So you want to hot-shot? (Will be updated/edited frequently)

You're not eligible for farm plates just because you live on somebody's ranch. Those plates are specifically for use by farm or ranch owners actually engaged in production agriculture:

https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/cve/Farm.htm

Additionally, you now have to have your Ag/Timber Tax Exemption number from the Comptroller's Office when you go to the County Tax-Assessor's Office to register. Violations involved with those Ag/Timber numbers can be prosecuted as second degree felonies now if they really want to.

What you're trying to do is circumvent the law to give you a competitive advantage over those that play by the rules. Even if you could get by with it, it's not worth it for the few bucks you could save.

 

I'm not just criticizing, I'm trying to help you. I'm just going by what you stated that you were interested in doing and telling you that's not the way to do it because it isn't legal.

You want to use farm plates to haul the equipment you use in a commercial business. Additionally, you want to haul for hire with the same equipment using farm plates. Isn't that what you stated that you are interested in doing? All of that is illegal.

 

Yes, you'll still need all of that if you choose to haul for hire and do it legally. Having the farm plates while hauling for hire, though, is just asking for trouble. You would probably get by with using them when you are just hauling your tractor and shredder, even though it is technically illegal because you are using that equipment for commercial purposes.

You might could even get by with the farm plates if you were hauling hay for hire, or hauling some other ag commodity for hire. But, as soon as you put on a few joints of drill pipe going back into Houston for inspection, or some casing tools going to a location, you're going to have a lot of trouble. Those are the higher-valued things to haul in your area with hotshot equipment, so why make it difficult to haul them?

You just can't avoid the License and Weight guys in your area - they're everywhere. You're going to have to explain yourself on the side of the road frequently, and you're going to have to lie to get by with using the farm plates. Only you can determine whether or not that's worth it to you, but you won't get by with it at all with the oilfield stuff.

Having the numbers on your truck in conjunction with the farm plates is just asking for trouble. It's just like having a big target on you. Expect to have your tanks stuck on a regular basis because when they see you running farm plates, they're also going to assume that you're using farm diesel, too. Basically, you can expect the farm plates to make your life miserable just to save a few dollars.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

I can't answer that question, but there are some guys here who do the same thing and they'll be able to give you some advice on that. flatbedcarrier and some of these other guys that deal with this daily can really help you out, so you're in good hands.