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Transporting an empty trailer with no tag

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by DeDeDispatcher, Jul 30, 2014.

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  1. Jul 30, 2014 #1
    DeDeDispatcher

    DeDeDispatcher Bobtail Member

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    Jul 30, 2014
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    Ok, being told two different stories here. One of my drivers just got pulled over because the empty trailer- non loadable- that he was transporting had no tag. He says the cop told him that he needed to have a temporary tag on it to transport and that he was letting him go, but that he should have impounded the trailer. However, my broker is telling me that everything is fine, that the trailer doesn't need a tag because its not loaded and will not be loaded, its just going from point a to point b. So.... who is lying? the cop or the broker? I don't want to have to drop this lane if I don't have to.
     
    DeDeDispatcher, Jul 30, 2014
    DeDeDispatcher, Jul 30, 2014
    #1
    Mr huds Thanks this.
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  3. Jul 30, 2014 #2
    Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    It needs some sort of registration. If you are in the business of transporting trailers like that, you can get transporter tags (similar to a dealer tag) that can be moved from trailer to trailer.
     
    Pedigreed Bulldog, Jul 30, 2014
    Pedigreed Bulldog, Jul 30, 2014
    #2
    281ric, double yellow, jbatmick and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Jul 30, 2014 #3
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

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    Cop is right. You need a transport tag to transport an empty trailer. You need actual registration if it is loaded.
     
    double yellow, Jul 30, 2014
    double yellow, Jul 30, 2014
    #3
  5. Jul 30, 2014 #4
    MrIT

    MrIT Light Load Member

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    Pittsburgh
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    I am not a trucker (not for another 3 weeks anyway) - but I can assure you that the only way a trailer would not need a tag is if it was being transported by another trailer. I am guessing if this is a 53ft box or reefer this would not be possible.
     
    MrIT, Jul 30, 2014
    MrIT, Jul 30, 2014
    #4
  7. Jul 30, 2014 #5
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    you can pull 3 flats at a time. with no tags what so ever.

    i think it depends on the ownership status of the trailer.

    one company i worked for, purchased a used fuel tanker from a repair shop in maine. i dragged it back to utah with nothing more then a peace of paper that said "bill of sale". no one bothered me.

    another company i worked for. purchased 3 brand new flats straight from the manufacture in arkansas. you could kind of say that was a load. 2 flats loaded on one. i dragged those back to utah, with an envelope for each trailer. have no idea on the paperwork inside the envelopes, other then owners manuals in each one. again, no one bothered me.

    none of those just purchased trailers could haul loads till they had a plate, registration, and a unit number front and back of trailer.
     
    snowwy, Jul 30, 2014
    snowwy, Jul 30, 2014
    #5
  8. Jul 30, 2014 #6
    passingthru69

    passingthru69 Road Train Member

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    Alot depends on the state and the police.
    Just as easy to get a transporter tag like the other poster stated.
    Stacked flatbeds going to the same company or dealer, just needs a tag for the bottom trl.
    They are new or even a used set.

    Still needs what I call a toway or transporter tag..
     
    passingthru69, Jul 30, 2014
    passingthru69, Jul 30, 2014
    #6
  9. Jul 30, 2014 #7
    DeDeDispatcher

    DeDeDispatcher Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for all the advice guys, I just informed the carrier owner to get transporter tags for his trucks so we can stay on this lane.
     
    DeDeDispatcher, Jul 30, 2014
    DeDeDispatcher, Jul 30, 2014
    #7
    jbatmick Thanks this.
  10. Jul 30, 2014 #8
    Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

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    I run power only exclusively, for the past 10 years. Yes there are guys who move an empty trailer with no license plate and don't get caught. But legally you either need a temp tag or a transporter tag. A transporter tag can only be used on an empty trailer or a piece of equipment that is incapable of hauling other freight, a generator for example.
    I see guys leave the factory all the time who don't bother to put on their transporter tag, and the local cops in the area have a good time with them.
     
    Studebaker Hawk, Jul 30, 2014
    Studebaker Hawk, Jul 30, 2014
    #8
    Crassius, passingthru69 and double yellow Thank this.
  11. Jul 31, 2014 #9
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I'm assuming you mean he's pulling a trailer by itself down the highway, not pulling a flatbed with a trailer on it. A trailer is a vehicle that needs to be registered if being operated on a public highway. That registration can be a temp tag, a dealers transport tag, or a regular registered vehicle. You also didn't say if the trailer was just missing the tag but had the registration or it wasn't registered at all. In Ca. it's legal to move heavy equipment from job site to job site with just an off road type registration. This is a vehicle that normally gets it's use on construction sites only and only sees the highway when getting moved to another job site. Like a 5000 gal water truck.
     
    Allow Me., Jul 31, 2014
    Allow Me., Jul 31, 2014
    #9
  12. Jul 31, 2014 #10
    turnanburn

    turnanburn Medium Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2011
    central Vermont
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    One of the reasons this is a little bit of a gray area is that being properly and legally registered/tagged is a DMV, regular LEO thing, and most of the things we worry about are DOT/FMCSA things. Not that either can't call you on it. Another thing you can do is just register it. It costs $49 to buy tags for a year here in VT, and sometimes that's easier than getting transport tags from the state the trailer is in, as they issued by the state the vehicle is being transported out of. This won't work if it gets all mucked up by sales tax and title fees, but for trailers I've bought for me it saved some time.
     
    turnanburn, Jul 31, 2014
    turnanburn, Jul 31, 2014
    #10
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