This idiot doesn't know what he's talking about . Open the drivers door and read the stick . Then go read the one on the trailer it will tell you everything you need to know .
I got in a tiff with ADOT, Az, a few years back with my 3500 dual rear wheel ram and a 32" goose neck. I am not commercial, only personal use, BUT , my 32' tandam dual put me over the max GVW for non-cdl., so I sell my tandam dual 32' and buy a single wheel 32' with the same GVW and switch to a single wheel 3500 dodge, and it's O.K. Here's something better, friend has a 5500 ram with a 45' travel trailer weighing a total loaded of 38,300 ad he's fine without a CDL because it's a R.V. Talk about government not knowing a damn thing.
It's my understanding that when they were working on the CDL requirements in the late 80s and very early 90s they wanted to include a catagory for big camper trailers and motor homes including some required training and testing but the ARRP threw a fit and threatened a letter writing campaign from their members protesting and claiming they were unfairly targeting older people.
TLDR Overall Length. This is common on many states. Remove the bed and it's a tractor not a truck. The other option is to have the gooseneck shortened. Federal DOT is pushing it Nationwide to fight non-CDL drivers and hotshotters "skirting" DOT regs.
Especially when you cross State lines. To make it worse, not everything you read on the internet matches up with how any individual officer interprets the law.
Maximum length laws are very old - likely predate you. Also Ohio isn't alone in the 65' law, many other states including neighbor Michigan have 65' max length. Compliance with the law is not hard at all when you know the law ahead of time - before picking out your truck and trailer for the big/long load you want to haul. Also it wasn't said in the video but people with motor homes that want to tow a trailer behind also get hit with the max length law if their motor home with trailer is too long in the state they traveling.
I'll agree with that,should be the same nationwide, it's a federal thing,interstate commerce is federally regulated all load laws should be the same nationwide under federal regulations!
I have a buddy that used to be a Motor Carrier Enforcement officer here in Ohio. He quit to hecome a trucker, he couldnt deal with his boss putting unofficial quotas. Said his boss wanted him to stop a minimum of 6 trucks per shift. (Quotas are illegalbin Ohio)
No they don’t you have to know length laws fl is the same the 65ft rule what you have to do is get over demional permit You can buy a annual permit and you can run that truck and trailer
Bastards got me for $600.oo. 'Improper operating authority' is what they called it and because I was from out of the country they wanted their pound of flesh in cash on the barrel head or me and the truck would go to jail.
❤ This is called people writing laws they know nothing about it a sad day when people sitting behind a desk cause the real working people so much trouble 😢
Great video! I loved my aluminum flatbed on my hotshot truck. My trailer was only a 30' so I didn't have to worry about the length. There's a ton of 40' hotshots out there running illegally in all kinds of ways. I'm running a Pete 387 and a 48' flat now.
Those rules are pretty standard across the country except Indiana it actually 60ft although they aren't as strict at enforcing it. I have my truck registered as a tractor with my 53ft stepdeck and I routinely run 3ft overhang in front and 4ft in back.
The last few lines about the truck and trailer is the most telling but you did a good job answering the comments before hand and with a good background on the trailer subject...
Important Notes: Indianas max length is 60’ Not all states will allow a truck to be registered as a tractor, is included Kentucky. In order to get past this reg: truck has to be a registered as a tractor with the IRP office, no bed, and has to have a fifth wheel. However, with a fifth wheel, one can get a permit. Indiana has 90-day or year permit.
As a non cdl tow truck operator in Colorado with a light duty ( 1 ton chevy dual rear wheel standard cab gas engine hydraulic brakes 4x4 wrecker body/wheel lift & sling or known as combo bed ) as a for hire commercial tow company with PUC had no issue from c.d.o.t. towing a 1 ton crew cab 4x4 long bed that was towing a double stacker race car trailer that was fully loaded with all tools and race equipment that weighed in at 27,231 lbs and a lenght of 65 ft then add the tow truck weight of 13,000 and almost 21 feet length. Tell me again its not about the money and how its used and registered. But this was back in 1990's.
Back then and now, completely different breed of transport drivers out here. Truck driver shortage, pandemic, and lost jobs have led to many not very qualified individuals getting into the industry purely for the fast easy money and giving zero f's about becoming a professional and doing things right.
@@killer2600 SWIFT= Sure Wish I'd Finished Training. There is no "fast easy $$$$" in the trucking business. Owning a commercial truck is the short cut to bankruptcy, even IF one has his own "authority" & brokers his own loads. Rates don't pay enough to pay the bills & IF one doesn't go broke, one could make more $$$$$ per hour working at McD's!!!
