Ouch! Not having the correct permits gets kind of expensive in Pennsylvania!!!

State troopers on Thursday handed out $84,295 in fines to truckers from a Canadian company hauling oversized loads without permits on a winding two-lane road in Somerset County.

Acting on complaints about a company hauling big loads after hours without permits, a Greensburg-based state police commercial vehicle enforcement team stopped a truck on Mt. Davis Road that was hauling the base tower for a windmill.

As officers were inspecting the vehicle, six more showed up, all without the right permits. Troopers called in extra officers from Greensburg who, en route to the scene, came across another rig on Route 219 in Somerset County.


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I'd sure hate to be the dispatcher who told these guys to head on down there without permits. That's serious money even for specialized hauler.

How STUPID and cocky is that company? EIGHT loads??? Are they NUTS??? I could see trying to sneak one or two in but EIGHT LOADS??? Not to mention the ones that got the complaints in the first place.

Those poor drivers!!!

I think its the drivers responsibility to get permits or make sure not to hit the road with out them.

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They haul a boat load of those wind mill tower sections around here headed for W TX. Most have at least 2 escort vehicles and use police inside the smaller towns. Not the best thing to try and sneak around with. Most of this stuff around here is like oilfield equipment and there is plenty of money to go around. No need to scrimp on the permits. Just put it on the bill and they will pay. Just get their stuff there when they want it. These 200 ft cranes charge a lot by the hour. Adds up quicker than a special permit.

Blame the dispatcher? C'mon. At what point does it become the driver's responsibility?

Holy crap! I never paid for any of my permits, and thus don't know how one would cost.... I assume it depends on a variety of factors, and I am greatful that the company provided me with whatever permits I needed..... but, how expensive can one be that a company would overlook getting them for not one, not two, not five, not six.... but EIGHT different trucks......
and not only the company..... but the drivers...... they where eight of them willing to drive without permits?
This is messed up. I don't even know how to express my shock, at this whole sitition, but this is screwed up. Whenever you're traveling anywhere where there is a speciality load, you notice that..... Those of us in dry vans, reefers, tankers, and regular flat beds, don't get much attention..... But EVERYONE notices a wide load. How freaking stupid can people get...... and so many people..... The company, and the eight drivers!

Now what would make you think a dispatcher would say go ahead and go with that load even though it's over wight?

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"Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."

It isn't necessarily the driver's responsibility to GET the permits, but it IS the driver's responsibility to make sure he HAS the proper permits, and not move the load with-out them.

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I have had a trucking company owner TELL me to move a OD load with-out permits. I had an escort service in NYC knowingly hand me wrong permits and expected me to take an OD load into NYC. It DOES happen, more than you would think.

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