The following is an edited transcript of an email I wrote to a friend. Hopefully you’ll find some usable information in it.

Question:

What are the rules regarding hauling a trailer on the interstate? if i have a gooseneck, my truck, and a load of hay, do i need permits and logbooks? Even if there is no monetary gain involved? Kelly wants me to bring down a load of hay when i come but i don’t think that legally i can. i doubt i can dodge the scales and police for eighteen hours!!

Answer:

You’re asking a hard question. Without writing a book, here’s my best advice…..

In the late 90’s, the us dot passed regulations that define a commercial vehicle as:

“any vehicle, or combination of vehicles, capable of weighing more than 26,000 lbs.”

So if you have a 3/4 ton pickup with a gross weight of 8,500 lbs, or a 1 ton with a gross weight of 11,500lbs; you’re not considered a “commercial operator”…..

Now hitch a trailer with a gross weight of 17,500 lbs to that 3/4 ton pickup and you’re good to go. Hitch that same trailer to your 1 ton, and you are a commercial operator. Notice that your combination is *not* “capable” of OVER 26,000 lbs. Hitch a 18,000 lb trailer to that same pickup and us dot sees you as “commercial”. Got your cdl and 3/4 million in liability insurance along with dot certificates? Doesn’t matter what your purpose or destination or cargo is. Doesn’t matter that you’re
empty. It based on GROSS weight limitation. There is no federal agriculture exemption that I’m aware of.

Now to the states…..

Most states have ag exemptions. They provide for the hauling of “raw,unprocessed agricultural products” and provide a limited method of avoiding buying commercial licenses and insurance. Because those are state laws, by their very nature, they don’t extend beyond state lines. They also vary greatly from state to state. Texas, for example, doesn’t recognize ag exemptions more than 50 miles from the home farm.

Bottom Line…

If you do it, do it safely. I’ve done (in 2000 or 2001) it without problem or permit. Chances are, a trooper won’t give you a second look. Make sure all safety devices are correct. MUST have operating trailer brakes. Safety chains and ALL LIGHTS working. Max out all tire pressures to the sidewall limit. Carry spare tires. If your pickup spare is hidden under the bed, I’d get it out of there before the trip. I wouldn’t stop at any weigh scales or inspection stations, because you think you’re not commercial. Any ticket you could possibly get won’t be a moving violation, unless you’re speeding, of course. Be very careful when getting into and out of fuel stations. Plan to increase your drive time by at least 40 to 50%. If you normally take 16 hours, it will be 20 or 22 with that loaded trailer. While you might (probably not!) make the same top speed on the highway, it will take much longer to accelerate and decelerate.

Insurance Note:

I’ll bet you think that a trailer hitched to your pickup is covered automatically by the pickup’s entire policy, right? LIABILITY ONLY on the trailer, and that *not* to commercial limits.

Tags: agriculture,commercial_operator,dot,equipment,federal_agriculture,gooseneck,gross_weight,hitch,logbooks,pickup,raw_unprocessed,safety,state_lines,state_texas,ton,trailer,trailers
Categories: Farm and Field