Another DOT question

larryanderson

Well-known Member
A farmer from Neb.came into Ia with a ton pickup pulling a gooseneck tandem axle trailer to pickup a 4320 near Iowa City.Before he even loaded he was stopped and charged $521 for no DOT#,log book,medical card and put out of service.In order to continue with his wife driving he had to get legal by hooking the trailer to his rear hitch so it became a bumper hitch and wasnt a problem to the DOT officer.This sounds crazy to me but according to seller of tractor it did happen.Is this possible as I thought Iowa had put these laws on hold?I guess if it would have been me I would fight it.
 
First thing was he picking up the tractor for himself or was he hauling for hire. How could his wife drive? If he didn't have a log book and medical card she most likley did't have it. Also it would take a lot of work to revamp a gooseneck to a bumper pull trailer.
 
According to the seller they put a ball on the bumper ,extended the mast ,then she proceeded as it no longer was illegal as it was a bumper hitch.I know this doesnt make sense but the man that told me this would not make this up.Seems like it would be safer hooked up to truck bed.He was picking it up for himself or at least the seller thought so..He was told when he crossed state line he was a commercial hauler and intrastate rules apply.It makes me not want to go out of state unless I know I am legal which I know Im probably not.
 
Some of us on here have been sharing the stories and warnings, but a few still refuse to believe that things are no longer like they used to be a few years ago.
If the truck and trailer have a COMBINED RATING of 26,001 LBS, (matters not what is loaded unless it is overloaded, then it is even worse), you must have basically what truckers have. There are farmer rules and in state rules that will allow you to haul equipment from farm to farm, but many were lying aboout that. So now, you best have two farms and be able to prove ownership of everything on your trailer.
They also caught on to fake bill of sales. They can actually track those later and fine you months down the road if you create a fake bill of sale.
 
it can easily happen, the problem with the dot laws while supposedly designed to cover commercial vehicles nation wide, the laws do varry some state to state, and the biggest problem is they seem to be open to interpretation to the individual cop, some of these guys are former truckers and are highly trained, others are fresh out of school and have very little practical knowledge,cops are told to write tickets the gov, needs money, which makes it hard not only for the commercial trucker with very little money left today for the man doing the driving, but the guy just running to town in his own pickup and trailer is subject to whatever the cop decides applies too
 
How do you create a "legit" bill of sale? You can write anything you want on a piece of paper. Farm equipment ownership is not tracked.

Heck, the DMV accepted a "bill of sale" scribbled on the back of a USED ENVELOPE when I registered my flatbed trailer. You couldn't even read the handwriting, but he didn't give it a second look.
 
(quoted from post at 22:17:04 03/01/12) A farmer from Neb.came into Ia with a ton pickup pulling a gooseneck tandem axle trailer to pickup a 4320 near Iowa City.Before he even loaded he was stopped and charged $521 for no DOT#,log book,medical card and put out of service.In order to continue with his wife driving he had to get legal by hooking the trailer to his rear hitch so it became a bumper hitch and wasnt a problem to the DOT officer.This sounds crazy to me but according to seller of tractor it did happen.Is this possible as I thought Iowa had put these laws on hold?I guess if it would have been me I would fight it.

That story does have SOME credibility, right up to the point where the DOT officer told him to hitch a GOOSENECK trailer to the BUMPER hitch, and then saying the MAN could not drive, but his wife COULD?

I think there must be a whole lot more to that story than what was told.
 

I agree, Rusty. If the combination with the goose neck was over 26000 lbs, it was still over as a bumper hitch. So if his wife had a CDL, why wasn't she driving to start with. Sounds like the story had a lot added to the original story. Maybe he was a truck driver that spent a lot of time in the truck stops?
 
Friends tell me that Iowa is now a good state to stay out of..DOT is out to get all the money that they can..
 
He nor his wife had a CDL I am repeating was was told to me by an honest seller who is well over 70.I probably should not have even bothered to ask about it as it seems like a wild story.If you want the name of seller you can call me and I will give you his #.I just thought it seemed like a total rip-off that could be discussed.
 
