The facts about hauling tractors and DOT regs.

[lazyuniondriver]

I personally don't know the how and why TN residents were originally allowed registration plate exemption, but maybe it stems from this:

TN has a unique plate marketing strategy. TN trailer plates for commercial trailers are permanent. Permanent meaning one purchase fee, one time, never expiring.

If your company has a branch office or terminal in TN, you can legally plate your entire trailer fleet in TN.

Millions of commercial trailers are registered in TN albeit a one time fee, TN makes money on the volume. This saves fleet operators tens of thousands per year on annual registrations they would have paid in other states, like where the main office is located.

I always assumed since millions of out of state TN plates are issued because of the "TN branch office" they are able to pass the windfall along to the states' residents from large fleet operator spending at the license bureau.

On another note, I was party to a conversation between a scalemaster and a TN resident at the Bland, Va. scale advising the TN resident he needed to register and permanently plate any non comm trailer for out of state use. The guy was detained after crossing the scale by mistake (thought he had to) while hauling personal items on an unregistered trailer. He was still there when I left.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Mo. also has a law that so long as the tow vehicles lights are not obstructed they do not have to be on trailer. Another one they also have is that if it is manufactured, the same lights as the manufacturer installed have to be installed and working.

[whosthere]

I am in Virginia and I haul my M and others to shows. I have a an International 1600 flat bed truck and deckover equipment trailer. Everything is licensed and legit. The truck is under 26,000 lb . I travel up to 150 miles several times a year hauling my junk to shows. The sole purpose of my International is just for hauling to shows. I spoke to a State trooper and he told recommended to me that I place a "NOT FOR HIRE" decal on the truck and I should not be hasseled. He also told me with the truck labled as "NOT FOR HIRE" that I legally do not have to stop at weight stations although it might get the attention of the troopers.

[Matt Kirsch]

Ok a question going further on this

"Okay... FEDERAL motor carrier safety regulations ONLY apply to units that BOTH

1. weigh over 10,000lbs singly or in combination "

I have a 2000 f-250 with a GVWR of 10,000 and GCWR of 20,000. I pull a trailer with a weight rating of 10,000. So how do I fall within the federal statutes. My truck/trailer/cub combo easily breaks 10,000. ( Diesel crewcab and a heavy duty trailer with brakes on both axles help).

From my thinking as long as the truck does not gross over 10,000, and the trailer does not gross over 10,000 keeping my gross combined weight under 20,000, and I'm not hauling commercially or for compensation. And as long as I'm legal for lights and load being restrained/tied down.

Would this be ok legally?

Thanks

Hank

"10,000lbs singly or in combination" specifically means the total weight of everything that moves when you put the transmission in gear and push the gas pedal. That is, truck, trailer, and load.

You can be over 10,000lbs total, but as long as you're not hauling for compensation, you are okay.

The problem arises in what's considered compensation. Some states consider trophies as compensation.

[Jason (IL)]

I have my 1 ton truck and 14,000 lb trailor I take to shows. I was pulled over once by a County Sheriff and I was told I needed a CDL for my rig since I was 30,000 lbs. I checked into it and found I was safe only those over 30,000 need that. Then I was pulling my 14,000 lb trailor with my 1/2 truck one day and a cop got me and asked for my Safety sticker, I was expired on the trailor, so I got a $75 fine for an expired trailor sticker and a warning to get one on my 1/2 ton truck. My friend is a retired State Police officer and he told me to do all of it to be safe or get a DOT Number which I did. Did not have a good first 6 months with my big trailor. I only bought it to haul my Super M and 450 to shows and I get dinged for not hurting a thing. HA

Good topic glad you posted the info.

Editted for this:
I was thinking of something else I guess, Not 30,000, it is 26,000 #. Where I got that number IDK. Sorry for confussion. I am working on getting my CDL now so I can get a Lowboy. The father in law has 5 trucks he runs daily. So I could borrow one of those for a big show or haul. HAHA

[Matt Kirsch]

30,000lbs? I thought the cutoff was 26,000 for CDL.

In NY the law lets you tow whatever you want as long as the combined registered weight isn't more than 26,000lbs. The loophole there is you can drive a 26000lb truck and tow a 10000lb trailer too.

My truck and trailer are registered underweight, 10000lbs each to save some on the license fees. I haven't come close to hitting my registered weight.

[Dale Shaw]

Here is another kink in all of this. Here in TN I can register a tractor trailer for personal use, and as long as it meets all safety standards (when pulled over) no vehicle inspection is required. If the truck has a sleeper on it, I can register it as a motorhome.

[Buzzard Wing]

Dale gets away with all kinds of stuff with his cheery disposition! The load he had leaving the waller once surely looked a bit like a stack of violations on 10 wheels. Although I did travel close to 2000 miles (and through Canadian and US customs) with the trailer plate on the floor of the truck once.

[Dale Shaw]

LOL Larry.

Dale gets away with all kinds of stuff with his cheery disposition! The load he had leaving the waller once surely looked a bit like a stack of violations on 10 wheels. Although I did travel close to 2000 miles (and through Canadian and US customs) with the trailer plate on the floor of the truck once.

I did get stopped with that load down in the dope de dopes heading into Danville Va.

We talked a bit, turns out he is a Massey Collector. The shoulder is narrow, so he made room in the front seat of his patroll so we could talk about tractors safely.

[danovercash]

In NC I can drive a tandem dump with my "B" CDL, but if a loaded trailer is attached I would need Class "A" CDL.