DOT safety audit?

[stuvecorp]

When I took my joyride to Iowa I got stopped at the scales and was told that I am the same as a semi so today the State Patrol called and said they would be stopping by Wednesday at 8 to do a 'Safety/New Entrant Audit' on me. I tried explaining that it is very rare for me to be that far away and that I am not a 'carrier' as he kept calling me. I am one guy with a 350 dump what is the deal? He faxed some stuff over I am to get ready like my list of drivers, drug/alcohol testing program, log books, maintenance records, accident register and a bunch of other stuff that I don't have or know about. Has anyone gone through this? I think I am going to be beat pretty good on this.

[Gravel Rat]

What did you do pizz the DOT guy off :laugh:

[ALLPro Landscaping]

What were you hauling, These guys are you know what, Do you have any sort of paper work that they request.

[stuvecorp]

I was on my way to pick up skidsteer tires for my machine, I was empty at the scale. What I don't get is I am not a 'for hire carrier', I do light excavating and retaining wall construction.

[anotherturfgeek]

When I took my joyride to Iowa I got stopped at the scales and was told that I am the same as a semi so today the State Patrol called and said they would be stopping by Wednesday at 8 to do a 'Safety/New Entrant Audit' on me. I tried explaining that it is very rare for me to be that far away and that I am not a 'carrier' as he kept calling me. I am one guy with a 350 dump what is the deal? He faxed some stuff over I am to get ready like my list of drivers, drug/alcohol testing program, log books, maintenance records, accident register and a bunch of other stuff that I don't have or know about. Has anyone gone through this? I think I am going to be beat pretty good on this.

Any commercial ride that weighs over 10,000 lbs falls into a category that requires cdl license to drive, a dot no, drivers daily logbook, daily pre/post inspection book. dot physicals etc... I'm sure they sent all that stuff to you...
It is sad to get caught like you did. Your only hope is that you beg for mercy, play nice and hope for the best. I don't know if you can plead ignorant because in their eyes being a business owner, you are supposed to know that

There is abright side though. If you be really nice to the inspector when he comes by, THANK HIM FROM THE MOMENT HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR for giving you this opportunity to become compliant and mean it or act like you do. They won't fine the sh--! out of you.
That my friend is up to the inspector. He is there to help you..if he's not an ass.
Goog Luck brother

[anotherturfgeek]

Do your trucks have a current dot inspectiom?

[stuvecorp]

Do your trucks have a current dot inspectiom?

It did when I left the scale.:hammerhead: I have never heard you need a CDL for an under 26,000 gvw truck.

[Gravel Rat]

It sounds like you hit a DOT man on a bad day. Usually they don't pick on a truck in the 1 ton size range especially if your a empty truck.

[anotherturfgeek]

Yup, all commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs. plus limited to 10 hr workdays,new dot rules suck. thanks to the big greedy carriers who want it all.

[P.Services]

what bs. dont you just want to beat the guys a$$ with a bat when he shows up? f them

[ALLPro Landscaping]

Yeh if you were empty why would he get you, what kind of trailer were you pulling, what does your truck weigh and what does the trailer weigh,

[ALLPro Landscaping]

going back to anotherturfgeek if we need a cdl to move our trucks with machines thats BS. Ill start pulling machines with a honda civic. whats this world coming too.

[stuvecorp]

No trailer, just truck(f350) and the Wonder Dog. I was unmarked so I do have to take the blame on that and the Iowa guy was pretty cool about everything, mailed in my fine(non-current dot inspection) and thought everything was fine. I don't know if I am over reacting but I am sweating this visit.

If it is true about needing CDL, who makes these laws and why?

Here is the truck

[IMAGE]

Not sure why being "unmarked" would be illegal on a 350. I asked the DOT in my state if I can take the numbers off my 2500HD when I am using the truck for personal use, and he said "yep, just have them made on magnets". So If I am hauling atv's or sleds, not for business purposes, I dont have to swing through any scales or have a log or any of that junk.

Maybe you have commercial plates or something? So its "Always" a work truck? Where mine is "work/personal" truck.

[Gravel Rat]

Where I live you need to run your name on the truck it only has to be 2 inch letters or 2 1/2 inch letters that says o/op (your name). It has to be on both sides. As for CDL you don't need one for a 1 ton truck unless your licensed for pulling a trailer.

[stuvecorp]

I drive the Lightning some in the summer but this is my truck that I use whether it is work or personal. I was going to barrow my friend's truck but didn't want to bug him, so I am kicking myself for not using his truck and avoiding this mess.

[IMAGE]

This message is hidden because Gravel Rat is on your ignore list.











:cool2::cool2:

[stuvecorp]

:confused:I can see GR's stuff, I missed something here...