There is no such thing as a "private" gooseneck in Iowa, apparently.

If you tow a gooseneck you must be automatically commercial.

Wife probably had to drive because the husband was put out of service for not having a log book or a CDL.

If the story is true, the DOT cop did them a HUGE favor by letting them use these loopholes to continue on down the road.
 
(quoted from post at 11:25:19 03/02/12) There is no such thing as a "private" gooseneck in Iowa, apparently.

If you tow a gooseneck you must be automatically commercial.

Wife probably had to drive because the husband was put out of service for not having a log book or a CDL.

If the story is true, the DOT cop did them a HUGE favor by letting them use these loopholes to continue on down the road.

I LIVE in Iowa. I OWN a gooseneck flatbed trailer, and most of my neighbors OWN gooseneck livestock trailers. NONE are registered for commercial use, and NONE get used for commercial purposes.
 
That's where the DOT officer was a total IDIOT. He turned a simple paperwork issue into a real safety issue. Hooking up a gooseneck trailer to a bumper is totally ignorant. Throws off the balance of the whole load. It puts too much tongue weight on the bumper of the truck and should make it unsafe to drive.I hope he put it back like it was suppose to be when he got back across the state line. I would take this issue to his superiors and see if the whole state DOT are Idiots.
 
(quoted from post at 13:39:28 03/02/12) That's where the DOT officer was a total IDIOT. He turned a simple paperwork issue into a real safety issue. Hooking up a gooseneck trailer to a bumper is totally ignorant. Throws off the balance of the whole load. It puts too much tongue weight on the bumper of the truck and should make it unsafe to drive.I hope he put it back like it was suppose to be when he got back across the state line. I would take this issue to his superiors and see if the whole state DOT are Idiots.

From Iowa City back to the Nebraska state line would be over 200 miles. There just ain't no way a gooseneck trailer setting on a bumper hitch would make it that far.
 
I LIVE in Iowa. I OWN a gooseneck flatbed trailer, and most of my neighbors OWN gooseneck livestock trailers. NONE are registered for commercial use, and NONE get used for commercial purposes.

I'm not sure what this has to do with the discussion... You live in the state, and fall under whatever agricultural exemptions there may be.

Anyway, it is just a theory. You'd know better than I because you live in Iowa.

It's the only plausible explanation... In Iowa, out-of-staters pulling goosenecks are automatically commercial regardless of the nature of their travel in the state.

You have to admit it is not the most asinine thing you've heard regarding DOT regulation...
 
(quoted from post at 14:34:42 03/02/12)
I LIVE in Iowa. I OWN a gooseneck flatbed trailer, and most of my neighbors OWN gooseneck livestock trailers. NONE are registered for commercial use, and NONE get used for commercial purposes.

I'm not sure what this has to do with the discussion... You live in the state, and fall under whatever agricultural exemptions there may be.

Anyway, it is just a theory. You'd know better than I because you live in Iowa.

It's the only plausible explanation... In Iowa, out-of-staters pulling goosenecks are automatically commercial regardless of the nature of their travel in the state.

You have to admit it is not the most asinine thing you've heard regarding DOT regulation...

Yes, it is asinine, which is why I already mentioned that I think we don't know the whole story.

Just for the record, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri pretty much honor the laws from the other states, so If I'm legal in Iowa, I'll be legal in Nebraska and Missouri also.
 
I think about half the story is made up.
If I guy was picking up a 4320, chances are it was a tandem dual gooseneck with 20,000 GVW. That means it requires a CDL to pull it, unless he was pulling it with an S10 or Ford Ranger with under 6000 lbs GVW (stupid laws)
Hooking it on the bumper still makes it 20,000 GVW and still requiring a CDL.
Pulling a 14,000 GVW trailer is ok for personal use, unless your dually pickup is over 12,000 GVW.
 
Best thing to do is NOT go in to Iowa with a trailer. BTDT. Iowa DOT guys give the state its two names. In Mo. Iowa means one of 2 things around here- I Oughta Went Around or Idiots Out Walking Around.
 
