Truck almost impounded!

[RRranch]

I'm in Texas and both my F250 and F350 have farm plates and are registered at 38000 pounds. Just FYI. You all just gave me an idea too. I gave up my class A when I got out of the service and I am wanting to get it back now. I got my class A permit and took all the tests and passed I just need to go take the behind the wheel. Problem is the big truck I drive sometimes for a friend, legally with another licensed driver, is oversized and I am not even about to try testing in that thing. I am going to go see if I can do it in my pickup with a 40 foot trailer instead. It is registered for the weight and I know everything on my truck works. The other problem testing in a big truck is the examiner expects me to use the clutch and grinding gears deducts points. The one I drive can not be driven with the clutch. It's a super 10 and cummins engine. I've never ground gears just slipping them like every other truck driver out there.

[Andy's250]

safety is an issue that should always be considered but it seems to me like DOT is more interested in the $ than safety lol

[thumper869]

Originally Posted by 2 stroke man

In KY you could run farm tags (if you farm) or you could run an actual car tag with no set weight on it for personal use. however, farm tags are only good up to 150 miles from either a-your main farm b-over the state line. i have heard both said, and even different DOT officers will tell you different things. but no, you shouldn't need them.

its the same way in tennessee. found out about the state line rule the hard way though. got into some trouble crossing the river into missouri with a load of rice. got shut down at the weigh station by the troopers there. everything worked on the truck just didn't have my class A. it prob didn't help that i weighed in at 110,000 but how was i supposed to know the guy with the grain cart overloaded me while i was sittin in the truck waitin to roll the tarp over the trailer. it was a 40' double hopper bottom.

they'll stick it to you when they can but they let us off that day just called a guy with a class A got him to come up in a pick-up. what they don't know is i followed him to the grainery in caruthersville then i drove it back to the farm.

another deal with farm trucks gotta be careful on. if its a farm use tractor and you use it to haul a lowboy with a track-hoe or dozer make sure everything works. troopers don't care if its for farm use or not its an instant ticket. had a cracked tail light lens on the lowboy and got some kind of fine for it and for not havin the track-hoe chained down. we were movin two miles down a backroad from the shop to a field we were farmin. i guess its no excuse but it was a straight shot no turns or nothin. and its so flat here you can see a dog run away for 3 days.

make sure you have the right weight capacity boomers on the tie down chains. thats an infraction as well. once you go above a certain weight of what your chainin down you have to use ratchet type boomers. got a ticket for that movin a 14,000 lb. boom lift.

[thumper869]

Originally Posted by RRranch

The other problem testing in a big truck is the examiner expects me to use the clutch and grinding gears deducts points. The one I drive can not be driven with the clutch. It's a super 10 and cummins engine. I've never ground gears just slipping them like every other truck driver out there.

when you test for your class A are you runnin bob-tail or do you have a trailer with you? the truck i drive for the farm has a 10 speed in it and if i'm runnin bob-tail or with an empty grain trailer i only use 4 and sometimes 5 of my gears cause i don't really need the rest of em unless i'm loaded.

the reason i ask is cause i've been studyin the book on gettin my class A and been lookin at getting it. i'm just a little leery cause here in TN even if your in your regular everyday truck if you get pulled over and get a ticket driving school isn't an option cause you have the class A on your license. you have to pay the fine

[redone1]

I've been pulled over 3 times this month! And nothing but 2 written warnings. The third is was the local town cop screwing with me. But one time pertains to this situation.

I was pulling a company trailer with my own truck and State Police got me making a delivery. What the really got me on was that I A. Didn't have a log book (which I forgot at the office) B. And had intentions of driving over 110 miles from the business. I thought It was 200. If i knew it was 110 then well I would have side stepped this issue.

BECAUSE i intened to travel beyond 110 miles they also got me on No Medical Card, Operating CMV without inspection on truck and trailer, no DOT numbers and signage for truck. This is because I was going beyond 110 miles. If I deliver within 110 miles, all i need is a log book.

No ticket, just a bunch of warnings. I had to drop the loaded trailer, but he couldn't stop me from driving the truck since it's owned by me and not the company. I could then pick the trailer up after 10 hours from being stopped as long as I had a log book by then.

