Three-state haul

mkirsch

Well-known Member
I've never crossed state lines hauling anything appreciable. Usually a 1/2 ton truck with a small trailer.

So I want to go from Rochester NY down to Maryland with my truck and trailer to pick up a tractor for my collection. I've got a Chevy 3500 dually and a 7-ton deckover, so plenty of capacity. This'll be my first "big" haul.

Totally non-commercial. I will be hauling personal property for personal use.

Problem is, I'm sure I LOOK commercial. I don't want any trouble with the DOT.

If I'm gonna do this what am I gonna need to keep the fuzz off my back? DOT number on the truck/trailer? "NOT FOR HIRE" sign?

It's a crap shoot. Ask three different DOT officers a yes/no question, and get three different answers.
 
I don't have an answer for you, but I understand your frustration. I, too, talked to three different DOT officers regarding the requirement of fenders on my trailer in Mississippi. The first two didn't know, the third told me that question has never come up but he "figures I'll be fine". :roll:
 
Mkirsch, not sure what to advise, you read and responded to many posts here and saw the lively array of answers.......I would make sure that you are not too wide without permit, not over 26K unless you are in a category that is exempt (in OK farmers(w/ stipulations), fire (and other response vehicles))from having a CDL. Avoid scales and scale areas/ regular check areas, even if you are not over. Make sure all lights work, tires are good, insurance up-to-date, proper tied down load, chains/belts, copy of bill of sale. Take wife and/or kids along, not male buddies, less suspicious to commercial activity. Travel on weekends. I have a professionally made magnetic sign with the Farm name and town name, and not for hire for both sides of truck, dunno if it helps or not, and farm tags (have legit farm).If you got kids, grandkids, put something like "go bearcats, make State" on windows... What I am saying is that you should give them no reason to stop you.
Check with the States that you will drive in to get tractor home as well. Should have websites like OKLA. (ODOT). In the end, you probably won't be 100% kosher/legit....but you may want to chance it if odds are reasonable.
I know that this response will cause further discussion...and you will end up with a multitude of, at times opposing replies. Keep us posted how it goes/went.
BTW: what States are you traveling in besides NY??
 
I like your comment about bringing kids along. Friend of mine bought a semi tractor out of state and got stopped on the way home, his little grandson was eventually able to soften up the "she bear" that pulled him over.
 

I know it is different where you live than it is here in the midwest, but most of us around here have found the best way is to just do it. Make sure all lights are working, safety chains are properly attached, license plates are visible, etc., and then just get in the truck and go. If we can get there using less traveled roads with less traffic, that is the chosen route. As you have already learned, no one has all the answers, not even the D.O.T. officers.
 
Back in the "good ole days", they were not concerned about a private trucker, only the commercial guys.
Due to several factors including, accident rates, 911, need for money in the coffers, etc., they will now stop anyone.
The bottom line is you are taking a big chance IF you are rated or loaded over 26,000 LBS and on any public road.
They no longer "need" a reason to stop you, if you are on a public road, that is a reason.
You can get lucky and do it for years and never get stopped. But they are on to the "dually/gooseneck" rig and will stop them as quickly as any other.
Have your wallet full of cash because, just like the DOT having no answers, they can also charge whatever they feel like is fair in some cases.
Stickers in the windows, who is in the cab does not really matter. The only reason they will not stop you is if they are busy with another money donator or they just do not see you.
They are on the back roads also. Keep in mind, they did not fall off of a cabbage truck, no pun intended.
 
I have been looking at new trailers and several of them tell you the requirements for trailers. You have to have fenders and flaps also reflectent tape down back and sides, coupler is to match GVW of trailer. This covers all trailers over !0,000 lb. GVW non commerical and commercal. All trailers over 3,000 lbs.GVW have to have brakes. These laws cover old and new trailer. Old trailers were not grandfathered into the new laws.
 
In the past 5 years I have been in 8 different states hauling
old tractors or combines with no problems..I've driven right
by the DOT several times...I'm sure that things are lots
tougher back east..

Loaded I usually take lesser traveled hiways and never ever
cross a scale..This is with a F-350 Ford dually and a 25 ft
gooseneck licensed for 26,000..Here in the midwest
probably less than 5% of the people pulling a trailer even
have a DOT number..

