Laws about trailers

[Hillbilly]

Hi everyone,

It is raining here so I have a little time to post be I do a little main.

Last week I attended a seminar at Lesco, were the DOT
had officers there to educate us on the regulations about pulling trailers. Here is just a few that I can rermember off the top of my head.

1. A trailer must have a working brake for every wheel.

2. A brake away switch must be in place.

3. All lights and safety chains must be in working order.

4. Commercial tags must be in place on the tow vehicle.

5. If the combined GVWR of the truck and trailer exceeds
10,001 pounds, semi trailer tags must be purchesed for
the trailer.

6. The operator of such a vehicle must have a health
inspection card.

7. All loades must be properly secured or tarped if you
hauling lose material.

This is all I can remember but trust me there is more. The officers stated that these are federal laws and apply to everyone who pulls a trailer to make a living. In my area, several landscapers have been stoped and fined for several thousnd dollars, so you may want to check into it yourself. Also, the officers stated not to put all your faith in the county clerks. They told us to contact the DOT
and get the correct info.

Hope this helps someone, because it kind of shocked me.

[Scraper]

Don't know about #1. Maybe for tandem trailers.

Don't see too many trailers with brakes on them under 16'.

[gorrell]

As far as I'm aware of there are no federal laws governing trailers, it is a state by state thing. Here in Missouri you are not required to have brakes, only suggested(I've got 'em) and if you have a pin hitch instead of a ball hitch, the trailer doesn't even have to be licensed. Go figure! My advice, check your state licensing requirements. Thanks,Lynn

[Richard Martin]

They may have told you that those are federal laws but that is a bunch of nonsense. Here in Maryland you need to get your trailer inspected before you get license plates. My 6X12 trailer does not have brakes, break-away switch or commercial tags on truck. The law varies from state to state. The best place to find out how each state stacks up is at the public library. Thre is a magazine called Trailer Boat and every year they outline all of the different laws for each state.

[Fantasy Lawns]

guess I learned something today ...here's the link for State Laws http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htmFlorida law
requires brakes on all wheels on trailers with a gross capacity of 3,000 lbs, any person requesting or accepting a trailer without proper brake set up assumes all responsibility for such action.

[Edited by theleven on 03-15-2001 at 01:33 PM]

[Eric ELM]

In Illinois, there isn't a commercial tag, no break away needed on smaller trailers, brakes on each axle not needed, just one. If brakes on both axles were needed, they wouldn't be able to sell them with brakes on one axle, right? I hope. :)

I have a 24' enclosed trailer with brakes on both axles and I can stop it faster than I can stop just the truck without the trailer. I only have them on one axle on my open trailer, but I think I'm going to put them on both axles. It isn't that expensive and it makes a big difference in stopping. Break away setups are needed on bigger trailers here I'm pretty sure.

[LJ lawn]

all that stuff they told you applies to tractor trailer ops.but then again,when i used to drive a tractor-trailer i was always warned about the d.o.t. in TENNESEE.those guys are quite fanatical down there.even worse than the Jersey d.o.t.

[lee b]

DOT regulates truck or truck and trailer combo's that gross over 26001 lbs. or have air brakes. No air-brakes or gross under 26001 GVRW and DOT doesn't have jurisdiction accoding to CDL interstate regulations, as long as you are not transporting a reportable amount of hazardous materials. Most states follow national guidelines on these regulations, but your state may have passed new laws since I got my lisence. Every farm trailer in the country would have to have commercial {HIGH_PRICED} tags and every farmer would have to get CDL's if this were true.

[MikeGA]

Bet them rules apply for them big ol gooseneck trailers, not these little ol bumper trailers. Course I wouldn't a trailer much over 16ft that wasn't a gooseneck trailer. And I would want brakes on it, as for the chains and auto brakes, I haven't heard instances they would have done any good YET. Had a friend slam into the back of a Honda Accord with his '96 crew cab Chevy dully pulling an empty 24ft gose neck and his plate broke loose from the truck frame. Don't guess those chains and brake controller hooked to the same plate would have done much good would they??

[Sammy]

theleven, those are for RV's.
Commerical laws are differant.

I just came from a DOT class like the one Hillbilly attended. There were a couple of guys that really got pissed about the laws that the state trooper was telling us about. He said that the federal goverment told all the states that in order to receive federal highway money that they had to adopt the federal guidlines. But, local goverments can pass their own laws. An example: Width of vehical is 8'6" on interstate, state and US highways. If local goverment does not want a truck any wider than 7'6" on its streets and roads you are SOL even though you meet federal and state law.

Here in Michigan trailers that are below a certain GVW do not need brakes or break away switchs. Truck and trailer combos of 10,000 lbs. and lower only need a chauffer license. Trailer plates are just that, trailer plates for any size. Farmers do not fall under any of these laws unless they operate more than 150 miles from farm or carry haz. material.

When the trooper was asked how a trailer could be sold without the brakes/switch he said it was up to the owner of the trailer to make sure that it was complint with their state law. No law against selling it. Just dont use it !!!

[Hillbilly]

Just like Sammy, I also asked why they could sell a trailer without meeting codes and the officer also told us that it was up to the owner to make sure it was legal.

I realized what the officer meant when he said don't rely on what your court clerk says. I was in there for two hours yesterday and they still couldn't find out whats what. The big boys in Nashville couldn't even tell us.