I live in ohio, and my understanding of the revised code is if the truck is used to make money ( hauling anything not belonging to the owner for a profit), a cdl is required. The revised code also states that for private use, a cdl is not required. If it's used to haul a slid in camper, 5th wheel camper, or pull behind camper, it's then considered to be an rv, and no cdl is required . I have a 5500 ram and use it to haul my side by side and related camping gear on the flat bed and pull my bumper hitch camper. My overall length is 60 feet on the money. I've used it like this since i bought it in 2017 all over the United States. I've never been stopped by DOT or highway patrol anywhere. The truck is registered as a commercial vehicle and can not be registered as anything else since it came from the factory with a commercial designation. That my interpretation of the gray area of the law.
FMCSR states that anybody getting paid to haul anything must have a CDL, even in a half ton pickup, one of the reasons there is more than 1 classification of CDLs. It also requires everybody to keep a log & abide by the hours of service in every vehicle with a U.S.D.O.T. number on it.
Ohio has been unfriendly to big trucks for years. The MOFOs gave me a bullsh!t speeding ticket that was immediately reduced to an "equipment violation" after I hired a "Trucking Lawyer" & paid 4 1/2 times the speeding violation fine, BUT I didn't have a movong violation & points on my record! LOL
they have been around for a long time. i think the hotshot world has been pushing it long enough that ohio is taking notice and beginning to enforce it.
@@j.c.smithprojects That's what I was thinking. Several videos from Everything Autos in Gatlinburg, Tn seem to be them pulling hotshot rigs off of sharp curves and ditches where anyone with a little common sense would know not to drive down.
? - Don't know what the weight distribution would be on truck axles , but how hard would it be to move hitch pin well forward on your bed to shorten overall length. Have to make sure axle weights Ok and gooseneck clears rear of truck.
IF you move the hitch forward, you start running into clearance issues between the front of the trailor & corners of the bed when turning. That's the reason B&W & all gooseneck hitches are designed to sit in a certain place on the chassis. My B&W is mounted 4 ft ahead of the rear of the bed in pre-existing holes in the frame. The only hole I had to cut was through the floor of the bed to drop the ball into the receiver. One should set the load centered on the trailer axles' CL because the trailers flex & bend when the load is between front of the front spring mount & the front of the trailer's body. A gooseneck hitch more evenly distributes the load on the truck's ft & rr axles so one can put as much tongue weight on as he likes until the GVW on the 2 truck axles if reached. It's easier to carry a load than drag a load.
If I remember here in Florida there is something about a 5th wheel and a tractor in the laws. But then again you occasionally see a streched out semi tractor with a drom deck if i remember which is basically a flat bed on a semi.
It's more than just Ohio, Michigan and other states have a 65' maximum length. And enforcement has increased as we have gotten more people trying to get into the transportation industry in recent years; especially in the hotshot sector where non-CDL is seen as a no effort way to get in and start making money picking up lucrative loads. A word of caution for hotshots that do auto transport, if you haul 3 cars on a 3 car trailer in Michigan you're almost certainly going to be pulled over if a state cop is anywhere on your route - I don't know why they seem to pull over every single 3 car hauler loaded with 3 cars but they seem to really not like them.
One reason is that to get authority it only takes a $750,000 liability insurance policy. Once you transport vehicles it is considered Haz Mat, and although you do not need a Haz-Mat endorsement or to be registered as a HazMat Carrier, you must have a 1 million dollar liability insurance policy. It is because the vehicles have corrosive materials such as batteries and flammables such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
@@stevejoramo8013 Its not considered hazmat, if it was considered hazmat, it would be notated on the bill of lading, and then the hauling vehicle would have to have placards on each side. Hazmat rules dictate that you can haul specific types of hazmat up to a certain amount before you're required to have placards. The same goes for having to have a hazmat endorsement on your license. That amount is 119gallons per bulk package, or an overall weight more than 1001lbs. At this point, it is considered a hazmat load, and is required to have a hazmat endorsement and be placarded as such. The above doesnt apply to explosives or radioactive substances or hazardous waste. Those items have their own requirements for endorsements and placarding
6:40 that's your entire mistake right there buddy... You do not have to take the bed off of your truck to register it as a truck tractor. You can clearly tell the bed is basically only to protect the frame. The only issue you would get into is if you were hauling cargo on the bed and got caught doing so.