Wish I had not posted this but stranger things have happened.I had a neighbor that had an older pickup and never drove fast.Right on the county road by our farm where I was planting corn the Hiway Patrol had him stopped and then another tropper showed up.His old truck took off and then came back at the fastest I had ever seen it go leaving a stream of smoke.He had been ticketed for 87MPH and it would only go 69. He was in his 70s and was a past state wresting champion and had a short fuse so I am sure he voiced his opinion.The ticket went to court and was thrown out .So dumb things can and will happen.This DOT deal has been a hot topic and I had my farm semis commercially licensed to haul seed for many years so I am aware of what happens some times.I actually asked a DOT officer what I needed to be legal with my F-350 w/32ft dual wheeled tandem axle 22000 GVW trailer and he actually could not tell me.I know I fall into the commercial category and have a CDL and med card but until I know for sure I will continue to use my farm truck to haul my farm tractors and continue to drive by the scales back to my farm stead.
 
First thing is to be a legal as you can and not worry about it. I'v been hauling antique tractor to pulls for 12 years and only stopped once. As long as you stay on a federal hwy you go under federal law, its when you go so many miles is where you come under state law. We had DOT inspections at a farm show in Pa this past January and no one I know got ticketed for no DOT #. You don't and I repeat don't need a Dot # if your not hauling for money. If your over 26000 you need a class A license and a Med card. NO DOT# and no fuel sticker. I keep all my bill of sales in the truck to show that its my tractors just in case but i'v never been asked. Each DOT officer has a different opinion and I don't beleive knowone has got the gov. to stop all of this bull_______ nad make some rule that is black and white.
 
(quoted from post at 14:28:07 03/03/12) First thing is to be a legal as you can and not worry about it. I'v been hauling antique tractor to pulls for 12 years and only stopped once. As long as you stay on a federal hwy you go under federal law, its when you go so many miles is where you come under state law. We had DOT inspections at a farm show in Pa this past January and no one I know got ticketed for no DOT #. You don't and I repeat don't need a Dot # if your not hauling for money. If your over 26000 you need a class A license and a Med card. NO DOT# and no fuel sticker. I keep all my bill of sales in the truck to show that its my tractors just in case but i'v never been asked. Each DOT officer has a different opinion and I don't beleive knowone has got the gov. to stop all of this bull_______ nad make some rule that is black and white.

If they did put it in black and white, they couldn't make any money because everyone would run legal.
 
(quoted from post at 12:28:21 03/03/12)
(quoted from post at 14:28:07 03/03/12) First thing is to be a legal as you can and not worry about it. I'v been hauling antique tractor to pulls for 12 years and only stopped once. As long as you stay on a federal hwy you go under federal law, its when you go so many miles is where you come under state law. We had DOT inspections at a farm show in Pa this past January and no one I know got ticketed for no DOT #. You don't and I repeat don't need a Dot # if your not hauling for money. If your over 26000 you need a class A license and a Med card. NO DOT# and no fuel sticker. I keep all my bill of sales in the truck to show that its my tractors just in case but i'v never been asked. Each DOT officer has a different opinion and I don't beleive knowone has got the gov. to stop all of this bull_______ nad make some rule that is black and white.

If they did put it in black and white, they couldn't make any money because everyone would run legal.

If it was in black and white, there would be no need for lawyers either.
 
I don't know if the story is true or not. But I do know that IDOT and the Highway Patrol are on a major "fund raising" project. I've seen the commercial enforcement working on Sundays, scales open more than ever, troopers working in teams on interstate speed traps, even saw one hiding behind a grove clocking, and nailing, cars as they came over a hill last night.
 
(quoted from post at 14:04:54 03/03/12) I don't know if the story is true or not. But I do know that IDOT and the Highway Patrol are on a major "fund raising" project. I've seen the commercial enforcement working on Sundays, scales open more than ever, troopers working in teams on interstate speed traps, even saw one hiding behind a grove clocking, and nailing, cars as they came over a hill last night.

