IFTA, CDL, Scales, and Pickups w/trailers!

As some may know I was trying to buy a horse trailer a bit back, I finally got a good one lined up. The trailer is already being paid for now, as we speak, it will be paid off in 11 weeks. The trailer is a 7 Horse w/ a weekend package.

It is approximately 37 feet long 7 wide and 7 tall. Empty weight is 16k give or take a few. With 7 horses, lets say they are thin horses at 1000 lbs each, and tack we are looking at 22k on the trailer fully loaded.

I want to avoid IFTA. As I understand it, IFTA is not done by the actual weight, but by the rated weight... correct? So if my combo is rated for 30 tons, whether I ever haul 30 tons or not, I will still pay ifta, yes?

Does length have anything to do with my trailer requiring a CDL to drive? I have one, but I would like to know in case I ever lend it to family members as only one other family member does have one.

Do I have to go into scales with the pickup/trailer rig?

It is my understanding that I will have to register it with USDOT, because I plan to cross state lines with it, even if it is a pickup?

Does the 'RV' clause kick in at all as it DOES have a weekender?

My plan is to haul EXEMPT livestock (at times for hire) with it, exempt meaning personal pet horses, cattle, or so forth. Not show horses, race horses, bucking cattle, so on.

My husband, being the refusing to pay anything more then he absolutely has to, says that the best thing to do is to just say its our horses and we are going trail riding.

Also... anyone have a good light truck that can pull 22k >.> because the only truck I can find to pull is rated at 26,001, and it weighs 8k itself!

 

I can't wait to see the replies on this .
IFTA and CDL ratings are based on GVWR not actual weight .
This will help you get the answers your husband doesn't want to hear .
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/online-registration/onlineregdescription.htm
Don't even try the RV and the horses are yours stories . They won't fly .
Dodge forum members will tell you a 1 ton dually can handle it no problem but the actual factory tow limit on those trucks is 16,000 lbs .
There is no length limit requiring a CDL .
Scale requirements vary from state to state . Watch the signs .
Haven't you ever noticed how many 1 ton trucks you see OOS at the scales ? They are favorite targets . Try playing games and you'll lose .
This link may be helpful http://www.equispirit.com/info/faq.htm

 

Its a good thing hubby isnt the boss of my transport thing lol. I registered with US DOT, I am currently debating an MC # since I only plan and only will haul exempt AND inter not intra state I am still up in the air about that.

That trailer link was helpful, I already did the FMCSA thing, it said I had to have a US DOT # but did not need a MC #.

 

O.K. , on the truck thing . Many will say it's worth the extra expense and paperwork to go ahead and get a truck that requires registering with IFTA . I know hotshotters that ran those weights for years with a 1 ton with no problem . Then a few of them moved up to Freightliner FL 70's and every one said they wished they'd made the move long ago . Everything is much better -handling , stopping , visibility , quality of service , etc . Actually for your purposes an FL 50 would do but they are pretty hard to find set up for hauling . The Chevy 4500 is also a good truck . I know a family operation that has 2 of them with over 200,000 miles each with no major problems . You'll get hassled far less by the DOT than if you had a 1 ton .
You can also get PrePass if you have IFTA . I've never hear of anyone registered under 26,000 lbs. having Prepass .

 

If you are talking those small freightliners your nuts they are 80k used! I am looking at getting the truck for 10 or less heck I'm currently eyeing a 350 ford 1991 beat up but runs strong for 1500

Less is more till the business starts earning its own $ to spend lol

 

Much better that an F-350. Especially a 91 model. Those have the old IDI diesel in them, and unless modded they are non-turbo engines. This means they are weak and smoke a LOT under heavy load.

 

That statement RIGHT THERE answers all your questions. CDL is never required for any personal vehicle whatsoever. There are 70+ year olds who arguably shouldn't be allowed to drive cars driving RVs that are probably heavier than your truck/trailer will be, WITH AIRBRAKES. And in michigan, air brakes do not require a special license unless it's a commercial vehicle.

You also need a chauffeurs license, which is a type of CDL, to...drive a 4 wheeler for business purposes (couriers, parts guys, etc).

But. You just said "the business". That means you are 100% commercial. Infact, you need a Class A CDL. Class A is for single units weighing more than 26,000LB or anything pulling a trailer weighing more than 10,000lb (unless it's personal use, which is exempt).

Also, I don't know where you're looking that you're only seeing small freightliners for $80,000. It's easy to find early 90s semi tractors in good running order for $10,000 or so, and I could get a 53 foot dry van for even less...in good running order.

Also...you never mentioned your annual safety inspection stickers. I don't know what requires those but you need to know before you get pulled into a scale!


Also, I wanted to mention something about scales. You don't need to enter a scale unless there is a sign saying you need to. Infact, a Wyoming DOT officer told me this. If the sign says "All trucks over 4 tons must weigh", then all trucks over 4 tons must weigh...which also includes a 75 year old grandpa driving his 20,000lb RV. If the sign says "All commercial vehicles must weigh", that means .....well, even if you're commercial and in a pickup truck.....

And you're also required to enter livestock/agricultural inspections in some states.

 

You can get 99-00 Ford F350 4x4 7.3L turbo Diesel crew cab for around $10K
Also if you look on truck paper or horse trailer world there are Freightliners less than $25K for sale that you could probably buy close to $10K....

http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2222379
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2108411
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2233120

There are also a lot of Ford F450-F550 in the $10K-$20K range.
with one of those you will not be overweight.

I ran a F550 grossing 38K lbs I was not overweight on any of my axles. and still had 3000lbs that could be put on my drive axle.

Is your trailer a tripple axle or tandem?

 

There is not and never has been a 1 ton truck (3500) that could handle a trailer and load like you are talking about. Yes there has been some people out there over the years that have used a 1 ton like a 2 ton truck and been lucky enough Not to have killed someone or themselves! It's more than a gvw problem. Even with brakes on the trailer and an anti sway system installed that trailer and load will turn a 1 ton 180 degrees faster than I can spell skid. The truck's brakes can't handle it, the Tires can't handle the load or side forces, the sway bars aren't heavy enough, the shocks aren't designed for those kinds of forces, loads or travel lengths, the frame of the truck won't handle the twist or weight of that kind of load. Plus the drive train (rear differential, driveshaft, u-joints. driveshaft support, yokes,tranny and engine, engine and trans mounts, cooling systems) were never intended, designed or spec'd to handle anything even close to those types of stresses. It's much worse than trying to pull a 150k load with a tractor and trailer set up with an 80k max. In the case of the 1 ton you will get comfortable with it right up until some thing really bad happens to the truck or Lord forbid you get into an emergency situation and can't stop or steer it correctly. Then it's "Katy bar the door" as my dad used to say!