I live in Ohio and have a 45 ft Diesel Pusher and pull a 20 ft enclosed car trailer.and technically I'm over 65 dt long about the same amount. In my 71 yrs living in Ohio, I have only seen 1 time where the OSHP measured the overall length on the side of the road. That person was "Double hauling" a boat behind a fifth wheel. Just looking as I drove by, I'd guess it was closer to 75 ft.
hi there having the same kind of problem here in Md , the Gov has pothered all the big truckers now they are working there way down in sizes , best to all john
I like the cabover in the back ground in Wisconsin if you have a truck and trailer that weighs more than 10,001 pounds you are suppose to get a dot number
This is exactly why, when I was setting up my businesses nearly a decade ago now, I started smaller and then got more familiar with the wording on the laws. I wound up ordering a 38' DC Fmax212 and the 17' 5500 and trailer measures out to 64' 10 1/2". I've even had DOT officers challenge me on the length, then they wind up rolling the tape measure back up with that look of disbelief. Gotta know what you can and can't do for sure.
I did the hot shot gig and loved it but fyi : If you keep your bed ( regular truck bed) on the truck in California scales have sighns ( no trucks in scales) allowing you go on by the scale houses. That was a dream for me because I lived in CA. at the time and did allot of work in CA. I personally never had issues in Ohio and my personally opinion is Ohio is the best and safest state because of their roads and state rest areas have plenty of parking food and FREE SHOWERS !!!
As someone that did hotshot work livestock and flat for a couple years if you are hauling for interstate commerce you are required to stop at all scales REGARDLESS of GVWR. For context I have been trucking for over 30 yrs and own a couple trucks.
@JAleksandr Yep, your right. However I was doing non CDL hot shot general freit as according to the DOT regulations required non cdl must not exceed 26 k lbs gross. My set up allowed me a 10 k payload. My rule of thumb was " if DOT wanted to make an issue they would send out an officer to get me" but they never did. Secondly: why would they post a sighn 3/4 mile before a scale entrance stating ( no LT trucks in scalehouse). If you ever go into CA. check it our for yourself. They don't want small trucks in there. Don't know what else to tell you it's only in California ( that I can recall) . When I was hauling RV out of Goshen Indian it was their company rule that we go into every scale house and I can attest to you that they (dot) did not want us in there in California and Oregon and they would rip our asses but we had too or get fired. Kind of like being between a rock and a hard place but we did what the company wanted.
@ actually did extensive hauling in and out of CA. You are right that the scales don’t like the smaller trucks, but the ag stops DEF do. Also, CA has a more strict weight restrictions for truck/trailer combos than most others for less than class 8 trucks. Only I couple things I miss about running out in CA, none of which are enough to make it worth it. Man, this chat has me suffering some Truckee AG PTSD….. 😂
@hondaxl250k0 I just remembered my trip going up into Michigan and those roads were really bad then dropping down into Ohio and them were like driving on a cloud in comparison but they must be needing repairs now. My overall experience w Ohio was good when I was on the road sad to hear their in bad shape now.
When you pull a gooseneck like that behind an air brake semi, do you put dummy glad hands on the truck to block airflow and push in the trailer brakes to make the rear truck brakes do more stopping like when it's connected to a traditional air brake trailer? Im guessing the newer trucks with abs still reduce braking to the rear when bobtail and trailer brake valve isn't pushed in? Was thinking about this the other day and figured you'd be the person to ask.
I think you have a misunderstanding of how air brakes on a tractor work. There is no difference in the applied air pressure to drive axles with or without the trailer supply pushed in.
@gregolson1824 No I don't think I have a misunderstanding, but I was asking @J.C. SMITH PROJECTS Because I know he has pulled multiple types of trailers with trucks with air brakes and has worked on and repaired many and has real world experience doing so. If you will do a little google search here's what google will tell you...A bobtail proportioning valve will reduce braking to the drive axles brakes by up to 75% when unhooked from the trailer. When a semi-trailer is removed from the truck, the truck is called a bobtail. To prevent the rear wheels from locking up, the bobtail proportioning valve redirects most of the braking to the front steer axle brakes. This action helps to maintain steering control when there isn't any weight on the rear of the truck.
@@LifeWithChase Yes, the device you are talking about is a Bendix BP-R1. This type of valve is very rare to have on a truck, in the 15 years I've been working on commercial vehicles I've come across one and it was disconnected. So you are correct there is such a device, but the likelihood of running across it in the real world is low, at least in my area.
