TXDOT after me again today

[Dean Olson]

Went tractor shopping today in my 2500 Dodge pickup with my 14K gooseneck trailer. TXDOT lights me up. Checks all my docs and writes me up, warning, for no inspection sticker on my trailer. I expressed the opinion that it only needed a DOT inspection if it was commercial use. He said your correct, are you commercial, NO say I.

Then you don't need a DOT inspection but you do need a state inspection because your trailer is over 4500GVWR.

I have several trailers over 4500 and have been dragging them for a lot of years and never heard of such a thing.

Called my mechanic, who is a state & federal inspector and he had never heard of that and hasn't been inspecting trailers unless they have come in from out of state or are commercial.

At any rate for $14.95 I'm getting an inspection done on Monday.

 

[showcrop]

I noticed driving by the local weigh station two days ago that they were having a "special" on light trailers. There were three of them, one goose neck and two bumper pulls lined up with no tow truck.

 

[john in la]

1) Your mechanic, who is a state & federal inspector does not know the rules. That is Sad.

2) We need inspection on all trailers. Since a trailer has no glass they put a X where the date goes to stop you from taking it home and sticking it in the windshield of your pickup that will not pass inspection.

3) If it were not for bad luck some of you guys would have no luck. I have over 3 million miles and have been stopped/inspected 5 times and I pull hazmat most of my career.
Once in Ind I was asked by DOT standing by the scale to see my bingo card and log book. (Shows you how long I been driving.)
Once in Knoxville Tn stopped at scale for no head board. Was pulling a back haul of lumber on a low boy.
Once in Banning Calif I was pulled in the pit area and inspected.
Once at a scale in La I was asked for my log book but did not need one. Within 100 miles of my house.
And I was pulled over once in Baton Rouge La by Dot for a class 2 road side inspection when I was pulling a gasoline tanker.

I have never recieved a ticket because the Tn DOT allowed me to drop the trailer and go to town. I bought a piece of 3/4 plywood and tied it on the back of the truck. They allowed me to use that to get out of the state.

 

[Joe N E Texas]

You don't have to have an inspection if you have farm plates. You can read the rules on the Texas DPS website.

 

[MSD]

Guess I was lucky. Just got back to SD with my Dodge and 12,000# grosss bumper trailer form a trip to West TX. Went by each scale and passed a lot of cops with cars pulled over. Had 2 tractors tied on for a load.

 

[Dean Olson]

They're hammering everybody for anything and everything inside the golden triangle in Tx. Golden triangle is every thing inside Dallas Houston Austin and San Antonio. Major revenue is being produced right now.

It's bonus to the repair shops as they are extra busy doing repairs due to TXDOT, local,county,constable, enforcement.

I guess it's external_link stimulating the economy.

 

[Dean Olson]

The real pisser is, from my understanding, that this is more CVSA "points" against my CDL even though this had nothing to do with commercial operation. It was not a moving violation.

Any insight into that?

 

[john in la]

8. Do tickets or warnings that drivers receive while operating their personal vehicles impact the new Safety Measurement System (SMS)?
No. Tickets or warnings that drivers receive while operating their personal vehicles are State citations and do not count in the new measurement system.
CSA 2010 FAQ

 

[john_Bud]

(quoted from post at 10:17:32 04/23/11) They're hammering everybody for anything and everything inside the golden triangle in Tx. Golden triangle is every thing inside Dallas Houston Austin and San Antonio. Major revenue is being produced right now.

Almost right. They are hammering everybody for anything EVERYWHERE and not just TX. And they are certainly producing revenue off the backs of anyone with a trailer.

 

[MMfan]

1) While this law has been on the books for sometime, it has only been inforced starting this year. 90% of anyone that I talk to, knows nothing about it.
2) What is sad is that the sate of louisianna can't even aford to make a special sticker for trailers. The Texas trailer stickers are thier own.
3) We get the picture, you are old and have driven a lot. Thanks for the old war stories and the "better than you" attitude.