How do they operate without DOT #'s

Tyler d4c said: The dot told many racers around here that prize money is profit so Click to expand... Correct.

John C. said: I'm supposing that the DOT numbers only apply to commercial vehicles and not Pa Kettle driving his dually with three axle enclosed car trailer carrying the top fueler and all the tools and gear to the next weekend competition? Click to expand... If it was over the gvwr-WSP could get nasty about it.

Tyler d4c said: The dot told many racers around here that prize money is profit so Click to expand... That would be interesting how that works. Guy I share shop space with runs that and has the "private not for hire" on the side of the truck and I know he goes into the States. I mean, is it based off of running a business, or if it's for profit? That's two different things. Also just because someone is racing does not mean they've ever got prize money, or even compete in races where there is prize money. It doesn't make you guilty by association just because of what's in the trailer. It's likely one of those things if DOT things they are right you're getting a ticket, even if you're perfectly legal and you can get rid of it.

suladas said: I find driving a pickup they pay no attention to you , if you have a trailer you get a bit of attention but not much if it looks good. For 7 years I drove past scales open or not with my pickup and never stopped me once and i've never ran weights or name tags on my pickups, even with my 5500 flatdeck they don't care. Unless you're pulling a skidsteer or mini ex, or something really sketchy they have no interest in pickups. Click to expand... That's not true in the state of GA, at least where I live. If they think you're working out of it and it's a 3/4 ton or larger they are going to pull you over. First thing they do is ask you to open the door so they can check GVWR. When I was looking at trucks a few weeks ago I kept finding 3/4 tons with 10,200 and 10,300 etc GVWR....I told that salesman that it was absolute madness. They make the same truck with 10,000 gvwr 'as an option' (at least in Chevrolet). I told him whoever came up with the 10k and change GVWR has never worked in my area. Even if they would've gotten right on the price, and they weren't even close, I told him he couldn't give me the truck. Friend of mine got a ticket for an empty Coke can in the bed of his truck. A Coke can. Insecure load. The Department of Public Safety is completely out of control in GA. And yes they will run you down if you pass the weigh station and they think you are a work truck. I said my next truck would be any color but white, single rear wheel, and 10k or less gvwr. At least I can drive unhooked without fear of being pulled over. I wish we had the same law as Alabama; intrastate under 26k and you aren't under their jurisdiciton. I have to comply with every law an over the road truck does except CDL if I'm less than 26k. Even required to have a valid health card for 10,001 gvwr. Spare fuses, fire extinguisher...the whole lot. And they check. Trust me. They have so many laws it's impossible to not be in violation of something if they pull you over, if they want to give you a ticket. And our guys must be on commission. Friend of mine got grounded with a 1 month old van trailer they said the manufacturer didn't use the right color for an air line or an air fitting or something. Grounded. This company has a fleet of 50+ trucks and however many trailers. That ticket is going to court; but the trialer is grounded until it'd resolved.

people will try anything to skirt the law.

Willie B said: I never have. In VT no one has ever suggested they are needed. I'm a small scale user, but the subject has never come up. I did hear a fellow crossing into NY with a log truck in a snow storm. State cop cited him for license plate unreadable in snow, license plate light not working, (covered in snow) & his door numbers covered in snow. This fellow has a temper, but kept himself in control that day. He went to court & appealed his $2200. fines & won. Click to expand... In my area of NH Vermont is known to have a vigilant DOT Presence, I purchased an excavator in Montpelier, rather than take my dump truck and tag trailer over there I hired a VT lowbed.

It's works till it doesn't. You just have to drive past the wrong dot to get a big ticket and then you will have numbers on the side. You only need dot numbers if your a motor carrier, you don't have to be if you don't go out of state. Dot pulled over dullay trucks with trailers more than semis because those people don't know how to secure a load like a trucker does, so keep them srw and a f250. Pretty much all f250's are 10k or less, most f350s are 10k+, always buy a f250 over a f350. If I had to run log books I'd have to log a 10k+ pickup because it's always driving commercial. I would be supposed to log a f250 with a trailer because it's over 10k at that point, running commercial. They will get bit eventually

I was registered to run only Intrastate (working within 150 mile radius of home) not Interstate and was required to have dot #s. If I wanted to go out of state or longer distance I had to buy a 3 day permit from my home state, Fl.

Edit: If I wanted to travel out of state I had to buy a 3 day permit from that state.

Truck Shop said: people will try anything to skirt the law. Click to expand... The thrill is real.

Hallback said: The thrill is real. Click to expand... The red flags it throws with DOT, usually is just the start.

Truck Shop said: The red flags it throws with DOT, usually is just the start. Click to expand... Ya, I hear that!! I'm looking in to doing some low bedding from Washington to Idaho and Montana but haven't the 1st clue where to start with being legit on that.

Check with Idaho, Montana DOT. They will tell you what you need.

Hallback said: Ya, I hear that!! I'm looking in to doing some low bedding from Washington to Idaho and Montana but haven't the 1st clue where to start with being legit on that. Click to expand... Night time night time oh and some night time

pilot car travels WAY out there to see if the scales are open

Y'all ever hear a lil tune from Bob Seger?

This day and age any and all violations--insurance rates take a hike. Pushing the limit/running a scale just ain't wise. I did it some years ago, like over 40 years ago. Wasn't good then and sure as hell isn't now.

Willie B said: CDL licenses require the driver to attend school to learn to drive before they can test. Click to expand... (I think) Once upon a time didn't you need to be able to read, understand and speak the English language?

RollOver Pete said: (I think) Once upon a time didn't you need to be able to read, understand and speak the English language? Click to expand... It's still that way unless your a Well I'm going to shut up cause of forum rules

I'm happy for my current limited exposure and for exiting the business soon. It does not get less complicated.