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Post by gregpowell on Mar 27, 2008 15:58:10 GMT -5
Does anyone have good information or experience regarding the DOT requirements for hauling a livestock trailer across state lines. What I am told is that if you are greater than 150 miles from your farm or cross state lines and the GVWR of your truck and trailer exceeds 10,000 pounds then you must have a DOT number. My trailer is a 16' gooseneck with a GVWR of 12,000 pounds so this immediately puts me over the weight limit. This also requires a DOT physical for the driver, maintaining a log book, an annual inspection of the truck and trailer, and you must stop at all weigh stations on the interstate.
Is this correct and how many farmers do you know who actually follow these requirements?
Has anyone been stopped by the DOT or fined for not having a number in this situation?
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Post by Sherry on Mar 27, 2008 20:26:04 GMT -5
Hi Greg, I would check with your state. I know like when I came to your farm, aside from having current tags and registration on the 20' goose neck, I just had heavy tags, like 20,000 lbs, commercial farm tags on the truck. Didn't stop at the weigh stations either. Just make sure you have your current health certs. Plus, the evening we left your place, just after getting onto I75, we ran across a really bad wreck. We stopped and before it was over, I was telling the cops, emt's and the firefighters about the whites in the trailer, but no one asked to see any paperwork.
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Post by gwenger on Mar 28, 2008 7:44:15 GMT -5
Greg, "Good" or should I say understandable information is hard to come by. We sell trailers and it is tough for us to get our hands around the issue. The best I can figure is if you are engaged it a commercial activity all of the rules you mentioned apply.
A few years ago I was driving a small rollback truck (15000 GVW) to Iowa and I passed all of the scales until I got to Iowa where they require all vehichles with a GVW exceeding 6000 pounds to enter the weigh station..........well I probably shoundn't have stopped there either because they wrote me up for no fire extingquisher, emegency reflectors, health card, log book, DOT numbers or name on the side of the truck. In addition they placed me "out of service" for not having a log book. This was a commercial trip.
When I take our dually and gooseneck trailer (combined GVW 22000) to the cattle show in Quincy, IL I do not stop at any weigh stations although I may be required to. I don't think they could require all of the same stuff because I am on "vaction". I know whenever I pass a weigh station I look in the mirror to see if anyone is coming after me.........it hasn't happened yet.
If you are ever stopped across state lines I would advise you that you are just taking your pets for a ride you are not buying or selling. At one point the Pennsylvania State Police interpreted a commercial activity as taking your horses to a horse show to compete for a ribbon. I think they have backed off of that position after an out cry from the horse owners.
The sad part is when we have a government that makes regulations that we can't easily understand or for that matter why we need these regulations for pickup trucks going up and down the road at all.
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Post by gregpowell on Apr 10, 2009 10:40:44 GMT -5
I've recently had time to do more research on DOT requirements for towing a livestock trailer and found the following information. I would say that the majority of people pulling a livestock trailer don't meet these requirements and the chances of getting caught are pretty low. However, if you do get caught then expect to pay fines and if your involved in an accident then who knows what might happen in today's litigation environment especially if the accident were caused by a deficiency that would have been caught by the required DOT inspection.
Commercial Vehicle Farm trucks are considered to be commercial vehicles.
Articulated Vehicle An articulated vehicle is defined as a combination vehicle (usually a truck and trailer) with a separate manufacturer’s GVWR for each unit.
Trailer License Trailers pulled by farm trucks are not required to be licensed unless the farm truck is registered with a “farm limited” license plate.
Log book Required if traveling more than 100 air miles from the farm.
DOT Number Required if crossing state lines with a combined GVWR greater than 10,000 lbs. Also required for in-state travel with a combined GVWR greater than 26,000 lbs.
Weigh Scales If you meet the requirements for having a DOT number you must stop at weigh scales.
Inspection If you meet the requirements for a having a DOT number then you must have an annual DOT inspection performed on your truck & trailer.
Some of the items required to pass inspection are: • Fire extinguisher • Reflective triangles • Trailer safety chains • Extra fuses • Proper operation of trailer lights & brakes • Proper operation of truck lights & brakes • Reflective tape on trailer
CDL Required with a combined GVWR greater than 26,000 lbs.
Physical & Minimum Age If you qualify as an articulated vehicle then you must have an annual DOT physical and you must carry the medical examiners certificate with you when traveling. The minimum age for a driver is 18 years old.
References: Kentucky Department of Vehicle Enforcement Fayette County Clerk website (http://www.fayettecountyclerk.com/fccweb/motorVehicles.jsp) Ohio & Purdue Agriculture Extension (http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgAnswers/story.asp?storyID=5177) Purdue Extension Publication - Carrying Farm Products And Supplies On Public Roads (http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP/PPP-68.pdf).
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