Forgive me if my computer double or triple posts..
 
just pretend you are in to good-old days, running MOON-SHINE, taking all the back roads around the ports, no one knows the better,,if stopped, play hill-billy and say 'I DIDN'T KNOW'... like others said, just make sure is fastened down right[safely]and go on your merry way...
 
(quoted from post at 10:36:22 02/29/12) In the past 5 years I have been in 8 different states hauling
old tractors or combines with no problems..I've driven right
by the DOT several times...I'm sure that things are lots
tougher back east..

Loaded I usually take lesser traveled hiways and never ever
cross a scale..This is with a F-350 Ford dually and a 25 ft
gooseneck licensed for 26,000..Here in the midwest
probably less than 5% of the people pulling a trailer even
have a DOT number..

Forgive me if my computer double or triple posts..

I tried my best several years ago to get all set up legally and hit roadblock after roadblock. I started by trying to get a D.O.T. number, but learned I needed to have commercial insurance before the dot number would be issued. Okay, so I started pursuing commercial insurance, but found out I can't get THAT without first having the dot number???

I gave up! Anything I haul now, whether it is on my trailer, in my truck, or being towed behind my truck belongs to me. :lol:
 
PA police are really cracking down. The problem is that with your rig you fall victim to the combination weight which I imagine puts you over the magic 26K number. However, if you are over 10K plan to pull in a weigh station in PA. Also, as others said make sure your light all works as that's one nasty fine, check you valve stem caps make sure they are all metal if you are over 26K as that's another fine. I would grab a fire extinguisher, flares, and triangles incase you do get pulled over and are asked for saftey equipment.
 
NY DOT website says "personal or recreational use" does not require a DOT number.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/operating/osss/truck/registration-licensing

Maybe I should load the camper in the back of the truck for the trip? Then it's an RV. The DOT doesn't bother RVs.
 

Your local office of the state DOT has a book that they would love to give you, that tells all about it. They won't even charge you for it, so you can send me $40.00. Anyway they spell it out very clearly in the book, even with picture in case you can't read.
 
Have you thought about going through New Jersey instead of PA to get to Maryland??? Anyone knows if NJ is worse than PA?
 
Sorry, forgot you need to cross Delaware, too.
Another thought: some states have a reciprocating agreement (your State regs are good in ours, ours are good in yours....) does that apply to NY, PA, DE, NJ, MA?
 
PA is not bad at all.I am Eq. Mgr for a fleet outside philly.you can run 26k on truck and 10k on trailer with no cdl.But in pa trailers over 10k your tk has to be combition for both trailer and truck.make sure lights and brakes work and break away box is working.tags and insurance is good.I work closey with all the dot cops in the area that is how I stay up todate. on regs.
 
This is a 10K truck and a 10K trailer (on the registrations), and PRIVATE, so theoretically there should be no problem with the DOT.
 

It's a sad state of affairs we have come to when we are afraid of what might happen to us when all we are doing is pursuing our hobby of collecting and restoring articles from our past.
 
I would've jumped in the truck and headed down to MD without a care in the world if not for this forum making me think about it.

The horror stories of the DOT pulling pretty much any over and nailing them to the wall for some insignificant technicality have me gun shy.

I don't want to be 450 miles from home, on the side of the road, "out of service."
 
rustyfarmall,

I could not agree more, not only with chasing old tractors but many things in our so called "free country".
Part of the reason things are in such as mess is that a few stupid greedy people always ruin it for the rest of us.
All it takes is one dumbo with bad equipment running over a vehicle and killing or maiming the occupants.
There are always two side to a pancake no matter how much you flatten it.
Image if someone you knew or family got hurt or killed by a "private" trucker on their way to pick up an old tractor but they did not have the sense to check the equipment or did not care. That would put a totally different perspective on private trucking.
The other side of it is that the feds and states are hungry for money, so it has become a nice source of funds.
 
(quoted from post at 09:28:57 03/01/12) rustyfarmall,

I could not agree more, not only with chasing old tractors but many things in our so called "free country".
Part of the reason things are in such as mess is that a few stupid greedy people always ruin it for the rest of us.
All it takes is one dumbo with bad equipment running over a vehicle and killing or maiming the occupants.
There are always two side to a pancake no matter how much you flatten it.
Image if someone you knew or family got hurt or killed by a "private" trucker on their way to pick up an old tractor but they did not have the sense to check the equipment or did not care. That would put a totally different perspective on private trucking.
The other side of it is that the feds and states are hungry for money, so it has become a nice source of funds.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I've never seen an antique tractor that has been restored, or is going to be restored, being hauled with a truck and trailer that I consider to be junk, but I've seen plenty of old iron headed to the scrap yard being hauled with equipment that should already be IN the scrap yard. Likewise, I've seen plenty of RVs and motor homes being driven by folks who don't have a clue about driving something that BIG.
 
