Posted 2016-08-08 2:40 AM (#167948) Subject: Towing with a Flatbed
Is anyone else on here towing with a flatbed? I would like to start towing across state lines, but would like to know if I need to stop at scale houses and what I would need prior?
Running a total of 19K GCVW, The truck weighed in at 10K pds, and loaded trailer at 9K pds.
Posted 2016-08-09 5:08 AM (#167969 - in reply to #167948) Subject: RE: Towing with a Flatbed
Regular
Posts: 88 Location: Washington
drivinglaws.aaaIf you are commercial, it looks like 10,000 GVWR is not uncommon. 8,000 in S. Dakota, 26,0000 in Oregon. As said above, check the laws where you will operate. drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/weigh/stations If you are doing your personal business (non-commercial) they PROBABLY aren't interested.
Posted 2016-08-11 10:13 AM (#167989 - in reply to #167948) Subject: RE: Towing with a Flatbed
Remember you need to stop at almost every state line if you are hauling livestock and there is not place to go once you get into the scales except over the scales so make sure you are under 12.5k for a single axle and under 20k for a set of duals.
Posted 2016-08-15 10:15 AM (#168019 - in reply to #167948) Subject: RE: Towing with a Flatbed
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
You will need to contact your state DOT. In my recent fact hunt I found more bad info than real answers. Bad info ranged from flat beds are commercial, duallys are commericial all the way to if you are on farm business you are exempt from all the weight stuff. I have an aquaintance that runs the local state weight station and she didn't even know about my 350 requiring a CDL if I left the state. Point blank go ask your state DOT, when in doubt go with the US DOT requirements and know the states you'll be traveling through. It's true that troopers could be looking for certain markers (flatbeds, duals, axle count) but that does not make it commercial. No matter how straight you've got your paperwork if a LEO wants to hammer you with tickets they will and you can come back and fight it in court. A better rule of thumb would be to know where problematic areas are for troopers like this and stay away!
In general you are commercial if you are hauling for others, showing, buying or selling. When you add the GVWR of your truck and trailer and it totals to more than 26,001 lbs then you are in need of a CDL per the US DOT. The actual weights don't matter, it goes off truck door sticker and what's on the trailer manufactuer ID plate on the trailer. If you cross state lines you care about US DOT rules.
Posted 2016-08-17 2:06 PM (#168061 - in reply to #167948) Subject: RE: Towing with a Flatbed
peter, more than likely your trailer has tandem axles, not duals like a big rig trailer. The guys in the scale house very rarely look at the weight rating on your trailer instead they go off the FMCS guidelines that say trucks on the road cannot exceed 20K for a set of duals or 12.5 K for an axle with a single tire.
not saying they wont look at the vin sticker ever, just in my experience as long as you are under those axle weights then you are pretty safe, and unless you have a very large trailer you should be fine
btw if you have 16" wheels then your GVWR is more than likely 7K per axle, 14K on both axles, if you have 15" wheels then you more than likely have 3.5K axles.
Posted 2016-08-17 9:39 PM (#168068 - in reply to #167948) Subject: RE: Towing with a Flatbed
According to Kyle Schroeder, DVM of Auburn Veterinary Service in Auburn, Illinois it is a common state law that horses are required to have a current coggins which is a standard blood test within the last year. There are a handful of states that require the coggins to be within the last six months. Besides having a current coggins, horses should travel with a health certificate which certifies that a horse was inspected by a veterinarian in the past 30 days and describes the destination of the animal. Since typically only the larger shows like the World Shows, Quarter Horse Congress and many state fairs are the only ones to check health papers at the gate, many people do not carry health papers when traveling across state lines.
“Even though health certificates are not checked a lot, you are definitely supposed to have them,” Schroeder says. ” You can get stopped by the state police to see health papers and coggins.”
In addition, Schroeder suggests getting to know all the requirements necessary for traveling to the state of your destination to see if an entry permit number is required or if you are required to stop for livestock inspection when entering the state.
“There are some states that do require a permit number for horses to enter,” Schroeder says. “This involves informing the state vet that certain horses will be entering their state, that they were inspected to travel and where they will be traveling to.”
Since each state is different it is important to talk with your veterinarian and to research the requirements for the states you will be crossing through. For example, Florida requires all that horse trailers pull in the Agricultural (AG) Station to have paperwork checked.
A helpful list that outlines what each specific state requires to enter with horses and provides each state veterinarian contact information can be found at www.usrider.org/EquestrianMotorPlan.html
Towing with a Flatbed
