Farm Truck Registration

[captaincrab55]

While commuting back and forth to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I constantly saw carpenters, concrete workers, and landscapers with farm tags on their trailers and trucks. On an average day, it was not unusual to see at least 10, and my guess is around a large construction site there were probably many more. The non-farm use was blatant and clear. I just think that officers are overwhelmed with much more critical issues than enforcement during morning and afternoon rush hours. As a matter of fact, I'm convinced that farm tag enforcement in the DFW area is not high priority at all.

I've been observing Farm Tags for about 50 years (give or take a year or two), since riding along with a neighbor farmer going to the wholesale produce market... During that time farm I only observed 2 Farm Tag violations in Maryland... Once was a 4X4 with a snow plow (plowing snow) and the other was pulling a chipper for a tree trimmer (hurricane).. Both were operating @ a time when the Governor had declared an emergency.. Most likely one could get away with it during an emergency..

About 13 years back, I had an in for a 1 Ton Dump, 4X4, snow plow, & salt spreader... I checked into a Farm Tag and one needed 5 or more acres to qualify, which I have... Also found out that under 26,000lbs one didn't need a drivers license and if I recall right, they just needed to be 14 or older.. Checked with my Ins Agent (Nationwide) and my agent never had that request before for a Farm Tag... She called her Home Office and had a quote in a few days... It was reasonable, but I decided I didn't have enough use for it with a Farm Tag and commercial Ins to plow snow was out of sight... After I passed on the truck, I had reason to talk with may Ins Agent again... She ask about the Farm Tag and I told her that my 15 year old son could of driven the truck without a license.. She found that hard to believe and checked it out.. She reported her findings to the home office and less than a year latter they ceased coverage on vehicles with Farm Tags... They found out that even a person with a suspended license could still drive a vehicle with a Farm Tag up to 26,000 lbs..

That's my limited experience with Farm Tags in Maryland...

 

[Duffster]

A Texas car drivers license allows one to drive a vehicle up to 26,000# and pull up to 10,000# trailer.
A Texas class B license allows one to drive a vehicle over 26,000# and pull up to 10,000# trailer.
A Texas class A license allows one to drive any vehicle and pull a trailer over 10,000#.

The way you have it worded makes it sound like you can't tow over 10k with a standard drivers license.

 

[two_bit_score]

Farm Truck


http://www.txdot.gov/txdoteforms/Ge...eportError.jsp&configFile=WFServletConfig.xml

The key language is "...and for other necessities of the home and family."

Pretty broad.

 

[two_bit_score]

While commuting back and forth to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I constantly saw carpenters, concrete workers, and landscapers with farm tags on their trailers and trucks. On an average day, it was not unusual to see at least 10, and my guess is around a large construction site there were probably many more. The non-farm use was blatant and clear. I just think that officers are overwhelmed with much more critical issues than enforcement during morning and afternoon rush hours. As a matter of fact, I'm convinced that farm tag enforcement in the DFW area is not high priority at all.

One thing I saw recently in Austin was a 3/4 ton truck with magnetic signs on the side advertising " Concrete Contractor" with the bed full of work tools and well used forms, several guys in the truck looking like they had been doing concrete work. The truck had 'handicaped tags'.

 

[wsp617]

Hey guys, I don't live in TX and I have never been in TX. However, I've been a State Trooper in WI for 20+ years. I don't know how the TX statute reads so it's best to ask one of the TX DPS people.

In WI you cannot have a farm plate unless you farm?ERIOD. Having acreage doesn't mean squat. YOU have to farm it. I own 86 acres and the open land is rented to a local farmer. He's a farmer...I am not. Secondly there are restrictions. In WI farm plates cost 25% of what everyone else pays (it's actually less because farm plates haven't gone up in price in over 10 years). But because they're cheap plates they are also "restricted use plates". In WI, a farm truck under 38,000 may be used for personal/private use IF the primary use is farming. However, one CANNOT use a truck with farm plates for a non-farm occupation. And yes I do drive through the parking lots to look for farm plates. Trucks registered at 38K or more can only be used for farm use. Trailers with farm plates may only be used for farm use.

If the farm truck is over 26,000, the operator does not need a CDL, providing the operation is in the normal course of an agricultural operation. BE CAREFUL IN THIS AREA GUYS! Federal standards put the threshold for a CMV at 26,000 LBS. If you operate a truck that is over that you need a CDL. Yes, you are exempt if you are a farmer and it's a farm operation. If you borrow your brother's truck to haul some gravel for your driveway, you're not exempt just because it has farm plates. It's not a farm operation! We have cited 吐armers hauling scrap metal to the scrap yards for not having a CDL. Hauling scrap is NOT a farm operation.

The other big one guys don't under stand is the alcohol violations in a CMV. In WI (and most other states are the same), you cannot have ANY alcohol in your system and operate a CMV (26,001 LBS or more). A farmer is exempt from having a CDL to drive the truck. However, he's still operating a CMV. There is no exemption for that part of the law so therefore he must maintain absolute sobriety. The threshold for OWI in a CMV is .04 and not .08.

If you have questions on this issue, ask someone that knows. Laws do vary from state to state so it痴 difficult at best to paint with a broad brush. Over the years guys I致e stopped have told me that 展ell, Jim told me it was OK? Then I ask, is Jim痴 name going to be on the ticket, or yours.

