Final word on WI USDOT number

So I did. Well, 2 1/2 hours later and calls to the scales, other inspection officers and several people in the state headquarters an answer was found.

Side note --

The officers at the State patrol were very nice, professional and stuck to the search. Internally, they were conflicted with several differing interpretations. It's funny too, because depending on where you looked, all the interpretations could be correct. Plus the laws are being changed as there is an uproar from the guys between 10,001 and 26,001. So, if you have a Q - Be patient as even the experts may not know and the laws could be in flux.

So, the final answer is that if I get both Farm or "dual purpose Farm" truck plates AND Farm tags on the trailer then I am exempt from the USDOT requirements. Dual purpose Farm tags are stated weight for non-farm and up to 12,000# for farm use. So an 8000# tag is bought, but for farm stuff up to 12,000# (or GVWR of the truck) for no more $. Straight Farm plates are good for up to 38,000# and exempt from CDL and USDOT requirements. They are also about 1/4 the cost of regular plates. Go figure, heavier must be safer....

However, if I was hauling a race car to the drag strip - I would be commercial and would need the USDOT number. They agree that is crazy and they don't go looking to ticket people like that. (Other areas in WI have been!)

So, I will be tagged with the correct FARM plates for truck and trailer VERY shortly.

Side note -

If I didn't declare myself a farm on IRS form 1040, it would be all personal use and would also fall outside of the USDOT requirements. Crazy, and obviously driven by politicians, not the hard working officers I was dealing with. Well hats off to the Officers and a loud Raspberry to the politicians!

jb

WI light truck tags.

Dual purpose farm
Vehicle may not exceed 12,000 pounds gross weight. Issued to a farm truck which may be used for transportation to and from a non-farm occupation. Not issued after November 2004. Replaced by Truck-private carrier.

Dual purpose vehicle
Issued to a motor truck used as a motor home with a slide-in camper unit. Not issued after November 2004. Replaced by Truck-private carrier.

Farm truck
Vehicle may not exceed 12,000 pounds gross weight. May not be used for any non-farm occupation or commuting to and from work.

So per WI web site the dual purpose tags are a thing of the past. Most likely because of the new federal DOT rules. They are replaced by the private carrier tags and private carriers fall under DOT laws.
So you opt out and get a light truck farm tag. That one is only good to 12,000 lbs and I would think that your goose neck behind a 1 ton grosses out at over 12,000 lbs. This tag is also only good for farm use. So this means you need to be a full time farmer because the tag is not good for driving to and from your city job.
So where would you go from here. The heavy farm truck tag?????

I do not know WI law and can only go by the web site; but it seems even some of the people you talked to do not know your laws because it took you over 2 hrs to find a answer. This is the problem with DOT rules. They are not written in a form you can understand; and when the law changes all the officers are not trained in the laws. The other problem is some officers do not believe the new laws are right or just. They choose to over look them to help the small guy out; then you go some where else and get in trouble for something you have been doing for years because it has always been the law any way.

I wish you luck John; but take a piece of advise. Quit dealing with the local DOT (Other areas in WI have been!) and go to the top and talk to the guys in Madison only. Even though your local officer does not enforce some laws (race cars) a accident has a way of attracting the best lawyers.

Oh sure, just when I start to feel good about this! :)

Well, I qualify to get either a Farm or a dual purpose. ( I think the physical plate is no longer issued, they just register it and record keep it differently. A visit to the DMV office will hopefully let me know.)

I don't know that the top guy in Madison will help much either. Remember I contacted the person indicated on the WI DOT page for this issue and was directed to the local troopers by him. A fair bit of time was getting information from Madison, so it isn't like they have the straight stuff either. Plus, the politicians are under pressure from all the "tweeners" - you know guys like me under CDL and Federal but over 10k, so the laws are changing.

The truck will get new tags, the trailer will get new tags. If I am wrong about it and get a ticket anyway - I'll call the helpful troopers as witnesses to at least show the Judge that efforts were made to be legal. I'd be willing to bet that darn few people stop by the station and make the effort that I did!

jb

I feel my views on the subject (just or not) parallel what the DOT is "TRYING" to do with these new laws or enforcement of older laws. That may offend some but I do have my views on the subject.
I feel the DOT is not out to get the little guy as some have said; but rather trying to close a loop hole. The lobbyist and or "tweeners" as you call them will most likely win out as they always do; and the laws will be just as messed up as they always have been.

So lets change the subject and talk about how messed up the government is in other areas; like farm aid. Saw a piece on the news last night talking about how millionaires get most of the aid because they own the right piece of land while the little guy get nothing. Even DEAD millionaires still get farm aid paid to their estate. Now how messed up does the laws need to be to pay aid to DEAD people????? ?? And it is all legal per the Dept of Agriculture.

Just got back from the DMV where for $5 the truck was changed to Dual Purpose Farm. As I suspected, the physical plate is a thing of the past. But the designation is still there. The truck keeps the same plate it ever had, but they printed out a new registration the LT TRK changed over to the short hand for dual purpose Farm.

They recommeded that I wait until Nov when the trailer tags are due as that has to be done via mail and it would mess up the system to try and do it now.

BUT --- ARGH ----!

They were pointed in saying that farmers need a USDOT number, but were trying to tell me that I wouldn't need to do any thing special. No insurance, no logs, no med card, nothing. They even copied a thing that said "Farmers need USDOT Numbers", but that sheet does not reference any of the laws or regulations. Nor could they point me to any applicable laws or regs. But, I do have to say, WI has the nicest people working at the DMV of any state I have ever been in. Still amazes me after 20 years!

jb