DOT Audit

[LHS Inc]

Got a call from MD DOT for an audit. They didn't want to see my trailer just the truck. Went to the State Police barracks for the audit. Come to find out they didn't look at the truck just asked if I had the numbers posted which I did.

It was basically a paperwork audit. I didn't have anything except my DOT physical card for my Class A CDL.

I was told that I need to keep a daily hour log and not go over 70 hrs. a week without 32 hrs. off. Even tho I have a part-time lawn care business I have to log my hours from the time I leave home until I get back home. Yearly inspection on my Chevy 2500HD truck and 10,000 lb trailer, all maintenance records for the truck to be kept in the truck, and log on to the USDOT website at least once a year.

I know its because of my equipment that put me in the DOT category and I'm all for safety but it seems a bit overkill.

Anybody else have to deal with this on my scale of business?

 

[ultrarunner]

Can you run your business without a commercial vehicle?

Kind of makes me yearn for the days where lots of local small businesses used Station Wagons with non-commercial plates and a trailer...

A painter I knew used his Olds 455 Vista Cruiser Wagon... big enough to load with 4x8 Sheet Rock and pull just about any bumper pull trailer.

A new trend here is contractor using old C Class Motor homes... they gut the inside and have a mobile shop on wheels with a truck chassis.

I started my business with a Plymouth Valiant with a 318 V-8 and disc brakes and towed many a full 1 yard concrete buggy behind it.

Put shelves in where the back seat used to be and a heavy duty roof rack for long goods... No problem hauling all the material needed for 50' of 6' Dog Eared Redwood Fencing... boards, posts, rails and concrete.

 

[DIRTROAD]

Most of the DOT regulations that include pickup trucks into the same category as Tractor-Trailers are utter nonsense.

I've been owning and driving commercial trucks for nearly two decades. It seems as though it gets worse every year and that forces myself and many others to look for alternatives.

Lately, at the grocery store, I've noticed that the bread delivery guys now drive a regular pickup truck and pull a medium size enclosed trailer instead of using the box truck style vehicles to haul bread.

In the long run it all boils down to money!! How the .gov can take it and how we can try to save it!!

 

[LHS Inc]

Can you run your business without a commercial vehicle?

Kind of makes me yearn for the days where lots of local small businesses used Station Wagons with non-commercial plates and a trailer...

A painter I knew used his Olds 455 Vista Cruiser Wagon... big enough to load with 4x8 Sheet Rock and pull just about any bumper pull trailer.

A new trend here is contractor using old C Class Motor homes... they gut the inside and have a mobile shop on wheels with a truck chassis.

I started my business with a Plymouth Valiant with a 318 V-8 and disc brakes and towed many a full 1 yard concrete buggy behind it.

Put shelves in where the back seat used to be and a heavy duty roof rack for long goods... No problem hauling all the material needed for 50' of 6' Dog Eared Redwood Fencing... boards, posts, rails and concrete.

No, I can't. I need the size trailer I have to haul my mowers and my tractor. The funny thing is my trailer is rated for just under 10,000 lbs but to get it tagged the range is 7500 lbs and 10000 lbs there isn't anything in between. I guess it doesn't matter because its combined weight of the truck and trailer and that puts me over.

MD DOT is really busting guys around here for just about anything. Again I'm all for safety but I'm being treated like I'm going cross country in a trac n trailer.

I got the USDOT because there are some equipment dealers in Delaware that I might deal with in the future.

I guess you have to take what you sign up for.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea, nothing about the truck throws a red flag. Heck, even a Ranger or S-10 pulling a trailer and a couple of ZTR's would be put into the same class.

Just the cost of doing business now days.

A few years ago they were cracking down on the mower guys. I made tons of money off this putting brakes on trailers. Here in Indiana anything over 3,000# must have brakes and a brake-away system capable of holding for 15 minutes. Most got a 7/10 day to correct notice. Throw brakes on one axle and have it inspected and were good to go.

They always have a target audience. That year it was commercial mowers, last year it was dump trucks, and next year it will be ?????
Chris

 

[MF 1532]

Illinois is awful . Their latest target were the farmers . USDOT numbers , log books , maintenance records , just like a trucking company . The majority of these trucks run less than 5,000 miles a year . A few years ago , the state allowed sales tax exemption on the heavier licensed pickups . People jumped all over that one . The problem was under that license , your truck was a commercial vehicle , you ran 55 mph instead of 65 mph , safety sticker required , fire extinguisher required , triangles required . So the sales tax you saved was eaten away by these extras and the speeding fine . I don't know what license plates for pickups cost everywhere else , here $106 , just mailed , title and registration $95 .

 

[schoolsout]

I guarantee you they don't look at the big players' log books as hard as they do the little guys...

 

[rasimmo]

Illinois is awful . Their latest target were the farmers . USDOT numbers , log books , maintenance records , just like a trucking company . The majority of these trucks run less than 5,000 miles a year . A few years ago , the state allowed sales tax exemption on the heavier licensed pickups . People jumped all over that one . The problem was under that license , your truck was a commercial vehicle , you ran 55 mph instead of 65 mph , safety sticker required , fire extinguisher required , triangles required . So the sales tax you saved was eaten away by these extras and the speeding fine . I don't know what license plates for pickups cost everywhere else , here $106 , just mailed , title and registration $95 .

A CDL is required to operate the following:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle pulling a trailer if the trailer has a (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.
A vehicle hauling hazardous materials in amounts required to be placarded.

NOTE: A vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in excess of 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds may require a Class D Chauffeur’s license.


I just looked this up for La. According to this I need a CDL to haul my horse trailer. This would include all 3/4 and 1 ton trucks built today. I guess they are not enforcing that too hard, YET.
Does anyone know if you have to go by each state's laws if you are traveling in that state, or is it just the state of registration that matters?