Our company is going to get DOT rep. out here and have them explain what all we need to do to be legal.

Being pulled over is never fun. Pulled over 3 times in a month and no tickets, I'd say I won the lotery!

[Ken_C]

I've NEVER had a good experience with a cop. maybe its the way I look or maybe its my attitude but they always treat me like dirt. I dont know what it is. I'm always the guy at the airport who gets flagged for Extra security screening... I Never catch a break from them. its BS. yesterday I saw this cop at the donut shop (yes really) she was in uniform but was driving her own truck. she and I happened to get on the freeway going the same direction. she never once signaled any lane change or turn, was out in the left lane TEXTING!!! @ 80mph swerving around trying to look at her phone. of course never got pulled over. and even if she had I doubt she would have had to even explain her piss poor driving. the job of law enforcement officer attracts bullys. people who have this need to get back at the world for their tough breaks. never met one that wasn't an a-hole. so count yourself as lucky definitly.

[2 stroke man]

Originally Posted by RRranch

I'm in Texas and both my F250 and F350 have farm plates and are registered at 38000 pounds. Just FYI.

You all just gave me an idea too. I gave up my class A when I got out of the service and I am wanting to get it back now. I got my class A permit and took all the tests and passed I just need to go take the behind the wheel. Problem is the big truck I drive sometimes for a friend, legally with another licensed driver, is oversized and I am not even about to try testing in that thing. I am going to go see if I can do it in my pickup with a 40 foot trailer instead. It is registered for the weight and I know everything on my truck works.

The other problem testing in a big truck is the examiner expects me to use the clutch and grinding gears deducts points. The one I drive can not be driven with the clutch. It's a super 10 and cummins engine. I've never ground gears just slipping them like every other truck driver out there.

pick up will not work in KY. You have to take it in an air brake truck. and, in ky if you take it in an auto you are only qualified for an auto truck they say... I'm taking it in a 1996 F800 crew cab centurion edition with TVs and all. its air brake, air ride, ect. it is a cummins and a straight six speed, and will be pulling my 25 foot deck over trailer.

[2 stroke man]

oh, and in KY if your EMPTY trailer weighs less than 10,000 pounds you need only a class B, meaning you can take it bob tail or in dump truck.

[kawa]

KEN_C,
I don't know how old you are dude, but you are in need of some deep therapy. You are one angry man. Thanks for the compliment, your not the first to call me an A-Hole.

Rog

[FARM69]

I agree with your Rog...

I wouldn't be pulling that kind of load with a stroker. I know the truck can take it, but I'd feel alot more comfortable/efficent in the semi and a low boy.

In Iowa, you don't have to have a Class A or DOT numbers on the side of your truck/semi if your hauling your own grain/equipment within 100 miles of your home address. I believe this regulation is somewhat similiar to other states as well.

I've got pulled over by a blue jacket before. They typically don't hammer the hopper bottoms to bad around here, but you better make sure you can back up your pre-trip inspection.

What kind of insurance do you have on your truck trailer?

[Ken_C]

Originally Posted by kawa

KEN_C,
I don't know how old you are dude, but you are in need of some deep therapy. You are one angry man. Thanks for the compliment, your not the first to call me an A-Hole.

Rog

luckily we haven't met so present company Excluded.
I'm quite the opposite actually. it is however annoying to see someone who is supposed to be upholding the law completely ignoring it because they're not "on duty" like its some part time deal.

[MLCinNCTX]

Originally Posted by RRranch

I'm in Texas and both my F250 and F350 have farm plates and are registered at 38000 pounds. Just FYI.

You all just gave me an idea too. I gave up my class A when I got out of the service and I am wanting to get it back now. I got my class A permit and took all the tests and passed I just need to go take the behind the wheel. Problem is the big truck I drive sometimes for a friend, legally with another licensed driver, is oversized and I am not even about to try testing in that thing. I am going to go see if I can do it in my pickup with a 40 foot trailer instead. It is registered for the weight and I know everything on my truck works.