@@gregolson1824 I didn't think it was very common anymore with the advanced abs systems since the abs system is able to control the pressure and wheels from locking up.
I was a fleet mechanic for 10 years and the only BP-R1 I saw was on a Kalmar trailer spotter. Most everything I worked on was Freightliner with a couple Kenworths and Volvos sprinkled in though so I can't say there wasn't one anywhere else.
I actually think that is the law in most of the country (i think a couple of states have shorter lengths). So it comes down to enforcement of that law.
Ohio is the ONLY state I’ve driven through that makes me a little nervous when pulling my 25’ dual tandem axel Gooseneck, with a 3500 CCLB dually. Luckily, I’ve not been pulled over…so far, but have ALWAYS heard people say Ohio DOT or highway patrol or whatever they’re called are the worst about pulling over pickup trucks and trailers. I live in KY, 2 counties away from Aberdeen OH. and usually make a trip to the lime quarry in Peebles OH. once or twice a year.
I’ve been hassled a couple times passing through Ohio over my tow dolly not being tagged and titled? I was using it for personal use and don’t live in Ohio plus a majority of the country doesn’t require a tag for a tow dolly. I got into a back and forth with some rookie deputy about it and he finally let me go even more confused than at the beginning of the traffic stop🙄 I told him how can I register it here if I don’t reside in the state-makes absolutely zero sense🤣 Ohio seems to like having very strange regulations🤷♂️
I used to feel sorry for some of the hotshots that had spent so much money on a pickup they couldn't afford a bed , only some cheap fenders. then i learned they were considered tractors and had different length limits.
that will be one of the most heated debates in the comments. there will be many who argue one point but leave out the other. others will argue only what they know in their state and try to push it onto others in different states. a real soup sandwich right there.
I live in ohio, and my understanding of the revised code is if the truck is used to make money ( hauling anything not belonging to the owner for a profit), a cdl is required. The revised code also states that for private use, a cdl is not required. If it's used to haul a slid in camper, 5th wheel camper, or pull behind camper, it's then considered to be an rv, and no cdl is required . I have a 5500 ram and use it to haul my side by side and related camping gear on the flat bed and pull my bumper hitch camper. My overall length is 60 feet on the money. I've used it like this since i bought it in 2017 all over the United States. I've never been stopped by DOT or highway patrol anywhere. The truck is registered as a commercial vehicle and can not be registered as anything else since it came from the factory with a commercial designation. That my interpretation of the gray area of the law.
According to the FMCSR laws, a CDL is required as soon as the person driving is getting paid to drive, period! This is 1 of the reasons a CDL is required with a pickup delivering camping trailers.
Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP) Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications: Class A*: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater. Class B*: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73. So Class A - any combo with over 26K combination GVWR Truck plus Trailer, Class B any single vehicle over 26k GVWR, or with trailer up to 10k (tow trucks), Class C - any vehicle with more than 16 passengers, any hazmat.
I'm going to weigh mine. I have a raptor 415 and the dry weigh is listed just under 16k. Guessing w two bikes I could be pushing that 20k. I'm not bragging. Will be curious to see what it scales at
@ if you’re running empty or just need to get through the state on your weight & balance axle check sheet? Where’s the centerline of weight? Which is located somewhere between the 2 axles. I ran a tow truck and was always too light on the front axle when carrying a a vehicle. I’ve asked truck drivers this question & most can’t answer this… I’m not a cdl holder, just someone that thinks differently
to trucks are lifting behind the drive axle which lifts the steer. these trailers put the load on the steer and the drive. the farther i move the gooseneck / kingpin forward, the more that goes on the steer and off the drive. both axles are rated differently. the steer can only take a fraction of what the drive does.
@ I understand this weight limitation on each axle. Your kingpin is typically directly over the rear. I’ve seen traveling 5th wheel plates for weight transfer. In the case of over length you have moving kingpin toward front axle means you’d shift the load on the trailer to maintain overall load capacity but you’d shorten the overall length. Maybe put a hitch extension in reverse towards the trailer if there is room for swing thereby shortening the trailer … Just get a shorter trailer at your earliest convenience & don’t bother with my nonsense. Too much turkey stuffing at my end… happy holidays!
It's bad enough here in Ohio but Pa is even worse. They will pull you over just for pulling any type of trailer behind you, big or small. They will just sit and wait near the border and wait for you to cross the state line. Plus they have helmet laws for motorcycles. So it's always bikes and people pulling trailers that you will see shortly after crossing into Pa.
it is my understanding that pa has something in law about towing any trailer with 10,000lbs or more requires a cdl? have you read state publications on this?