It may be a bunch of bull but the officer said TN. codes were adopted directly from federal codes. In any case, they are getting us little guys. Also, Ten other states have reqested that Tn. send officers to train there guys on what to do.

It all comes down to thing, that it is a great way for the state to make money and you can bet if it works it will be heading in your direction.


Thanks for the response guys.

[bob]

The alws are different state to state. This sounds more like laws that govern tractor trailers. Where I live ,small 5x10 trailers for example, don't need a DOT brake away kit. THe only ones that need a health card are class A drivers(CDL).

[Strawbridge Lawn]

The city/state would not register my trailer if it was illegal. It has no brakes or swithes, it is 6.5X12 single axle. with GVW under 3,00 lbs.

Check with your state. A good question would be Who has been stopped that has not met these rules??

[Sammy]

Gary & Bob, That is what I'am saying. You guys with the little trailers dont have to worry. You are below the GVWR that kicks in the brake/switch laws. The city/state WILL register your trailer regardless if it is street legal or not. They dont enact or enforce laws. Their job is to sell tags and plates. I have a 7,000 lbs. and a 9,980 lbs. GVWR trailers. I have to comply with the brake/switch laws.

[skyphoto]

I have a tandem trailer w/3500lb axles 14ft brakes on the back axle....I built this myself and had to apply for a home made trailer title which in missouri means I have to have it inspected by a state approved inspection station....I do not have a breakaway switch nor brakes on every axle but passed the inspection with the guy telling me it looked better built than a factory built trailer. I figure these guys should know what to look for and they put there stamp of approval on the trailer tounge! Hell there are guys around here with there craftsmen riden mowers slappen around there trailer when they take a turn no lights or turn signals even mounted on the trailer....breakaway chains draggen the ground and there name & phone numbers plasterd on the side of the truck!!!
Until they start pickin up these guys I dont think I will cause a second look!!!

The grass is always greener if the septic tank leaks!!!

[cleancut]

I was in an accident last year while pulling my trailer...I was at an intersection, go the green light and pulled out...It had been raining and a guy in an air conditioning service van didn't stop and hit the side of my 16ft tandem trailer...He hit it right between the wheels..I kept going, but my trailer broke away and went down the road in the opposite direction...Found out from the trooper that the hitches were designed to break away in such a accident..If it hadn't, it probably would have totalled my truck...O.k., getting back to the point...I got more tickets than the guy that run the redlight and hit me got...I got tickets for: no tag on trailer, no comm. tags on truck, and no registration(I had just bought the truck and didn't have the registration)..I tried to plead ignorance but it didn't work..The trooper explained that if you use your trailer or truck to make money, you have to have them tagged commercially...He didn't say anything about me not having breaks....Oh well, live and learn...Derrick

[skyphoto]

How do the police know if you use the trailer to make money if ya dont have a commercial name or any name on the side of your truck or trailer? Couldn't I just be using the trailer to pull my mower to my parents yard? How would they ever know?????

[cleancut]

Cause they ain't stuuupid!!!!If you have three commercial mowers and a rack full of trimmers, they tend to be pretty observant...I thought about telling him that---for about a uh second and realized that I had a company shirt on...Thought I might be pushing my luck...Derrick

[skyphoto]

Guess I was thinking more of a solo op. Cause about the only way to know for sure if I was making money with my stuff would be to check my tax returns....Just didnt figure they would go that far???? I only have 1 commercial mower on the trailer so I guess I wouldn't be as suspicious as if I had 2 or 3 sitten in the trailer!!! Sounds like you were flat busted!!!

[MikeGA]

We have been trying for 10 years to get a "Farm Tag" for our road tractor, which all we do is farm with, and our local tag office has given us is a PICKUP Tag. Want to talk about FROWN when the PSC officer pulled me over last year?? He looked the truck up one side and down the other ask me 3 times what we did with the truck Looked at my fully endorsed CDL liscenses and medical card (which fortunatly WAS up to date) and finally told me to get a Fire Extinguisher, get our name on the doors of the truck and stay out of the left lane, duhh where I had been passing cars and was also within 1/2 mile from where I was going to make a LEFT hand turn. Hey, I just shook his hand Smiled and told him THANK YOU!! After all the horror stories from the local Pulpwood haulers, and as rough as our old'78 GMC Genral is with the oil leaks and cracked windshiled, I knew I was a goner!! Straight to JAIL!! and several wood haulers have had their trucks and trailers towed and a free ticket to jail around here!!

[AVRECON]

For the N.C. folks, all I can tell you is if the width is over 96" tire to tire, fender to fender it doesn't matter if its over it is out of compliance. After the state trooper pulled me he got his law book out and showed me the staute. Only got a warning but he didn't want me to leave with the trailor, luckily my mom lives in the neighborhood across the street from where he pulled me over and he let me leave with it.

[Paradise Yard Service]

I do not pull a trailer yet. But it will get worse! Welcome to the jungle! Most laws for our good. But we must keep those prices up as regulations/liability will factor in.

O.K. Sir you want us to have the latest and the greatest? We will just pass the expense on to the customer.

Nothing sticks to me anymore.It is my way or the highway!

Thanks for the heads up on DOT!

Aloha,
P.Y.S.