Straight Trucks or Vans Drivers

I pull RV's. Loaded, I have been DOT'd, level 1, twice last year.

I know of several that were dot'd when empty, pulling nothing, level 1's.

We used to be able to drive without worries when we were empty. Several states have been going after us with gusto. It seems odd, since alot of these bobtails (the big guys) think they can drive around without logs and not enter scales.

I have been called in empty without signs by the scales, weight about 7,000 lbs, in Louisiana, Arizona, Nebraska.

 

Sprinter has different models . The heavier models have to log (over 10,000 lbs. gvwr )

 

< 16000 tag don't have to scale
26000 do scale
any placards have to stop
<10000 can run on duty not driving per company policy
It has been a few years since I did some expedited so the laws may have changed. Of course it wouldn't be the first time the DOT lied to me either.

I thought it was odd that I could run on duty not driving in a van while driving. If freight was light the little operation that I worked for would put me in a minivan to take a part to a plant that had shut down production until the parts arrived. They would call every hour wanting to know how far out I was. It was like driving kids across country. "Are we there yet" "How much longer" After driving 8 hours in a minivan with one 3# box I was wore out. But it was legal to run twice that. Why is it if I am in a big truck with an air ride seat and can drive comfortably for well over 10 hours I would be illegal. (at that time) My company payed .19 mile for van .23 straight truck .29 tractor at that time. I hated taking a van.

 

Interesting.

16,000 does not have to scale. I guess the guy who weighed at 13,500 and was plated for 16,000 and bypassed the scale will appreciate this. It cost him 85.00 for the ticket. Scalemaster told him ALL commercial vehicles must enter after chasing him down.

 

It has been a few years since I put it to the test. Maybe I was lied to in the first place but I used to blow by the scales in a box truck all the time and never had one come after me. It could also very by state.

 

I forgot to mention, that the ticket was at the Tennessee scale on I-65 southbound at the KY border.

 

Maybe it just depends on the scale or officer on duty. I have never ran 65 threw TN mainly 40 and 81 with no hassles. But I have heard of some nightmare stories on 75 before.

 

After searching threw both federal and state regulations for a couple of hours I am no closer to finding clarification on what the law says. The only 2 things that I can find are vehicles over 10001 classified as commercial (which makes no sense because we all know someone that drives a 1-ton as their personal vehicle (GVW 10000-15000lbs)) and another stating that you should follow the signs instruction at the weigh station. Around here they say "All Trucks Must Stop." I guess the next time you roll by in a Ford Ranger you better pull in.

 

You really want to be confused?

In the state of Washington, No trucks are allowed in the third lane.

The officer pulled over two friends who were pulling a boat each in the third lane. They were commercial. The third one they got was a private car pulling a boat. Definition of truck per the officer is any vehicle pulling another vehicle.

 

Why would panther shut down a van after 16 hours. If you do a 6 hour run and then sit for 6 hours then you can just run 4 more hours?
Or is that a 16 hour long run and then you go out for 5 hours.

I know at express-1 we take haz-mat on vans if it under 1000lb.
the rate is I thank 0.80-1.05 plus fuel charge. I am in a D-unit and have never be asked about my hours I have to keep up with that.

has panther got the bug's worked out of their logging program? I was talking to one driver and he said,if he goes to wal mart then he is on line 5?? and if he is not back in 1/2 hour then he is put on line 4 and his clock is running?