Yep, I'm afraid so scoot. Once you get over 21001 lbs, you better have that CDL in hand, if you was hauling commercially, that limit could be as low as 10001.
Speaking of the DOT blitz, I got caught up in it at a rest area in New York state off I-86 pulling a 37 foot 5th wheel bound for Baker, New York. The ole lady had a gyppo tummy that morning so we hadn't stopped for our usual breakfast, which is where I usually catch my log book up.
Stopping on the off ramp when I realized what was ahead -- I had only just gotten started putting in my time when the ole woman yipped and squeaked that there was a copper at the window. Sure enough, there he was. I rolled the window down and said "howdy," and he said, "what you doing buddy?"
Nothing for it but to follow him up to the rest area parking lot where I was ushered gleefully into the maximum inspection area by two tough looking DOT types. They started right in -- log book, registration, insurance, BOL, note from my mother? The works!
I went along, knowing in my heart that this could get real ugly real quick, so I was polite, cheerful, very cooperative, and quick to pull the required papers out from hiding. I also played the bumbling old war-vet, disabled on social security, real old-guy routine for all it was worth. I was really screwed and I knew it over that damned log book. But I was confidant that they wouldn't find anything else to complain about -- I run a tight ship mechanically.
They gave me hell about the log book and I had to fill it out then and there right up to the minute. Fortunately I had the days entry started, just no hard data. They gave my hauler and trailer complete check over's, but the truck is near new and the trailer was new, so no complaints there.
The lead inspector gave me more hell about the fact that his PC-Miler program showed that I needed 45 minutes more than I was showing to cover the miles from my starting point to the rest area. I had no real answer for that one as, for once, I actually had followed my dispatch sheet directions to the letter. I figured that I should be long, not short.
But the upshot was that my "aw shucks" routine and lack of anything other than the log violation made him go easy on this old fart and he issued no citations to me. Not only that, he went ahead and gave me my windshield inspection sticker good till September. (Worth 25 bucks to my ComData account from my broker) Then there was the CDL "good advice" speech he put on that lasted for fifteen minutes. Then we talked about Vietnam and the Seabees for a half hour. (I was wearing my Seabee Vet hat you see)
I sedately drove out of the inspection area and parked and at a rapid pace walked inside the rest area facility to **** out some of the bricks I'd collected in the last hour and a half. On the way in I spoke with a young Seabee reservist who'd been shut down for some violation for ten hours, (He was on the phone shouting at his dispatcher in Washington State), and on the way out I met up with a trucker that had received a violation for a low tire on his trailer. He was really brassed off because the DOT guys wouldn't let him drive five miles to a tire shop for a repair, they made him call a tire service truck out to the rest area. Oh, and they issued him a pricy citation too.
We got in our hauler and beat feet out of there, and ran into three more inspection stations later in the day. I'd delivered my trailer by then and had removed all evidence of being a commercial hauler from the truck so whizzed right on by. The next day saw us in Pennsylvania and went by four or five more inspection setups.
Stayed in Cleveland overnight and picked up a repo trailer down by the old water front in the center of the city, then headed for Michigan. From there to the toll road saw a cop busy writing a citation just about every 300 yards, man they was busy, but it seemed they was only looking for speeders and weren't paying any particular attention to truckers. I believe they stopped five or six people in front of, to my rear, and on both sides of me as I trundled along, cruise set at 5 below the speed limit. We made it safe to the toll road, gained speed, and delivered that trailer that evening about 5PM.
The DOT inspector I dealt with told me that there was five northeastern states putting on a big DOT push that week, and brothers, they was. I haven't seen that many DOT people and cops in one spot since the "Blues Brother" movie. Around quitting time near one Pennsylvania rest area I counted sixteen cop cars, seven DOT pickups, Three DOT vans, and several what were obviously undercover units all parked way back in a corner. They had a passenger bus there hauling all the troops back into town somewhere, so I supposed that they were going to create some hate and discontent the next day too.
Crash is correct that if you do receive a citation, don't try to argue with the DOT guy or cop. He just pulls out his books and writes another one for you. Best to be cheerful, smile, be agreeable, and mostly, have all your paperwork and equipment in top condition. If you do get written up, consult a lawyer and in most cases, fight the ticket. I've been to court on any number of citations and beat the rap on most. On a good percentage of the ones I didn't get out of outright, I was able to get most of then reduced in both scale and price. If it's a serious matter, get your nit-picking lawyer into court and let him do most of the talking. Chances are he can get you off. But if not, don't stop there, appeal any ruling against you if there is the slightest iota of a chance a mistake was made by the DOT or if you feel, strongly, that you was robbed. I got a DOT audit result mostly thrown out once by doing that, and later on, a further appeal got the whole thing dismissed.
So it goes on the highways to heaven. Medical appointments this week, some mods to the hauler, and we are off to haul more top-end RV trailers to our brothers in Canada.
dont blame ya cheaper when you buy it in bulk and use it in everything
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