In WI farm plates are DIRT CHEAP. They pay $45 for 2 years of registration for a 12,000 LB farm plates. I pay $106 for one year for 8,000 LB truck plates. Makes it tempting to cheat

 

[two_bit_score]

wsp617,
I'm not sure it's always so much "cheating" as it is a difference of opinion about what one might be doing at any given time when operating a vehicle with 'farm plates'.

Obviously there are some restrictions on 'farm plates' as there should be since there is a difference in the cost and that difference is intended to benefit someone who is actively engaged in agriculture within the definition of the statute.

I haven't looked up the Wis. statute wsp617 (is that your badge number?) but there is a lot of hair splitting when it comes to the interpretation of some of these statutes by people who write the tickets. Some people just seem to get a charge out of being a little more 'feather legged' than most others. From your comment about looking thru parking lots for farm plates and the overall tone of your post I'd say you are probably one to put a real fine point on your interpretation.

 

[Duffster]

Hauling scrap is NOT a farm operation.

How is it not?

How is it any different then haulin grain or livestock or trash?:confused2:

T

you cannot have ANY alcohol in your system and operate a CMV (26,001 LBS or more). The threshold for OWI in a CMV is .04 and not .08

Don't you contradict yourself here?

 

[wsp617]

There are two different violations in the alcohol arena. One is what's called Absolute Sobriety (AS) and the the other is OWI. The violation for AS is less severe. You can be arrested for OWI at a alcohol level of .04 if operating a CMV. The same laws apply to truck drivers.

As far as the "cheating" comment, that refers to people that maybe register their truck with farm plates that don't quailify for farm plates. Or they are farmers that work off the farm as well and drive to their non-farm job with their farm plated truck. Not sure about other states, but in WI, the law is pretty clear.

I guess I'm confused on why you think hauling scrap is considered a farming operation. In WI it's NOT considered farming. You're allowed to to clean up your farm and take that scrap to the scrap yard in a truck with farm plates. However, if the truck is big enough (over 26K), you need a CDL to operate it as scrap metal is not a farm comodity.

As far as me driving through parking lots, how else do you catch these people? I've "caught" many people over the years doing this. My standard operation is I leave a note/warning on their windshield explaining to them that they are in vioation. On the note is printed the state statute. I'll drive by and see if they drove back to work. VERY RARELY do they do it again. Most people are fully aware that it's a violation. I've driven by people's places after leaving notes on their trucks. I found several where there was no farm at all. Just a trailer house and a garage in a field. It's people like that that short the State of WI. When that happens, the rest of us pay the difference.

 

[TRR]

The way you have it worded makes it sound like you can't tow over 10k with a standard drivers license.

That is correct - for Texas (and Florida). However, other states may be different. For example, if you (as a Texas resident) want to drive a motorhome over 26,000# you must have a Class B license (car type = class C). If you (as a Florida resident) want to drive a 42,000# motorhome all you need is a regular (class E = car type) drivers license. One of the reasons retirees move to Florida. I have not looked into whether a 5th wheel RV trailer is exempt.
----------------------------------
In Texas:

3. Class C driver license permits a person to drive the following vehicles,
except a motorcycle or moped:
a. a single unit vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that is not a Class A
or B; and
b. a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than
26,001 pounds, towing a trailer not to exceed 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that
does not exceed 20,000 pounds.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/DL-7.pdf


In Florida a Class E license is what most people have:

NonCommercial Driver Licenses
CLASS E: Any non-commercial motor vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than 26,001 pounds, including passenger cars, 15 passenger vans including the driver, trucks or recreational vehicles and two or three wheel motor vehicles 50 cc or less, such as mopeds or small scooters. (see below). Farmers and drivers of authorized emergency vehicles who are exempt from obtaining a commercial driver license must obtain a Class E license.

Official Website Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

But an exemption allows someone with a 42,000# motorhome to drive it with a class E license.

Exemption Means the following persons are not subject to the commercial driver痴 license
provisions (Florida law only, other states may differ and exemptions must be verified):
Drivers of authorized emergency vehicles;
Military personnel driving military vehicles;
Farmers transporting supplies, machinery or agricultural products to or from market or
first place of storage or processing, within 150 miles of their farm (must have a Class D
with F endorsement or a current chauffeur痴 license until it expires);
Drivers of recreational vehicles as defined in s. 320.01; and
Drivers of straight trucks as defined in s. 316.003 that are exclusively transporting their
own tangible personal property, which is not for sale.
Farmer Means a person who grows agricultural products, including horticultural products

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/mcco/downloads/policy/04-10_2008-08-08_cdl_enforcement.pdf

 

[Duffster]

I guess I'm confused on why you think hauling scrap is considered a farming operation. In WI it's NOT considered farming. You're allowed to to clean up your farm and take that scrap to the scrap yard in a truck with farm plates. However, if the truck is big enough (over 26K), you need a CDL to operate it as scrap metal is not a farm comodity.

I guess I am confused as why it is not. Does WI explicitly state that scrap can't be hauled from the farm under a farm exemption? Otherwise I don't see the difference between hauling grain or livestock to market, trash to the landfill, manure to the field or scrap to the scrap buyer.