Seward Motor Freight in Seward NE

The reefer unit has a plate? Seems like it would be easier to avoid paying the tax in the first place instead of waiting to get credit back. It’s the same fuel just not taxed. If people had separate tanks they could run dyed fuel for their APU.

 

Yes,our reefers have VIN numbers and plates(DOT checks them when they do level inspections on us,including the registration) and our APUs run off the fuel tanks from the tractors so we can’t put red dye fuel in them. Some states will dip the tractor or reefer tanks if they see fit (Montana is especially known for this) to check for red dye fuel and if that happens the company can be charged with fuel tax evasion

 

Yes, that’s why I said if someone had a separate tank they could run dyed fuel for their APU. Didn’t realize you had a trailer plate and a reefer plate. I only know one guy who pulls a reefer and he runs dyed fuel in his.

 

can’t put dyed fuel in reefer? It’s not paying for highway tax.

asking for a friend.

 

He might be able to get away with it.
Some states are cracking down on fuel tax evasion (Montana,Missouri,New York and North Carolina to name a few). New York especially has a hard on for it because most of fueling stations located on Indian reservation land sell untaxed red dye diesel fuel and they know some truckers will try to top their tanks off with it.
Naturally, the powers that be in Albany aren’t happy about it!

 

Lots of places sell dyed fuel. Go to any small fuel stop or co-op and you can get it. I’m not talking about running it in the truck. There is zero reason why you can’t run it in a reefer unit since a reefer is not an on highway motor vehicle, that’s why your company gets a credit back for the gallons of clear diesel they run in the reefer tank. If it were considered an on highway vehicle nobody would get any credit back for burning clear diesel. Your truck fuel pays the IFTA.

 

It’s no different than a farmer burning red fuel and driving his tractor down the road. He can’t get in trouble because his tractor isn’t considered an on road vehicle.

 

I know lots of places sell dyed fuel-we have it in Massachusetts as well but it’s strictly for off highway use(ATVs,agricultural,snowmobiles,lawn care/chainsaws,lawnmowers,etc.) and placarded as such.
As it is since the reefers we use are registered like motor vehicles we’re not supposed to be using it. And our reefers are CARB certified and we have enough issues dealing with California and their regulations!
I don’t make the rules, I just abide by them.

 

Show me some kind of proof that a reefer is a motor vehicle. And also explain to me why it’s ok for your company to get a credit back on taxes paid on the reefer fuel (since it’s not an on highway motor vehicle) but it’s bad to just not pay the tax in the first place. I would think it has more to do with a mega carrier saying no red fuel because the people they hire can’t be trusted to not get the truck and reefer tanks confused more than it has to do with it being a “law” or not. Unless your trailer is magic and can go down the road by itself without the truck pulling it it’s not a motor vehicle.