Live and work in Ohio. Rarely see cops on the freeways, even more rare to see them pull anybody over for anything. see plenty of idiots in cars and pickups with no tags, expired tags, non-functioning headlights or taillights, going way over the speed limit.
i dont know what state your in or if you are driving with your eyes closed but i see a ridiculous number of hotshots every single day. not as many as semis but it certainly isnt 1000 to 1. its not even 100 to 1. in my area of ohio i see more hotshots pulled over than semis.
How many accidents have you seen with a HS vs a OTR semi. In my state rarey have I seen a accident on any of our 13+ Interstates hwy that has a HS involved.
Great video JC been a long time since I’ve seen you really like how you explained this live in Ohio they have gotten crazy with the rules they chose to enforce laws they are giving campers a fit about size and weight.
As a Ohio resident and hotshot guy, trailer length and OAL is based on either gooseneck ball or king pin coupler. Easy hit. Also king pin doesn't require safety chains GN ball does
A much simpler and often more affordable solution is to just shorten a trailer. I just helped out and showed a DYI friend that is an actual fabricator how to shorten his trailer. He was mostly freaking out over the wiring and possibly cutting into it. That solution did require cutting the harness back by the lighting and again at the brakes by taking off the wheels. I did not want to screw around trying to remove any of the deck boards other what was necessary. We pulled the wires out of the frame that took most of day one. We cut the wooden deck first the steel with an angle grinder. That was day 2. On day 3 I cut the new braces and that was that. The deck was cut out a little larger than he liked and he made a fuss over that big time. I used steel and alum pieces up top as a deck to cover the surgery area. It looked factory when I got done with it. The facts are my friend did not want to spend the money on building a wooden jig and bracing to hold the dam thing during surgery which did cost him over $100 bucks in todays prices. The rest of the expenses was the metal another $100 is all it was. The 5th wheel portion of that trailer weighed a good 450lbs to my estimates. It was no joke trying to walk it forward and then back again we did some friends and a little Kubota in order to that. In theory its easier said than done. It was not as easy as I thought. Weather closed in on the day we were going to paint over the surgical marks which also upset both of us having to cover the thing up. Its not a gravy job. Another thought that he and I almost had at the same time was we made the 5th wheel neck a bolt on goose neck with some 5/16 steel plate I have in my shop. That was a nice touch because if he has to work on it again for one the wiring now has plugs to it and the goose neck can be removed and moved forward or backwards. Its one solution to length requirements. He has 18 inches total to move it forward or backwards now. That would have almost fixed the problem which was the actual 4" of frame we removed is how close it really was.
Good explanation on ODOT length rules ridiculousness. Also, I love your Kenworth K100 Aerodyne in the background. 👍😊 (Maybe do a short vid and walk around on that old sweet girl?) 👍👌😊
Wish hotshot trucker wod listen to how my grand dad got around the law legally was this. He used a regular vab ext long wb. Dually. His minifloat was a 30 foot minifloat. But had a great party trick. Built in floor slide extension to 10 feet or less. Hard to believe his setup was designed and built in 1980 and he never had issues ever.
This just reminded me . The company I worked for we had probably 125 53’ trailer’s we ran will another devision of our company had just purchased a bunch of 63’ trailer’s an was being a loaded 63’ into our shop . Now I can remember what state it was but the truck driver stopped. It was either sc or Ga well the SHP said you can come through our state with that trailer but it can not be loaded it has to be empty to be in there hwy . So we had to send two trucks down there an off load the load on to two trailer’s . Then turn the 63’ truck an trailer around an go back to our other shop . How stupid that was . I am thinking it may have been Ga. Now . With trucks there is never a dull moment. Thanks
I have thought about getting into doing hotshot hauling. But is there a Website that Lists All the State Regulations in a List for a little easier Forum ??
Get a real job. Being a commercail driver isn't much of a life & you'll go broke IF you own the truck! My first year owning a truck, I grossed $155,000 & spent $90,000 on fuel, $200 per month for oil changes & $7,500 on tires, & then there are the unexpected repair expenses of which I did most of the labor myself! A horse hauler that I know has a 3500 for her "little trailer" & a 5500 for her big trailer so she has well over a quarter million $$$$$ in equipment alone, probably over $400,000.
what year was this and what was the avg cost of diesel? sounds like you were hauling cheap freight and letting the business run you instead of you running the business. what was you cpm?
