Stopped by the DOT man 2 blocks from the yard.

That's the way to handle any LEO's inquisitions. It pays to be right. My hat is off to you.

I pulled into a inspection station set up in a rest area in Kansas while I was in the service hauling a permitted load ( specialized D8 dozer ) and you could see the eyes of the inspector get real wide. I had a rented Ryder tractor with a Navy 60t trailer and that dozer made the truck look real small. They figured they'd have a field day ripping me apart but when I came up to him and had my green ID card in hand his smile went away and he said go ahead. I did tell him I had all my permits and everything was in line for inspection but he just said no you're the government so go ahead.

On the same trip with another load I went through New Mexico and at the entry port I couldn't find my cab card. It was in the book but just not where it should have been. He told me you don't need it anyway since you're active duty with a government load. Ok, I went on. Then when I was leaving the state that port had a different idea and told me I had to pay $90 something dollars if I wanted to go on. Of course I couldn't explain to him what was said at the entry port because he just wouldn't listen. He couldn't understand that the federal government should not have to pay their own road use tax on a federal highway. But I paid the fee anyway because it's much better to be polite and deal with the problem later the right way.

It's just a shame that the states couldn't be more uniform on all the regulations.

 

Yeah gotta love those inspections, most states will pull you over for no reason just to check you out. I was on I35 south of des moines and saw a squad flying up in the hammer lane and then stops and rolls with me for about 2 miles an I was like ah what the heck, I cant even speed so I backed it down one or two to see if he was following me sure enough. One mile later here come the cherries flashing so I pulled on the exit ramp and he said well you didnt do anything wrong I just want to check your paperwork out. So I grabbed everything and he punched it in on his computer and printed a sheet off, signed his digital box and was on my way in 15minutes. But it does help to be friendly right away, cause when I jumped out I said good afternoon officer hows your day going. An from there on we just bs'd in his car while he punched everything in. First impressions will make for an easy inspection if your nice or a full blown lets find everything wrong if your a crabby butt.

 

My policy was, clean clothes, polished truck, impeccable tiedown's and tight tarps and impeccable books and all in order in a aluminum clipboard. Worked everytime and at Watkins-Shepard you got $50. I never once had a DOT guy look in my trailer.

 

Used to haul cattle north out of MS to IL, IN, southern OH for feeding out.
Highlight of my life was going thru Louiville, KY during KY Derby Week.
All the sports would have their convertables out; washed, waxed, nice, and drape them with beautiful women in fine dresses and such HATS as you've never seen.
Now visualize... Its 1955-59.
Three bullhaulers running down thru the then highways right thru town.
Lined up in right lane and clipping off the lights real good.

Sports come steaming up in inside lane; straw hats and big cigars, with the ladies either in back seat or along side their man.

Life is good,,, Dressed up.... Good male companionship... A little drinkee..
Oh, look- There are some cows up there...

Oh! Oh! We miss a light, apply brakes, cows shift to brace, then cut loose with urine and feces. Lots of splatter out thru the trailer slats; awareness dawns on the sports, convertable is braked; ####, load behimd is braking and spattering to. Gun it, run the red light and get out of range..

These instances were almost as predictable as the old F8 FORDS that whistled very loud when you released the brake pedal. Pull up to a light, brake and hold it down. Car pull up alongside. Two people in it start chatting and ignore the light. You check both ways for their safety; release the foot pedal, air dumping whistles loudly. Keep the clutch down and goose your engine and watch them casually drive off across the intersection while you sit there waiting for the light to change.

Ah, one took his jollies where he found them back then.......

 

Whenever I train a FNG flatbedder, I always stress that the neater your load, straps and tarps look the less you'll be messed with by the DOT.

 

Worked for me too.But I did get a warning ticket for defective brake light.Funny thing was it was working before and after hey I will take a warning any day More points for the DOT Officer.

 

$50 How much of a tip do you give them for pulling you over You could make good money just by DOT Insp"s

 

Got pulled around back a week ago I 35 south of Ames, Ia. Was bob tail. The officer was pleasant and so was I. I had everything in order and was on my way in no time with a pretty little sticker for the windshield. Attitude good or bad will dictate how the situation goes.

 

I had a Torrance, California wannaBee D.O.T cop write me up for being ONE inch over bridge on a 48 foot trailer he THOUGHT "looked" longer than that.
He GUESSED where the king-pin was in the fifth wheel, and proceeded to measure to the center of the rear axle. Came up with one inch over.
Did I get the benefit of the doubt?
NopE!
He wrote anyway, and I signed.
BuT,...............................
REAL D.O.T. officers to whom I spoke told me that they NEVER hassle 48 foot trailers with tandems slid all the way to the rear.

Anyway,
As the wannaBee D.O.T. inspected the Big truck's registration, he asked me what year it was.
It was our local city Big truck, a GMC General, vintage around late 1970's --- early 80's --- and I told him I wasn't sure, but I knew it was a NEW Big truck.
The look on his face, as I held a straight face, was priceless.
Would that be considered a "bad attitude" on my part?

 

Reminds me of the time I was riding with an older dr.that was full of B.S.Went through a D.L. check.Officer said lets see your D.L.s you should have seen the look on his face when that dr.told him that his brother had to use them that day to go to Houston.Priceless.