Trailering Laws in your state

thelmanelle · Trailering Laws in your state

The friendly D.O.T. has had this law on the books, but they have never enforced it. Times are changing as revenues are down.

Right now, if you have living quarter with A/C on top, you are okay. But, weight limits are important and the fine is not cheap. So many travel through our state to get to shows, events, etc.

So I will personally have to upgrade my license to a commercial driver's license with my rig and truck.

Here's a email I got about this issue:

To my horse show friends traveling through GA to the Winter Horse shows this just came through my email by a good friend:

I got a call from the retired commercial truck driving instructor at ATC -- a friend I used to work with. He knew **** and I tow horses so he wanted to warn me. Georgia troopers are pulling over horse trailer rigs and ticketing those drivers without a CDL license! (A friend of his had to pay a $500 fine! The state coffers are down apparently.)

Here's the deal: if your truck and trailer combined total more than 26,001 lbs, you have to have a commercial truck license. Look for the GVWR weight on the inside door of the truck and near the VIN on the trailer and add them together.

Small trailers won't be that heavy. Large trailers will (especially if you are pulling with a monster truck like a dually). HOWEVER, if it is a LQ trailer, you can point to the AC on top and tell the trooper it is an RV. This law doesn't apply to RVs (go figure). Hopefully that'll work. And let anyone you know who has a large trailer that is not a LQ know about this law that has been on the books but is only now being enforced.

So, now you know...

You know, they'll love you even more if you are out of state ignorance is no excuse of the law...

Be sure to have your coggins, health certificate, etc. If the horses is branded and/or microchipped , you need a copy of the probate judge brand with your records and a scanner, so you can prove those are your horses on that trailer if they ask to have the microchip read.

FYI.

karmikacres

This is happening around here also, the law is so convoluted that no one answer can be found. I have gone straight to our DMV and asked about a CDL and was told they would not issue one if I showed up with our truck and trailer.

Beware, if you are hauling border's horses, or if you have any type of farm name on you rig, as these are considered commercial activities.

PasoBaby_CarolU

We have our Highway Patrol give a horseman's list of the laws concerning weight and licenses. We are required to carry a brand inspection of our horses at all times (I've never been asked for one!). We only need health certificates (within 30 days) and coggins (annual) for hauling into the state.

Mike, I'll have to call and ask about the decals meaning Commercial vehicle here. That could be tricky. I have mine on my trailer. But I don't haul commercially...but do haul client's horses sometimes. Now, you've given me something to think about.

Good thread to start Sonya. Thanks

bit

Have my cdl, and those are getting harder and harder to get. You now have to do a commercial truck driving school here in Kansas. Looks like I need to scrape that old decal off my trailer from previous owner. Just haven't gotten around to it.
DOT? They are always "filling the coffers". Tony has nightmare stories about d.o.t. He knew someone that worked for them, and they discuss how they can stick it to the public every morning. They have meetings, specifically to discuss how they can TAKE YOUR MONEY! Texas d.o.t. is horrible.
I have a brand inspection for Shuan, but none for anyone else. With the cost of diesal, and the cost of health inspections, I'm staying local!
Yes, good post!

karmikacres

If you are hauling clients horses, you may need a CDL, regardless of the weight of your trailer. You may also need DOT numbers. If you have your farm or business name on your rig, same applies. Might be worth a call to your insurance company to see if you have coverage for hauling clients horses.

Illinois is getting to be a real bitch about some of this. The horsemen's council is currently working with the state to get clarification.

The big issue IMO, is the new trucks have such high weight ratings that we are easily passing the 26,001 GCVWR # now. The issue becomes weight rating vs registered weight vs actual weight. Our dually has a 13,500 GVWR and a 23,000 GCVWR, our trailer has an 18,000 GVWR. So, is it the 31,500 GCVWR, the 22,000 registered weight, or the scaled weight of 21,080 that puts you in CDL land?

We have also heard all duallys or any 4 horse or larger trailer are getting pulled over...

PasoBaby_CarolU

I can tell you MY gripe with the new trucks, they made the beds deeper without considering that most goose-necks are designed for the old truck beds. In my old truck I had 12-18" clearance between the truck side and the bottom of the trailer (and yes, it is on the longest height setting). Even then I crunched my tailgate going over a large hump of a dirt road (it is where we ride). My new tuck has 6" clearance of the tailgate, which I can push down to 8" if I carry hay in the back between the wheel-beds and the tailgate. Needless to say, I am real careful where I off-highway to, and can't even go in a store parking lot here because of the rain gutters. DUMB ENGINEERS

Anyway, I think I'll call the Highway Patrol now....thanks for the head's up.

thelmanelle

karmikacres

thelmanelle

Thanks, because that was a gift from hubby. So a little sentimental. Great advice.

Clarissa

Gee wizz they've got you people screwed down tight!

Commercial licence??

Over here anyone who has had a car licence for a few years can get one of several types of heavy licence going up in weights.

A commercial licence here is a differnt ball game with it's own set of regulations. So all the horsey people only need a standard car licence or a light rigid truck licence mostly to drive anything that is not an articulated heavy truck like a semi trailer. Even those with the heavier articulated trucks don't need a commercial licence, just have to sit the full heavy articulated licence.

For example Dave Grace has a prime mover & 12 horse aircon'd trailer with 2bedroom living accomodation which can also carry a ton of hay & all feed & tack for all his annual trips around Australia. It was specially built with air suspension etc & everything that opens & shuts. It's the same as the one Pat P uses to drive around USA. But Dave would just need a heavy articulated licence the same as I have to drive his even though it's his business.

Over here a commercial licence is for drivers who work for or own businesses that run trucks or vans that deliver goods. Well that's as best as I can decipher the laws! There's a fine line I guess between hauling your own horses for a living & hauling goods & produce for sale retail sale.

thelmanelle

Clarissa,
Any way you can get blood out of a turnip, they will do it! This is another way.

To further things, we are now having to look at the flat beds being hauled , too. As we might have to take a tractor for repair, etc. I thought it was enough that we paid for our trailer tags. But, now the license and checking on trailering laws is on the table.

They are being wishy washy. So i rather just get it and not deal with someone stopping me for hours and my horses being stuck over a ego and ticket.