[ALLPro Landscaping]

See where it goes, Not sure if you can but contact the issuing officer and maybe find out what this is all about. i cant believe just cause you have a dump and a trailer you have to stop. If that's the case these cops and laws need to change and more for these cops they need a dam life.

[IMAGE]

This message is hidden because Gravel Rat is on your ignore list.











:cool2::cool2:

:confused:I can see GR's stuff, I missed something here...


Haha, I know you can see it. But I can't -- I dont even want to. I am laughing because I put GR on my ignore list a long time ago because of all his negative ramblings. I just get a kick out of seeing "This message is hidden because Gravel Rat is on your ignore list." Makes me laugh, really it does. :usflag::usflag:

[Gravel Rat]

Hey I really don't care if I'am on somebodys ignore list.

Anyhow I know what is required for operating a truck as a commercial vehical and its supposed to be becoming more standardized. Usually you need your name and some cases a motorcarrarier number.

What is the law in the state that requires you to stop at a scale what is the gvw requirement.

Here it is 12,000lbs but usually you can sneak by and most of the time the CVSE (DOT) doesn't want to even bother with a empty 1 ton trucks it takes up their time.

So if they want to do a audit on you now they are going to want to look at your maintenance records etc. They might start asking are you insured for the distances you travel.

I think you had some DOT man who is trying to prove his worth. I think the guy has better things to do instead of picking on a small time guy.

[stuvecorp]

Hey I really don't care if I'am on somebodys ignore list.

Anyhow I know what is required for operating a truck as a commercial vehical and its supposed to be becoming more standardized. Usually you need your name and some cases a motorcarrarier number.

What is the law in the state that requires you to stop at a scale what is the gvw requirement.

Here it is 12,000lbs but usually you can sneak by and most of the time the CVSE (DOT) doesn't want to even bother with a empty 1 ton trucks it takes up their time.

So if they want to do a audit on you now they are going to want to look at your maintenance records etc. They might start asking are you insured for the distances you travel.

I think you had some DOT man who is trying to prove his worth. I think the guy has better things to do instead of picking on a small time guy.

The scale said 10,000 and up so I pulled in because I figured it would be worse if I went by and then was pulled over. The scale was in Iowa and apparently they sent the paperwork to Wisconsin and the State Patrol is now following up.

[Gravel Rat]

Oh for crying out loud why in the h*ll are they picking on a person with a 1 ton truck. Don't the idiots have something better to do.

I guess all you can do is see what they want.

[Classified]

I have never heard the law being at 10k or even 12k pounds.

I was always told it was 16K CGVWR was non DOT. Infact I got caught driving a truck that was rated 26k with a non CDL and was forced to become very clear of the DOT laws back then. I think it was around 2001 or so that all happened.

But when the DOT officer flew out since we got flagged like you did, he was very nice and basically ran trhough all the rules and regs and looked at some paperwork. We didnt get fined but he stated very clearly that if we ever got flagged again it was game on.

Just get as much as you can together that they require and dont be arrogant or cocky.

Oh and GOOD LUCK!

[AWJ Services]

Here are the Facts.These are Federal laws so your state may alter them slightly.


http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/rules-regulations.htm



This is the rule on logbooks.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?chunkKey=0901633480023971

[tnmtn]

i am in the same situation. got DOT numbers 4 months ago thryig to be the good responsible bussinessman. what a mistake. they give you 6 months to schedule a site inspection. just received some paperwork to see if the status has changed. i'm thinking about sending it back with a note to that i will be dropping out. definitly not worth it for me. the only time it comes into play is when travelling out of state. if i need to pick up something out state it will be cheaper to use a rental truck than the DOT bs for my stuff. i'll call but if they want to be jerks dropping out is an option.
good luck,

[mattfromNY]

This is what I have learned from my DOT stop, as well as DOT seminar I attended:
10,000 GVWR (NOT what you weigh driving down the road, whether empty or full, but what the GVWR STICKER in/ on the truck reads) Same goes for truck/ trailer combo.- take the GVWR of the truck+ the GVWR of the trailer, as the stickers read, add them together= your gross weight. That is what DOT will look for.
In NY, if you have DOT numbers on truck, and they can NOT be on a magnet, or removable from truck, you are required to stop at inspection station. upwards of $300 fine for not stopping. Numbers need to be legible at 50' away from truck.
Anyone operating over 10000 lb. truck required to have medical card, fire extinguisher and 3 triangles on board.
Those are some of the more common offenses.

Stuvecorp, I dont know why they are picking on you. I was pulled over b/c I had the name of my business on the door and no DOT number. I was told that DOT numbers needed only if using truck for business purposes (ie: making money). Your truck is unmarked, and DOT officer wouldn't know if you were working, or going to visit aunt Mabel in Iowa.

