DOT & State Nuances of a 4500-5500?.

[3_tons]

I don’t see Class A’s having to pull into the scales, but have noticed a few heavier than 14k GVWR ‘pickups’ with a DOT number posted on front doors... Oregon is even considering smog checks on visiting diesels over 14k GVWR, to include Class A pushers (though one might think they might already have other more pressing problems that need tending to - lol)... Being that campers are getting heavier nowadays, just curious about the DOT and various State ‘Ramifications’ of going to a heavier class truck...

3 tons

[azdryheat]

My AZ registration shows a $4 Commercial Registration Fee yet I don't have commercial plates and I don't operate commercially. Silly fees.

[ferndaleflyer]

That “declaration “ is for CA. Who other than a CA resident cares?

[curt12914]

DOT numbers are USDOT, not state DOT. They are issued to the truck owner. It doesn't matter if an owner has one truck or a thousand. Every truck displays the same number. The truck does not have to be used interstate.

Anyone (except farmers) who uses a vehicle with commercial plates is supposed to have DOT numbers displayed and comply with DOT regulations. Weight is not a factor.

A local guy that plows driveways in the winter and does lawn mowing in the summer, was cited for not having DOT numbers.

Trucks towing campers do not need DOT numbers, unless they are used for a business. If you are seeing trucks towing campers with DOT numbers, they also use the truck for some kind of business. Trucks towing campers for hire need DOT numbers.

[Kayteg1]

Hmmm...basically it means, that if you live in listed state and have commercial registration on your truck - you should have DOT number.
Raise a hand who on this forum falls under the law?
I think there is a typo in it.

[jimh406]

Just fyi, almost all states require DOT numbers for intrastate.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/do-i-need-usdot-number
States that Require a DOT Number
Apart from federal regulations, some states require their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT Number. These states include:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
New Jersey
New York
Nebraska
Nevada
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

[Kayteg1]

time2roll wrote:
I periodically see these vehicles with "Private Vehicle" or "Not for Hire" displayed.
I assume this is to avoid confusion.

Those signs have no legal meaning.
I had vintage bus conversion with huge "Private" sign on the cap.
Yet I got a ticket for parking commercial vehicle on city street, who had local ordinance.
Turned out, that having the conversion inspected after the purchase - I missed that clerk marked it as commercial.

[time2roll]

I periodically see these vehicles with "Private Vehicle" or "Not for Hire" displayed.
I assume this is to avoid confusion.

[mike_kellie]

declariation

When you buy a pick-up you should probably have input on this and not leave it in the hands of your salesman or dealership. Note that while signage at weigh stations state "no pick-ups" the registered weight and also any bed modifications (flat bed, utility bodies etc) indicates you've lost that loving feeling of a pick-up.

[towpro]

when I was running my Dually pickup towing a generic white box trailer up and down the east coast as I moved myself I ran magnetic decals on the lower doors that said "not for hire"

[ferndaleflyer]

CA, NV, etc. Like a different country. Other than Fed laws most back East have never heard of your nonsense. I have never seen a PU pull into the scales. My own company trucks, most f350s operated in Wv, PA, MD, VA, DC, and NJ and never had a DOT number or bothered with the scales. Under 26,001lbs and no state law about company name on trucks.

[mike_kellie]

My truck is registered for 30K and I do have small decals on the lower door panels. You are also required to shift the rear (Ca in my case) license plate with your yearly registration sticker to the front bumper. Most of the weigh stations have cameras facing downstream to catch trucks that bypass. I am required to drive into weigh stations and I don't transport anything commercial related, just my wife and truck camper.

[Lwiddis]

"I used to live in CA and pickups are routinely registered as commercial..."

Still not used to parking in "loading" zones with my California "commercial" Silverado 1500...so I don't.

[Kayteg1]

jimh425 wrote:
If you do commercial hauling, you need a DOT number. Otherwise, no.

Only if you cross Stateline doing commercial hauling and it is not weigh-related. You should have DOT number on station wagon if you use it commercially across Stateline.
Laws vary a lot from state to state.
I used to live in CA and pickups are routinely registered as commercial and require GCVW declaration regardless if used privately or commercially. DOT scales require checks on all commercially registered vehicles, although the law wasn't enforced for smaller pickups and vans.
But with camper on F350, I went to CA DMV for inspection and got "RV" registration. The registration had strange description that I could never memorize.
Now I live in NV, where pickup is pickup and it can't be changed. No weight fees thought.
Oregon has smog checks? Maybe I will have no longer headaches in the state, driving behind locals?
RV are exempt from lot of laws in most of the states, so make sure you ask right question.
Lot of people, especially European citizens can't get how you can drive 40 tons DP setups on amateurs DL.
In most of Europe anything above 3.5 tons require CDL
BTW. I've seen it quite a few times, when "Maid Service" was hauling 3 workers in the sedan and crossing Stateline.
To my understanding the law requires DOT number for such use, but who is to enforce it?

[Grit_dog]

There are no USDOT or State nuances for personal use vehicles under 26k gvw anywhere that I’m aware of.
If towing as well with a med duty vehicle or any combo over 26k gcvw, some states I believe have some drivers licensing requirements. But whatever applies in your home state is good x country. That is my interpretation anyway, but I’m less familiar with personal use requirements and more with commercial use requirements.

[jimh406]

If you do commercial hauling, you need a DOT number. Otherwise, no.