DOT issues with S10 Chevy (LONG)

The rules are fairly simple if you break them down. If you are over 10,000 or can weigh over 10,000 lbs and it can be considered a business you need a DOT # in some states and to cross any state lines.

So you can move your grandfathers tractor anywhere you want with any size truck you want. The truck; trailer; and load would have to be in your name or the name of a close family member such as your son. The rig would have to be licensed for personal use and used for this purpose 100% of the time. In other words if your son owned a 2 ton truck that he used in a business that did not need a DOT# because he stayed in the state all the time; You could not borrow this to go out of state even though the move is personal. The truck is a business truck. The place you can get in trouble with bigger trucks out of state; is it is hard to explain that you use a 2 ton truck as your personal grocery getter.

The truck and boat is a business. It is under 10,000 lbs but very close. It is most likely rated at over 10,000 lbs though to account for load weight. And this is a fine line because we are suppose to use rated weight not actual weight. Per the link a few weeks back Ill does not require DOT #'s on in state trucks. So your son could use this rig in the state with no problem. I do not know your state laws but here he would need a in state commercial tag for the truck since it is a business. Now if you ever took the rig out of state you may have problems because it may be RATED at over 10,000 lbs and this would put you into the DOT # class.

Since your son's truck will most likely have a commercial tag you would not be able to borrow it for the grandfathers tractor move because once again the truck is for a business and you will be going out of state; and most likely be over 10,000 lbs with the tractor loaded.

Now the above is the law. BUT if your son's truck looks personal; you could most likely get away with using it with no problems for your tractor move. It is not like they stop ever truck that crosses the state line and ask to see registration and such; unless you plan on going to AZ. Them boys are strict out there. Every car; truck; motor bike; horse; is stopped and inspected before it is allowed in the state.
But if you were in a accident and someone is hurt things may get real sticky when a lawyer finds out the truck is really a commercial truck and you were out of your state with it.

davediehl@hotmail.com

So I fill out the crapp and get one. Fine and dandy.

Get pulled over again, gladly offer up my DOT#. Robocop says I don't need one since the PULLING vehicle is not rated for over 10K even though I had my 12K tandem trailer on, as always.

Those sonsabitches don't know what the law is from one minute to the next so don't feel bad if you can't figure it out.

I went for 25 years and never got a second look. In the past few years I've been caught in their web SEVEN times. Even the local cops have their own DOT inspectors now. We call them fundraisers.
They pick you apart till they get some good fines on you and off you go. My lights and breaks always work but they just continue on till they make something up.

The best thing I can suggest to you is know the law as it affects you and follow it.

A pickup can pull a semi trailer if you can find a safe way to hook it up and still not need a DOT #. It goes by the weight rating of your truck; and hooking a to large trailer did not raise that rating it only cut your load carrying capacity because the trailer weighs so much more.

Now by knowing this you can tell the next officer that ask for a DOT # your truck is not rated for over 10,000 lbs so you do not need one. If he proceeds to write a ticket ask him to call his supervisor on the spot to clear it up.