Truck weight shocker

ploughman · Nov-14-2009, 07:25 AM

I may have been the only one here who didn't know this, but I had a shocker yesterday. I also troll around a couple of truck boards for Dodge diesels. There are lots of posts starting from people getting tickets back east for being overweight (above their licensed GVW) and they are expensive. The guy who got a $600 one for hauling some railroad ties on a two axle trailer for his daughter really worried me. I have on many occasions past hauled all kinds of crap for friends, right up to my combined limits. So I set off to check things on my truck registration.

My registration was set at the maximum amount for a personal truck, 12000 lbs. Thats only 4000 above my truck weight. So I can load my camper or most stuff in the bed, but towing my boat or pretty much anything, forget it. Just with my boat and empty truck, I would be about 6000 lbs over, which is an expensive ticket. I have to renew my registration this month, so its getting changed. I have to change the designation on my truck from TRK (personal truck) to commercial to go above 12000. At 20000, the fees double

, but that's what it's gonna take. So like I say, I may be the only one who didn't know this, but I doubt it. If you tow a boat, you better check. This state needs $$$$$ and they will come and get it.

Hoghunter · Nov-14-2009, 08:57 AM

I've known that to be the case in Washington for years. Many mostly agricultural states require all pickups outside city limits to be licenses for the gross weight they intend to pull.

I haven't seen or heard of any inclination by the police to start ticketing us for pulling over the GVCW on our registrations. Until they do I have no intention of changing.

old crow · Nov-14-2009, 09:03 AM

does your trailer have any tonage on it ? why do we lic. our trailers ,thay are rated at a certain weight?
this could be real interesting.
thanks for bringing it up

ploughman · Nov-14-2009, 09:46 AM

From what I understand, the trailer has nothing to do with it. All the weight carried or towed is borne by the truck. Like Hoghunter said, I lived in Idaho for years and this all made sense. Somehow I thought with the vehicle tab changes a few years back in WA that this went away - Guess not. I also haven't heard of a ticket for this in WA, but its certainly an easy source of revenue. Just think about all them diesels and 5th wheels all summer. Gotta make a politician drool.

donno · Nov-14-2009, 10:49 AM

I carry 12,000 on mine as well. Most of the time I'm legal so I hope I don't get caught the times I'm not. I'm guessing the ticket will be less then the added cost in paying the extra tonnage each year.

One loop hole could be if your insurance declined you coverage when you're running overweight?

fishnazzi · Nov-14-2009, 11:22 AM

Well be careful boys, when I was teaching at the truck driving school had a number of people come in, in a panic. See if your trailer is rated for more then 12000lbs in this state you are req. to have a class A cdl even if it is not loaded. The weigh rating determines the need. The building boom that is of course now passed was the spawn of unlicensed "hotshoters". Word to the wise the staters got schooled on it and are aware of the law so take it for what it is worth.

old crow · Nov-14-2009, 02:54 PM

so what is it that we have to buy lic. on a trailer that has a weight on it.
what is the lic. for? just to own it??

fishnazzi · Nov-14-2009, 03:50 PM

License is to be able to pull the trailer down the road. It is a drivers lic. CDL (commercial drivers license) class A. A guy can probably skate around it if his boat and trailer are not way over that weight but........

Many guys have found they can at times get their over-sized boats moved without banner,flags and permits. It's just a little over...................until a shitty days goes real bad. Lets just say you get rear ended and now the WSP is needed for an accident report??????? You know at the weigh stations there is a sign posted that says all vehicles over 16000 GCVW(gross combined vehicle weight) must pull into scales when open. This includes rented vehicles, private vehicles simply like it says all vehicles. This is the rule that brought the unlicensed hotshots to light. In theory some motor homes are also required. These would be the same ones that require a cdl lic. the class A and B motorhomes.

kingfisher1 · Nov-14-2009, 04:48 PM

So how is a police officer gonna tell if one if over 12,000 lbs? How is this enforced?

Unless they run my rig over a scale I'm a bit confused on what the process is.

JJONES660 · Nov-14-2009, 05:16 PM

Wow...I cant believe how stringent the Washington laws are. All the states ive been in from colo to louisianna the CDL laws where for opperating any vehicle that had a combined rating over 26000 lbs. For example My duramax had a 9200lb gross vehicle rating from the factory but the axle weights were a little higher if you added them...if i put a 5th wheel behind me with 2 7000lb rated axles that was basically 14000 plus 9200 equalling 23200...This scenario you do not need a CDL...however if i hook up to a car trailer with two 10000lb axles like your typical flat wood trailer with the dove tail on it im now opperating 29200lbs of vehicle and a CDL is required. Lots of guys in colorado where getting popped for a trailer like this and pulling a bobcat around or something small...heck you could be running empty but if the added axles combined to over 26 ya better have a CDL

....As for scaling you they can have DOT show up with little portable scales if they think you are over grossed...over weight fines can be hefty

Hoghunter · Nov-14-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnazzi

Well be careful boys, when I was teaching at the truck driving school had a number of people come in, in a panic. See if your trailer is rated for more then 12000lbs in this state you are req. to have a class A cdl even if it is not loaded. The weigh rating determines the need. The building boom that is of course now passed was the spawn of unlicensed "hotshoters". Word to the wise the staters got schooled on it and are aware of the law so take it for what it is worth.

Not true the way I read the regs. State law says that in order to require a CDL your trailer has to be over 10,000 and your combined weight of trailer and tow vehicle has to be over 26,000. So your trailer can weigh 16,000 but as long as the combination of truck and trailer don't exceed 26,000 you don't need a CDL.

Here's a link for those who want to see the rules:

WA State Licensing: Vehicles requiring a CDL

As Ploughman said in states like Idaho they license you for your truck and trailer weight. They've never done that yet here in Washington. Let's hope they don't as it will probably cost us a fortune. Like the amount of money they charge us for our boat license fee.

fishnazzi · Nov-15-2009, 05:00 PM

It is done not by GCVW but GCVW rating. With the number thrown out there MY Tractor trailer rig could be driven without a CDL. I taught this part at the school and have had numerous talks with WSP about this because they do seem to do the lets change it often. The ph# to the BOW hill entry scale is 360-766-6196 call them and ask to speak to an enforcement officer. The weight rating of your trailer and tow vehicle can be explained to you by officer.