[treemover]

Rule of thumb stay the hell away from the scales!!! I wouldnt have pulled up there in an unmarked one ton no way. But there is no going back. Your going to have to do everything they say and make sure you do BEFORE they come out to do the first/help check up. My first/help audit left me sore and bent over and 15k out of checkbook. it sucks they suck and everything about it sucks. Oh and be nice, very nice. I have only been dot check by one officer....15 times!!! so dont get on there bad side!!

Good Luck!

[MJM316]

Stuve could you tell them that you were using your truck for PERSONAL reasons not business related? Just a thought :confused:

[skidster32]

that is extremely odd, in Illinois you need a cdl for a vehicle 26,001gvw and over not 10k. I have been recently been studying for my class b cdl test with air breaks, and no where in the test booklet does it say you must obtain a cdl for a vehicle 10,000gvw or over. but thats under il law. it may vary from state to state but that is total highway robbery.

[treemover]

that is extremely odd, in Illinois you need a cdl for a vehicle 26,001gvw and over not 10k. I have been recently been studying for my class b cdl test with air breaks, and no where in the test booklet does it say you must obtain a cdl for a vehicle 10,000gvw or over. but thats under il law. it may vary from state to state but that is total highway robbery.

Yes 26k for truck=cdl
truck and trailer 10k = cdl
any combo over 10k = following all dot regs

IE f-450 and up since gvw is over 10k you need to follow all dot regs but you dont need a cdl to drive. Understand!!! I know I dont, all the regs are that way.

[ksss]

I have also done the "Curly Shuffle" at DOT stops. I can say I have never had them drop the audit on me. I am totally surprised that they bothered you with your truck unloaded and no signage. Your truck looks like any other in farm country. I have pulled trailers and equipment back from RB sale in Olympia, Wa. for years. I will say that the requirements for having to stop are different for each state. I blew past the ports in Wa. and Or. their signage is much different than Idaho, which would have compelled me to stop I don't and never got stopped. That was in a 3500 and I try to wait for it to get dark before leaving Olympia. Although even being unloaded I would have to stop with a trailer.

I guess GR that your tightly clung to belief that because the Ford 450 and 550 look like a pickup you can fly under the DOT radar. Stuve might as well been driving a tractor trailer.

Well after Wend. you will be able to tell us all how it is supposed to be done. Hopefully they will not crucify you. Although my DOT experiences have rarely been positive, I hope your luck is better than mine usually is.

[tnmtn]

just got off the phone with DOT rep. they explained that my truck being under 26,000 lbs. working in state i am not required to do drug screens or keep logs. this changes if the truck goes out of state. then i must be compliant for 7 days prior to and after the trip out of state. this includes any trips out of state as the truck has commercial plates. he explained even if i was going to pick up an attachment purchased off ebay that is conducting bussiness. didn't matter whether it was for hire by someone else or not. the fellow was very nice and said that if you are making an honest effort the first visit is mostly to help get started. they were concerned about maintenance records, tire size, employment apps., insurance. also, records of any and all drivers as well as accident forms. with myself being the sole driver with records i should be fine. so i guess i'll make an appointment next week. i guess it is nicer going through this without being caught first.
good luck,

[mattfromNY]

Yes 26k for truck=cdl
truck and trailer 10k = cdl
any combo over 10k = following all dot regs

IE f-450 and up since gvw is over 10k you need to follow all dot regs but you dont need a cdl to drive. Understand!!! I know I dont, all the regs are that way.

no CDL required in NY for 10K., 26,001 and up yes.

[Classified]

that is extremely odd, in Illinois you need a cdl for a vehicle 26,001gvw and over not 10k. I have been recently been studying for my class b cdl test with air breaks, and no where in the test booklet does it say you must obtain a cdl for a vehicle 10,000gvw or over. but thats under il law. it may vary from state to state but that is total highway robbery.

That is correct. But if your driving mor than 16k you need a class C lic, NON CDL.

Yes 26k for truck=cdl
truck and trailer 10k = cdl
any combo over 10k = following all dot regs

IE f-450 and up since gvw is over 10k you need to follow all dot regs but you dont need a cdl to drive. Understand!!! I know I dont, all the regs are that way.

Glad I dont live in KS!!!!!

[Gravel Rat]

The CVSE inspectors at the scales in B.C. would crap bricks if you pulled into a scale with a empty truck you are wasting there time. Here the requirement for stopping at scales is 5500kgs or 12,125lbs so if you reggy your truck for 5499kgs they can do anything about you.

The CVSE is more concerned about the overloaded semis etc they are also looking at the people with smaller trucks pulling overloaded trailers.

From what I hear the DOT in the USA are power tripping idiots yes we have some here but they are no where near as bad. The CVSE is more concerned about if your truck meets the safety requirements.