Iowa does traffic enforcement "waves". The waves take place everywhere in the state, all at the same time. If you are breaking the law, you will get nailed. If you are obeying the law, you have nothing to worry about.
 
Yup, the STEP program. But that usually happens around holidays and they say it is geared more towards "safety", plus it's usually well publisised by media outlets. But they have really been hammering everybody since the first of the year. Coincidentaly, the fines have skyrocketed and they implemented the everpopular points program for the commercial drivers and insurance rates at the same time.
 
was this a business / commercial haul, or a guy driving to pick up his own personal property he had just purchased?

I thought you didn't need dot # med card, and CDL to haul your stuff on your private truck / trailer, if not commercial, and not for hire/business.

I've run all over the lower southeast and west with my f450 and gn trailer... I cruise on by weigh stations and all.. no cdl.. no dot number.. not for hire.. under 26000.. etc.

never once been challanged... I would for sure move out of a state that started doing stupid communist stuff like that....
 
(quoted from post at 18:40:04 03/03/12) was this a business / commercial haul, or a guy driving to pick up his own personal property he had just purchased?

I thought you didn't need dot # med card, and CDL to haul your stuff on your private truck / trailer, if not commercial, and not for hire/business.

I've run all over the lower southeast and west with my f450 and gn trailer... I cruise on by weigh stations and all.. no cdl.. no dot number.. not for hire.. under 26000.. etc.

never once been challanged... I would for sure move out of a state that started doing stupid communist stuff like that....

What is the GVWR of that F450? What is the GVWR of your trailer? Add those 2 together to arrive at the GVCWR. If that sum is still 26,000# or less, you're good to go. But if that sum is 26,001# or greater, you need a CDL.
 
As answered it was his own truck,trailer,and picking up supposedly his own tractor.I talked to the seller again and he said the man and DOT officer got into a heated exchange.A pickup with a large bumper hitch camper rolled by prompting the bumper hitch debate.I would quess after they got going again the smart thing would have been to hitch it back where it belonged.As posted I shouldnt of even repeated this episode but I believe right or wrong it did happen and I was wondering what people thought.I sure found out.I do know even though it is black and white there are many interpretations of the requirements relating to NOT hauling commercially.My self I have an F-350 with a 32 tandem axle trailer ,have a CDL,med card,proper insurance ,but no #s,and until I am told different I am going by keep right on doing what I am doing and not ask for trouble and not go out of state anymore.
 
There are a number confusing and unclear areas related to the need for CDL.
One of them is the term "commercial". That means to some that if they are only hauling their own stuff (or lying about it), or they are not in the business of trucking, then the rules do not apply to them.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The rules and laws are established to help make our roads safer. It has to do with the COMBINED WEIGHT RATING of the vehicle or rig (truck and trailer of any size)
So, no matter what excuse you use to try to get out of CDL rules if you are over 26,001 LBS combined RATING, you are still a liabilty if your rig goes out of control, brakes fail, you go to sleep at the wheel, etc.
If it is your loved ones that get maimed or killed by a truck driver in an accident that was not properly licensed, your approach to this would be 180 degrees!
By the way, even if the accident is not your fault, if they find that you are not properly licensed, you will be suied and lose a lot of hard earned money.
It is just not worth the risk. The required minimum one million dollars in insurance does not go very far when ambulance chaser lawyers get involved, and they will.
Hire someone to haul your stuff that requires a rig in CDL territory.
 
no cdl here, no # and no med card.. just my 1.5t and gn.. under 26k and have heard as many different stories from dot as times Ihave asked.

sad...
 

This a scan from my MI guide.

Note the last paragraph

6259.jpg
 
Sounds like you might have a difference from Iowa. In Iowa, if you're hauling to a contest or show of any kind where you could win any sort of compensation or prize money, you're commercial.
 
There is an exemption for commodities in Ia. If you're a producer hauling your own commodity to market within the state, you are exempt from having a CDL. You still need to pass an annual inspection for vehicles 10,001lbs and heavier.
 
