 986
Indiana
MFR440
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 986
Indiana
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I believe that if a DOT officer wants to nail you, he will. But it helps to be "armed" with the law. If you know the law, you should be able to talk your way out of the situation. OR, you can buy a trailer with living quarters in Indiana and have it plated as an RV!!!  Here is an INVALUABLE link to the Federal DOT regulations. I suggest that anyone who pulls a car trailer should keep a copy of this in your rig. Here is a quote that is particularly germain to our situation: "Question 21: Does the exemption in 390.3(f)(3) for the "occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise" apply to persons who occasionally use CMVs to transport cars, boats, horses, etc., to races, tournaments, shows or similar events, even if prize money is offered at these events? Guidance: The exemption would apply to this kind of transportation, provided: (1) The underlying activities are not undertaken for profit, i.e., (a) prize money is declared as ordinary income for tax purposes, and (b) the cost of the underlying activities is not deducted as a business expense for tax purposes; and, where relevant; (2) corporate sponsorship is not involved. Drivers must confer with their State of licensure to determine the licensing provisions to which they are subject." I have only once won enough money to claim as income, and I wrote off the same amount as expenses;, but the key is that I did not write off any more than I won, therefore the exemption applies. If you explain this type of thing to the officer, I'd be willing to bet that he would let you go. Disclaimer: This is in no way to be considered as legal advice. The text quoted is available in the public domain on the following internet site: FMCSA Question Page
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: Scat_Pack]
#15564
06/14/05 04:05 PM
06/14/05 04:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,120
City of Champions
Prostock
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,120
City of Champions
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Quote:
My uncle and I recently recieved 12 citations in iowa with a 1 ton dually and a small tandem axle trailer. They ranged from not having a fire extinguisher in the truck to not having a breakaway switch on the trailer and no trailer brakes, seems almost all the tandem axle trailers made not have no brakes on either axle and they are required in most states, now this was not a car trailer just a small light duty tandem axle trailer. They also wrote us up for no DOT tape on the trailer, no physical card also, they are considering them "hot shot" rigs now. 
The common one is the break away switch. Mandatory on all trailers over 3000gvw, no matter when it was made.
Quote:
Do they do that in Indiana or do they have plates like in Pennsylvania that correlate to the combined weight of truck and trailer that goes on the truck? I have seen people who paid hefty fines in PA for not following THEIR rules!
PA also required brakes on BOTH axles.
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: Scat_Pack]
#15565
06/14/05 06:00 PM
06/14/05 06:00 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,649
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
amxautox
Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
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Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,649
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
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what's a 'dot tape'?
what's a 'physical card'?
what's a 'hot shot rig'?
My trailer has everything but those and I've never heard of any of those 3.
My car trailer was built by a commercial trailer building place. Brakes on both axles and a breakaway. 7,000 rated.
Tom
"Everyone should believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."
-Henry David Thoreau
Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths
author unknown
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: amxautox]
#15566
06/14/05 06:39 PM
06/14/05 06:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,523
Branson, Southwest MO
Scat_Pack
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,523
Branson, Southwest MO
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Quote:
what's a 'dot tape'? It is the red and white reflective tape you see on big trucks.
what's a 'physical card'? It is like a health card, like if your blood pressure is too high they will not pass you to drive what they are considering a commercial vehicle, I dont really know how they are getting away with this one but they are doing it.
what's a 'hot shot rig'? Hot Shot rigs are usually like the one ton trucks you see pulling say a 48' or a 53' flat bed trailer, owners of these trucks started out doing this to get around the DOT rules, like log books and such, plus you could get into one of these alot cheaper.
My trailer has everything but those and I've never heard of any of those 3.
My car trailer was built by a commercial trailer building place. Brakes on both axles and a breakaway. 7,000 rated.
1941 ford coupe Chopped 6"
1966 VW Chopped 6"
1966 plymouth Belvedere II special order 999 paint code Petty Blue
1964 Dodge dart GT convertible
1971 340 Cuda
3 1969 Superbee's
"Anyone can restore a car, it takes a real man to cut one up!"
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: Scat_Pack]
#15568
06/14/05 11:39 PM
06/14/05 11:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 986
Indiana
MFR440
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 986
Indiana
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Quote:
My uncle and I recently recieved 12 citations in iowa with a 1 ton dually and a small tandem axle trailer. They ranged from not having a fire extinguisher in the truck to not having a breakaway switch on the trailer and no trailer brakes, seems almost all the tandem axle trailers made not have no brakes on either axle and they are required in most states, now this was not a car trailer just a small light duty tandem axle trailer. They also wrote us up for no DOT tape on the trailer, no physical card also, they are considering them "hot shot" rigs now.
What were you carrying? Did you fight the charges? PM me for a link to another racing board with a very similar situation. It might help your cause.
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: MFR440]
#15569
06/15/05 12:08 AM
06/15/05 12:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,523
Branson, Southwest MO
Scat_Pack
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,523
Branson, Southwest MO
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We were empty. and have already payed the fines. It totaled about $750. We did not fight it, but should have.
1941 ford coupe Chopped 6"
1966 VW Chopped 6"
1966 plymouth Belvedere II special order 999 paint code Petty Blue
1964 Dodge dart GT convertible
1971 340 Cuda
3 1969 Superbee's
"Anyone can restore a car, it takes a real man to cut one up!"
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: AeroMonte]
#15571
06/15/05 09:36 AM
06/15/05 09:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,512
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
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Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,512
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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A breakaway switch is a seperate battery operated switching mechanism that is on the trailer and activates the electric brakes in case the hitch seperates from the tow vehicle. You attach a wire from the switch to your hitch everytime you hook-up. The tape needs to be placed on the bottom sides of the trailer on all four sides I believe. You must have (4) brakes, two on each axle!  I has 7 citations once, missing plate, no breakaway, no tape, overloaded, load not balanced, no inspection sticker, and wrong weight of trailer plates. Basically they were "fix-it" tickets. When I went to court I proved that I had fixed all the problems, and only got one fine ($75) for being overloaded. The cop was a real a$$ and made me follow him to a scales. He was PO'd when the judge let me off with just a single fine! 
Last edited by Rhinodart; 06/15/05 09:39 AM.
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
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Re: State DOT chasing small trailers now.
[Re: HoosierTA]
#15572
06/15/05 09:48 AM
06/15/05 09:48 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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Iowa is really cracking down on pick-ups and campers with trailers. All pick-ups with trailer must go through the port of entry.
I got hit in Texas while towing two cars and spent an hour in his cruser getting schooled. Nation wide, the weight limit is 24100#. I weighted 20080#. But if you cross state lines for business, the limit falls to 10100#. I made the mistake of letting the officer know that I do Mopars for a living and the book came out. He said that I didn't have to have a CDL but had to meet the requirements of one. He checked truck weight limits, trailer weight limits, tire weight limits, all lights, lug nuts, break away brakes, fire extinguisher, roadside markers. All which I passed. Got hit for not having my truck DOT inspeced and not running a truckers log. 280.00 bucks. Got a warning for not having a medical card, no US DOT number, no license plate lamp on the trailer. Seems if your in state, you should be ok but it's when you have out of state tags that they'll hit you the most.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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