LEOs: Best way to explain I'm not a motor carrier?

I am moving them once. I am moving from Florida to Texas. For the cost of hiring a moving company, I can buy a trailer and do it myself.

What you're telling me is pretty much exactly the same thing I got from the lady in Tennessee, and yet when she pulled out her rule book, it stated the same thing that was stated below by others.

I would appreciate if you can show me the rule of law that makes this apply to all vehicles with three or more axles. There are tens of thousands of motorhomes that would be in violation if that is the case.

 

Guilty until proven innocent? I have to admit, I am leaning towards hiring a moving company instead -- simply because it sounds like at least some percentage of law enforcement will be out to write me a ticket, regardless of whether I am actually in violation.

Riddle me this, dieselbear: If you see me bobtailing, do you make the same assumption? That since it looks like a truck, I must be commercial?

 

The hobby involves a bobtail. I do not currently own a trailer. However, the need to relocate came up, as did an offer to pick up a 53' dryvan in good condition for cheap.

I would be driving from Palm Beach, Florida to Houston, Texas. Once.

Unfortunately, if I meet you on the side of the road, it sounds like you would not even consider the possibility that I'm telling the truth, and would rather assume I've been doing the same thing for a million miles.

I do understand law enforcement isn't easy. I also understand people lie to law enforcement officers all the time, and I'm sure it gets frustrating. But when you start taking that frustration out on people who are not breaking the law, you become a liability to the rule of law itself. So I repeat my challenge: If what I propose is in fact illegal, please cite the relevant federal OR state laws that make it illegal.

I am not out to break the law. I also do not, however, think it's reasonable for me to pay thousands in fees and taxes that I do not owe under the law.

 

I think you are making a lot of assumptions, so allow me to clarify a few aspects:

- I run the truck very little. I've put about 2000 miles on it so far, and I figure 5000 miles per year would be an accurate figure. I maintain mileage logs to prove this, although of course anyone could accuse me of forging them

- Relocation, as stated above, but just to be perfectly clear, is something I would do once. This also means that having the trailer on the truck is something I would do once.

- I will most likely hire a commercial mover instead, simply because if I can't convince people in a non-enforcement situation (this message board) that I'm legal, odds of convincing an LEO on the side of the road are nil. I find this extremely discouraging.

- Entirely apart from the move, I do enjoy driving the truck. I may want to go from Houston up to Iowa for the Trucker's Jamboree. I may take it up to Dallas for GATS. I plan to attend some of the American Truck Historical Society events.

- I have a valid commercial driver license, class A. I have a valid (and not forged) DOT physical that I pay for out of my own pocket (I use MDnow, an urgent care facility here in Florida, as my primary care physician has no idea what a DOT physical is). I am not trying to "get away" with running this truck on an operator license.

- I maintain a log book when I drive the truck, even though I don't believe I am required to by law. Perfect example of a case where it's easier to do some extra paperwork than it is to have a legal debate on the side of the road.

- Likewise, I do enter scales. Even when they say commercial vehicles only. I know I look like a commercial vehicle, and I would rather explain my status to the scalemaster at the scale than try to explain it after they've had to hunt me down. I don't try to hide anything from anyone. Ironically, several people have told me I am "asking for trouble" by doing this.

- Fuel does kill me, but that is the cost of having a hobby. 5000 miles per year equals around 1000 gallons in fuel, or around $2,500 at current fuel prices. Many people spend more than that on fuel for a boat, on country club memberships, on flying lessons, what have you.

- If IFTA membership was just a matter of paying a $150 fee and that's that, I would do so in a heartbeat, just to avoid the hassle. It's not. IFTA is a bureaucratic nightmare. If it was a simple matter to ensure people pay their fuel tax in the state where they burn the fuel (rather than where they buy it), why don't we require cars to have IFTA stickers? Because people would riot, that's why. The sad thing is, it probably all averages out anyway.

- I currently "run" nowhere, except little 20 or 30-mile trips around Florida to enjoy the truck. I have never been paid a single penny by anyone for hauling freight with this truck. I currently have no intention to haul anything that belongs to anyone but myself with this truck.

- If I ever do change my mind on that, I will go get operating authority, IRP, IFTA, the whole nine yards. At that point, it becomes the cost of doing business, regardless of my personal feelings.

- I will be very surprised if a judge believes you when you claim my laundry, school books, scratched-up furniture and my personal computers, that I can power on, log into and show contain personal files, constitute commercial freight.

- However, by the time I get to that point, I will be broke paying for a lawyer trying to prove my innocence. And lost wages to appear in court. And so on and so forth. Even fuel at double the price doesn't begin to rival that.

- Finally, I did ask a similar question several months ago. I've been in negotiations with an employer in Houston for months, and it's taken a lot longer than planned to work out all the details. I have not actually made a move yet.

- In fact, I have never had a trailer hooked up to the truck since I purchased it in June.

- Finally, I have a desk job. I do not make my money in trucking (with my truck or anyone else's); I make my money designing and implementing computer networks. This, coupled with the fact that I miss my days on the road, was the motivation for entering into the trucking hobby to begin with. I am not out to undercut anyone's rates, legally or otherwise; I DON'T HAUL FREIGHT! Surely I'm not the only ex-trucker who ended up getting bitten by the diesel bug?

Is there anything else I can help clear up?

- Slightly frustrated viking

 

I'm not crazy about the idea of removing an axle, but taking the fifth wheel off is not a bad idea. I've actually considered that in the past. Thanks for the suggestion.