I am from Pa and have been to an official DOT meeting to make sure i was legal. As Johndeereman said you can be under 26,000 with combination plates in pa and be legal, however you must also have a fire extingusher mounted within reach of the driver that is rated a minimum of 5BC. You must also have a set of reflective triangles in the vehicle. You must also have passed a physical and have the medical card filled out by your doctor with you. Also, for any equipment over 10,000lbs you must have it chained from each corner with a minimum of 4 chains and 4 binders. DOT # is only required if you are doing the hauling for income, if it is for personal gain then you are okay. Funny thing is my truck reg. used to be $85/year, then went to the first DOT meeting and found out I was illegal. All I had to do was up to combination plates and send them $405/year and now have semi-annual inspection on truck and I am a legal beagle. No other changes whatsoever! Tell me that is not a money game for the state!!!
 
JDman,

Can you run both the combination of a flatbed truck at or under 26K plus a 10K and still be without a CDL? I know you can do one or the other fine, but I thought that once your rig/combination crosses that magical 26K number you must have a cdl.

Just looking for insight here.

Thanks,
 
(quoted from post at 11:46:07 03/01/12) JDman,

Can you run both the combination of a flatbed truck at or under 26K plus a 10K and still be without a CDL? I know you can do one or the other fine, but I thought that once your rig/combination crosses that magical 26K number you must have a cdl.

Just looking for insight here.

Thanks,

As I understand it, once you reach that magical 26,001 pounds or greater, you do need a CDL. Makes NO difference if it is a straight truck or a truck and trailer combination, and it makes NO difference if you are hauling for hire or hauling your own property on your own truck.

26,001 pounds is that magical number.

If you are over that number, with a trailer, then you also need the trailer endorsement on that CDL.
 
It would nice if all the states would get on the same page.Here in Indiana if you tow a unit over 10,000lbs GVWR or a vehicle over 26,000 lbs. GVWR you need a CDL.But if it for farm use you don't need one.
 
(quoted from post at 07:58:41 03/02/12)
I will ad to what Rusty said by saying ABLE to legally haul 26001lbs or more.

Thank you. And just to further clarify, if the truck and trailer COMBINED gross weight rating is 26,001 pounds or greater, you are required to posses a CDL, even though the actual weight of the truck and trailer, loaded, is far below 26,001.
 
The way I understand it in NY, no CDL is needed when the truck is <26,001lbs and the trailer is <10,001lbs.

If the trailer is over 10,000lbs, AND the combined is over 26,000lbs, then you need A CDL.

Whole discussion is moot at this point anyway.

If I buy the tractor I'll be scrambling for cash for the rest of the year.
 
(quoted from post at 11:14:06 03/02/12) The way I understand it in NY, no CDL is needed when the truck is <26,001lbs and the trailer is <10,001lbs.

If the trailer is over 10,000lbs, AND the combined is over 26,000lbs, then you need A CDL.

Whole discussion is moot at this point anyway.

If I buy the tractor I'll be scrambling for cash for the rest of the year.

Except you will be crossing state lines which means that federal DOT rules apply.
 
Mkirsh, I know Pa and MD are the same rules, My DOT officer told me that you need a class A over 26000 and med card. No DOT and no fuel sticker. He never said any thing about triangle flare or fire extingher but that's not a bad idea. Just remember if your trailer is over 10,000 lbs you need to combination your truck. If you don't they will add the trailer wt to you truck and you'll pay an overload fine. You do what you want but I never pull in scales, one day I guess i'll pay for it. Good luck. Ed
 
You would only be in Delaware for less than 20 miles going through Jersey. But why deal with NYC? Southern Jersey isn't bad, except you have to go through NYC, Philly, or Wilmington to get there.

As long as you are properly licensed for your home state, another state can't write you a ticket for not having the proper license. That's why NJ can't write a ticket for not having a rear plate on a semi tractor if you are from PA, where a front plate is the only one required.
 

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