Bumper hitch or gooseneck makes NO difference in determining private or commercial in Iowa. Unhooking the trailer from the bed and putting it on the bumper? Is that even possible? I highly doubt a bumper hitch is going to take the load of a fully loaded gooseneck. I call BS on that part of the story. The wife being allowed to drive with no CDL logbook med card after the man was put out of service? I call BS on that one too.
Iowa uses federal regs for in state regs. If the guy bought the tractor to take back to Ne to farm with, commercial regs apply. Having specifically asked and been shown what the regs are for commercial, it's not too tough to figure it out. If you have a trailer hooked to your truck, and you're over 10K, the following applies: If you're hauling the tractor to do work for pay or the furtherance of a commercial operation (farm), commercial regs apply. If you're hauling a tractor to a show or contest where you will be competing for prize money, or have a sponsor paying part or all costs involved, you're commercial.
If you're hauling your tractor to a show, you won't be winning any sort of compensation, you have no sponsor helping pay for anything, you aren't showcasing your restoration abilities for hire, not advertising you and your tractor for hire, you're private and commercial regs do not apply. You still must comply with safety regulations. The power unit (truck) must be registered for the weight of the truck and however much weight that the loaded trailer adds to the truck, NOT the total weight of the complete vehicle. You cannot excede the gross combined weight for the vehicle as stated on the vehicle specification plate. Trailers over 10K capacity must pass a yearly inspection.
A quick call to Motor Carrier Enforcement is all you need to do to find out what you need to be legal.
 
Iowa does traffic enforcement "waves". The waves take place everywhere in the state, all at the same time. If you are breaking the law, you will get nailed. If you are obeying the law, you have nothing to worry about.

In a perfect world, maybe. But in our world the cops don't know the laws. Not that they are stupid, the transport laws are just so convoluted that nobody has a real clear understanding of them - and if you do they change them the next year!

It took me multiple days of trips to the local state hwy patrol office and it took them contacting the state headquarters to determine if there was a farm exclusion. The local DMV was telling farmers that they HAD TO be CDL, have USDOT nubers and informed the state boys to pull over and ticket ALL farm plated trucks if they didn't! They were wrong and I have a copy of the statutes to show that. Thanks to the efforts of the local highway patrol.
 
Indiana is the same way farmers don't need a Cdl as long as they don't haul for hire. There is one exception if you hauling enough hazardous materials requiring placarding you need a CDl and this includes everybody.
 
soundguy,

I am curious as to what rating your GN trailer and F-450 are if it places you under 26,001?
Not trying to stir the pot, I am looking for a rig that will haul some weight and still be under CDL total weight rating.
 
Ever thought about this one? If you are a farmer and have the exemption and decide to load your tractors and go to a tractor pull,are you legal,or is it against the law for farmers to have a hobby?
 
You should have no problem because your hauling your own tractor and your not doing it for hire.Hope I'am not stepping on somebodies toes but it depends how bright cop is that might stop you.
 

tried to reply to your other thread but couldn't for some reason.. board kept hanging??

gn is 14k and I'm under 26k total.

soundguy
 
It really doesn't answer all the questions because the states have come along and written laws that override the federal laws and the DOT cops are judge,jury and executioner on the side of the road. Most people won't question them because of being redtagged. If a few good people would haul them into court and let the judge decide, a lot of this crap would stop.Once you win sue them for down time,towing and storage bills. I know of more than one occasion where then DOT cops have lost.Most people think it is just easier to pay the fine.
 
FWIW, have seen ESTIMATES that on a national basis, of 100 charges/tickets levelled by Federal/state/local DOT's, about 90 are uncontested to the tune of about $600 each; about 4-5 are contested UNsucessfully for around $2k each including attorney fees; the rest are contested sucessfully/dismissed for about $1k attorney fees.
Interestingly there seems to be a potential discrepancy as to what dollar value the DOT considers income/compensation versus what the IRS rules define.
 

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