 

[schoolsout]

Pretty sure Bush II changed a law about trucks designed to tow under 19,500# GVWR don't need a CDL. Anything larger that is strictly a tow vehicle does. I want to say this was to address the car haulers popping up all over the place 10 or so years ago.

 

[flyingcow]

I guarantee you they don't look at the big players' log books as hard as they do the little guys...

Well i drive and operate a business with a big rig. They're pretty rough on us. Some states allow operation within a 100 air miles of registered business, you can run a time card. A little easier on the day to day log book. I have a lot of runs that are "100 air mile exemption rule". I can only run 12 hours, overall miles doesn't matter. Just be within a circumference of 100 air miles. Just show start time and end time. In Maine i don't even have to have my card with me. Can be at "office".

 

[flyingcow]

And I agree...it shouldn't be the same if your operating a lawn care business vs a commercial rig. But, it's an easy revenue for the state.

 

[schoolsout]

Well i drive and operate a business with a big rig. They're pretty rough on us. Some states allow operation within a 100 air miles of registered business, you can run a time card. A little easier on the day to day log book. I have a lot of runs that are "100 air mile exemption rule". I can only run 12 hours, overall miles doesn't matter. Just be within a circumference of 100 air miles. Just show start time and end time. In Maine i don't even have to have my card with me. Can be at "office".

I'm saying the big fleet companies aren't scrutinized as much as the little guys...

 

[flyingcow]

Yeah you're probably right. The fleets usually have all the ducks in a row. Especially now alot of them run electronic logs. It's us independents that run a little sloppy on the paperwork. Which is the same with the you guys, they figure you won't have all the paperwork in order. Easy $$$'s, quick stop, etc.

 

[Diamondpilot]

A CDL is required to operate the following:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle pulling a trailer if the trailer has a (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.
A vehicle hauling hazardous materials in amounts required to be placarded.

NOTE: A vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in excess of 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds may require a Class D Chauffeur痴 license.


I just looked this up for La. According to this I need a CDL to haul my horse trailer. This would include all 3/4 and 1 ton trucks built today. I guess they are not enforcing that too hard, YET.
Does anyone know if you have to go by each state's laws if you are traveling in that state, or is it just the state of registration that matters?

This is for hire or commercial operations. There are many exemptions. If it were the case everyone pulling a 5th wheel camper with a 1 ton diesel or a grey hair driving a motor home across the country would be a outlaw.

Chris

 

[strum456]

In PA you can register your trailer at any weight you like as long as it for is equal or lower than the manufacturer rated gvw. For example, my trailer is rated for 10400. I registered it for 10000, so it would not be commercial.

MD is being pretty irrational, if they only let you like drop it to 7500 with no options inbetween. You should write your state representative.

Have you ever tried weighing your trailer, etc. I wonder if you would be better off taking a risk of getting caught over 7500 vs getting busted for all the other crap that comes with a commercial trailer. I doubt you are much over the 7500 anyway.

 

[tcartwri]

As was mentioned, if you are within a 100 mile radius of your business address, you do not have to keep a log book.

 

[whodat526]

A CDL is required to operate the following:
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle pulling a trailer if the trailer has a (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
A vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.
A vehicle hauling hazardous materials in amounts required to be placarded.

NOTE: A vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in excess of 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds may require a Class D Chauffeur痴 license.


I just looked this up for La. According to this I need a CDL to haul my horse trailer. This would include all 3/4 and 1 ton trucks built today. I guess they are not enforcing that too hard, YET.
Does anyone know if you have to go by each state's laws if you are traveling in that state, or is it just the state of registration that matters?

louisiana just past a law last year if you have a dual wheel one ton and pull a trailer you must have a cdl no matter the wieght rating on the tractor. I know a man that got a ticket in his truck pulling a single axle bumper hitch trailer. They have not cracked down to hard yet but they was bad in texas. That is why i got a 3/4 ton when i bought in 09 and am looking for a big truck because if i have to have the cdl to drive the one ton i mine as wheel get a 18 wheeler for what i do.

 

[Diamondpilot]

So much bad info here. Seems to come up weekly. CDL is just that, a Commercial Drivers License. Commercial = for hire.:confused2:

Does not matter if its a 1 ton dually or a Ranger.

Chris

 

[whodat526]

So much bad info here. Seems to come up weekly. CDL is just that, a Commercial Drivers License. Commercial = for hire.:confused2:

Does not matter if its a 1 ton dually or a Ranger.

Chris

i am telling you they are trying really hard in louisiana to make a trailering with a 1 ton considered commercial (no matter what you are doing one of my best friends is a state trooper down here he is the one that informed me of the new law). I dont believe it is right but they are doing it. In Jasper Texas a man i know was pulling a 20ft dual gooseneck trailer with single wheels with his one ton going to nome texas to a auction hauling his personal tractor to sell it his neighbor brother is a state senator and he bales hay for him and the other brother is the warden of angola prision they tried to beat the ticket and couldn't cost the man 1200 bucks when he was done paying. He has Farm Tags. The officer give him a ticket for improper drivers lincense no health card and no log book.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I'm saying the big fleet companies aren't scrutinized as much as the little guys...

Been out of it for four years now but I had run for a well known company hauling their own product with "custom" Ryder long and short term "standard" rentals for two year up until then and that was the rule.

Even during the yearly crack down week, mostly we got waved through. I think I went through one level one during that time frame. I ran computerized logs and only one inspector ever had me get into any detail. Had more hassle from US Customs.

We did have at least quarterly safety meetings and regular randoms including hair samples. No mercy for those that failed the random.