[AWJ Services]

Guys I posted the Federal Laws.They trump everyone.LOL

States pick and choose what they enforce but if you follow Federal Guidelines you are good in all states.

[all ferris]

That is correct. But if your driving mor than 16k you need a class C lic, NON CDL.



Glad I dont live in KS!!!!!

But if you pull a 10k trailer with a honda civic you need a class A CDL

[YellowDogSVC]

I posted this before. Texas is a big state and does things the way Texas wants to but I think these rules are fairly standard. Try out this flow chart:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/search/searchresults.asp?type=cache&q=cache:http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/lw/cmvlaw/cdl/cdlmain.asp+do+i+need+a+cdl&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&client=DPSInternet&site=ER&oe=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=DPSInternet

[Classified]

Here is illinois CDL classes

What do the terms Class A, Class B, and Class C mean on my Illinois CDL?
It refers to the type of vehicle that you may operate . . .
CLASS A . . . allows you to operate vehicles which tow trailers or other vehicles with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds. A Class "A" license also allows you to operate Class B and C vehicles.
CLASS B . . . allows you to operate single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more OR a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, towing trailers/vehicles rated at 10,000 pounds GVWR or less. A Class "B" license also allows you to operate Class C vehicles.
CLASS C . . .allows you to operate vehicles under 26,001 lbs. GVWR; that are designed to transport 16 or more persons including the driver; or that carry 15 or less people (including the driver) transporting children to or from school and home regularly for compensation, or carry hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.

[Construct'O]

As said by AWJ and others when you cross the state line all your instate regs is junk,forget it your fair game.Instate you can use instate regs.Just don't cross the line it is Federal rules then.Log book, dot numbers ,the whole ball.

Stu sorry you have to put up with all the Iowa crap,next time call and i'll bring it to your stateline,unload roll it across the line then you can pick it up.Do the same for me please!!!!!!

Like posted up above cheaper to hire it hauled sometimes,but we all want, need to try and save a dime,especially now days.

911 has changed a lots of things that didn't use to be an issue,but for homeland security that has changed.For good or bad!!!!!! Good luck:usflag:

[stuvecorp]

Not going to the bighouse.:cool2: The officer was pretty reasonable and there was stuff that I didn't do right. Okay, in my case with the 350 and 12,000 pound trailer if it is with I don't need CDL. There is some stuff I will have to do and will be legit to roam around the country. Basically I need to put company name and DOT number on the truck(in Wisconsin I can do magnets it I want) and update some records and am all okay. If I go forward with getting a big truck then the CDL, drug testing, pre/post trip inspections and some paper work has to be done but isn't as scary as I thought. I did talk to him about how I use this truck as a personal vehicle at times and as long as I am in the 100 mile(and in state) I don't have anything to worry about. The Iowa trooper did everything right and was good about it, so I don't hold that against Iowa.:usflag:

[coopers]

Here's our flow chart, pretty easy: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdlvehicles.html

[Gravel Rat]

Well that sounds good alteast they didn't rip a strip off of you. As for your name on the truck you might aswell leave it on the truck all the time. White letters would look good on your truck along the bottom of the door where they can see it.

[YellowDogSVC]

Here's our flow chart, pretty easy: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdlvehicles.html

that is an easy to follow logical flow chart!

[YellowDogSVC]

Not going to the bighouse.:cool2: The officer was pretty reasonable and there was stuff that I didn't do right. Okay, in my case with the 350 and 12,000 pound trailer if it is with I don't need CDL. There is some stuff I will have to do and will be legit to roam around the country. Basically I need to put company name and DOT number on the truck(in Wisconsin I can do magnets it I want) and update some records and am all okay. If I go forward with getting a big truck then the CDL, drug testing, pre/post trip inspections and some paper work has to be done but isn't as scary as I thought. I did talk to him about how I use this truck as a personal vehicle at times and as long as I am in the 100 mile(and in state) I don't have anything to worry about. The Iowa trooper did everything right and was good about it, so I don't hold that against Iowa.:usflag:

good thing. I was thinking about you.. I don't understand why some raggedy old truck from mexico can fall apart on Texas roads or interstate highways while a 1 ton empty dump truck uses up the valuable time of a state trooper. If only I was in charge of the DOT.

[coopers]

that is an easy to follow logical flow chart!

HAHA, I know, I don't think I've seen a simpler chart. :laugh:

[anotherturfgeek]

Glad it turned out better than you expected. Alot of us were pulling for you!!!



Times fun when your having flies??? Ain't life Great?

[lifetree]

... 10,000 GVWR (NOT what you weigh driving down the road, whether empty or full, but what the GVWR STICKER in/ on the truck reads) Same goes for truck/ trailer combo.- take the GVWR of the truck+ the GVWR of the trailer, as the stickers read, add them together= your gross weight. That is what DOT will look for. ...

This is my understanding !!