The other problem testing in a big truck is the examiner expects me to use the clutch and grinding gears deducts points. The one I drive can not be driven with the clutch. It's a super 10 and cummins engine. I've never ground gears just slipping them like every other truck driver out there.

Most guys around here take the test in a standard cab 1 tton with a tandem dual gooseneck. The combination rates out over 26k and meets the requirements. Here in Texas if you are running over 26,000 with farm tags you need either a CDL or an "exempt" license. The "exempt" license is only good with farm tags, does not cost as much as a CDL, and is not renewed as often as the CDL. Does require the same written and driving test.

[Oversize]

I know we have a few other guys on here that have a class A license, but for those of you who are asking I cant tell you the details regarding farm use but after more than a decade in the trucking industry both managing and driving, I can tell you certain amount about it. Each state has some slight differences in they're testing procedures and standards. Here in CO are the basics most should be pretty much the same everywhere else. A class A is for driving a combination vehicle (truck with 1 or more trailer) with a gross combined vehicle weight rating of 26001 lb or greater. other wise if not a combination but in excess of 26000 lbs example a loaded dump truck a class b is rated. A class c is for a pickup or other light truck used in the transport of hazardous materials in excess of the reportable quantaties limits (in other words it has to be placarded). To get the license you have to have a current DOT physical and pass the written tests, and driving tests. The written consist of a general knowledge combination vehicle and airbrake for the basic. Hazmat, tanker, and double/ triple trailer are additional tests for endorsements. The driving test consists of a vehicle inspection performed and explained in front of the tester, then a skills test consisting of a radom selection of tests by the tester example, parallel parking a tractor trailer on the blind side, serpentine backing (driving backwards around cones like you see tes cars drivin around them going forwards, but doing it with a truck and trailer.) and then a driving test troughout the area approx 20 miles. The truck must have a certain power rating and the trailer must be certain size/ weight or it will be issued a NTT (no tractor trailer) restriction. Also if the airbrake test is not taken there will be an airbrake restriction. Also for the younger crowd the requirements say 18 -21 yr old will automatically receive a restriction k -can only drive intra state meaning cannot leave there home stae in the truck. 21 and over can drive interstate meaning anwhere. Then the general law saws any deliveries within 100 air miles of home port/ office do not require a log book, anything in excess of 100 air mile requires a log book and all licenses and supporting documents be carried at all times. Hopefully this helps.

[CampSpringsJohn]

Hey 2 stroke,

Wish I saw this sooner. As for a DOT#, get a ky only number if you never plan to go out of state. Should business change and require you to go out of state, then you can change the DOT#. The reason is, you will be required to keep much better driving records with a regular DOT#. The feds under homeland security will visit you and ask to see all your records. The reason for this is that you are an inter-state business. You will however, get a visit from someone and they will instruct you as to what you need to do to keep legal. If you never take the truck out of state, stick with the ky DOT#. You will also need a medical card. For your dump truck, I would use regular stickers for the numbers. On your pickup, I would consider getting magnet mount signs. If you ever use your truck for personal use, you don't want those numbers on it, especially if you take it on vacation and such.

You will also find out that having a CDL puts different requirements on your driving status. For example, in ky, the blood alcohol limit is .08 for most folks, .02 if you have a CDL in your personal vehicle, and ZERO if you are behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. That's any vehicle with a DOT number on it. You can get a ticket for DUI by simplying washing your mouth out with mouth wash and getting behind the wheel of a DOT licensed vehicle.

[CampSpringsJohn]

Something else to keep in mind. If you let anybody drive any of your vehicles, they need to have the same license as you. If they don't have a trailer hooked up behind, they may get away with a medical card only. CDL is required for anything above 26,000lbs. Class A CDL required with a trailer over that limit. A medical card is required for anybody driving a DOT numbered truck. No drug test necessary for a basic medical card, but drug test is necessary for a CDL license.

I pull my dot#'s off my truck when I go out of state. So far, those states aren't enforcing anything like they are in ky. My truck is an F-450, 15,000lb vehicle. Anything over 10,000lbs GVWR that is used for work is now required to have DOT#'s, and their operators are required to have medical cards to operate legally in ky. Farm trucks are still exempt though.