As soon as I saw the entire truck and trailer combo I knew what your problem was. That 65 foot combined length is, AFAIK, a federal standard that applies to all vehicles operating in the USA. I have a Peterbilt 10 wheel flatbed that is 36 feet long. I had to make sure that my trailer was under 29 feet so that I was within the legal overall combined length for operating on the highways.
Then explain long wheelbase commercial trucks pulling 53 foot trailers. Federal length laws are for commercial vehicles only. Non Commercial is not federally regulated and goes by state.
Ohio - kingpin to rear axle distance: 41 feet. I assume your trailer also has to meet this requirement. I see semi's, especially pulling flatbeds, in ditches at intersection on rural roads that come off the interstate and don't move trailers wheel forward.
Reading the comments here JC I see what you mean about cdl interpretation being a ‘soup sandwich’! I’m in the UK and anything over 7.5 tons needs a Heavy Goods Vehicle licence (2 types depending on whether rigid or trailer) including RV’s. There are exceptions such as trucks pre-1960 or buses over 30 years old. The law is a nonsense and designed to confuse.
If a truck are trailer or RV are registered in one State, it should be legal in all other states, regardless what their regulations are. You did not registered it in that State.
50 years ive had a cdl with medical card, so how do I get a non cdl? What is a non cdl? I can't find anything in my latest cdl federal book. No matter with the difficulty now to obtain. There going to have to bury me, with my cdl.
British Columbia, Canada has been very sticky on tourists coming out of Alberta. People pulling a holiday trailer predominately get pulled over. They check the vehicle GVWR and compare the trailer weight. They may scale you with portable scales. If the vehicle is not certified for the trailer weight you will get a ticket and have to get the trailer transported by a tow company truck, to the border. If you have an Alberta plate, follow speed signs to the letter. A BC tagged vehicle can pass you while you are 5KPH over and more likely the police will stop the Alberta driver.
I can't believe how stupid it is in America to allow each state to make it's own laws, legal in one state and illegal in another... you are one country, the laws should be the same no matter where you travel and what you travel in, how confusing it must be, its worse than travelling between different european countries.
It is illegal to drill holes in the top or bottom of a frame rail UNLESS it is behind the furthest suspension hanger or mount. And for class 8 (i don't work with anything smaller) I am in Ohio have special ordered multiple trucks and since the 80s there has only been a trailer length. Not any for tractor hooked to trailer (under 53 ft) or straight truck (under 40ft) with pup trailer. Iv'e only been doing it since 1977 and been put through many DOT inspections. And sat with DOT officials ahead of time on my last 2 specialty service big trucks because of axle placement etc.
i dont disagree with the notion that you shouldnt drill the top or bottom flange but there is no law that says you cant. if you have an ohio state publication that says this, send it to me. there is a limit on truck tractor length it is outlined in section 5577.05.
Truck manufacturers have made the mistake of giving one ton trucks too high of a gross weight rating in their zeal to have the highest rating. This makes it illegal to tow common trailers as the combined rating exceeds 26,000 pounds. GMC for example rates them 12,200. This with a common 14,000 trailer exceeds by 200 pounds. It doesn't matter if the trailer is empty.
You can sometimes have the truck gvw derated when ordering one. You can almost always get a gvw tag with a lower rating for the trailer from the manufacturer.
I see most class A rv’s are to wide. The width is usually wider than allowed. The measurement is from tip of mirror to tip of mirror. Give them tickets or impound them.
Mirrors are specifically excluded from overall width. The widths prescribed in division (B) of this section shall not include side mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, handholds for cab entry and egress, flexible fender extensions, mud flaps, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire bulge.
Pa doesn't differentiate between "truck" and "tractor" on the title or registration. You might want to check WV and Ky. and see how they classify them. I know WV has no problem with me registering trucks and trailers there using my Pa Business address. I kinda think Ky might be the same way. NJ will register to out of state addresses but you need a "corp code" # and that is a bit of a pain. If nothing else it will confuse the Ohio DOT lol. BTW Maine used to be really really easy too, but I haven't done anything in maine for years, so it might have changed
Almost every drw hotshot I see is either cab & chassis or bed deleted so tagged as tractor. There's a hotshot TH-camr with Ohio plate that has a 40' gooseneck bed deleted Denali & he goes coast to coast with it. Maybe now the US dot will get their leash shortened, with all the increased capacity HD 3500s the 26K CDL rule is really out dated too, the regulations need to be updated to the 21st century not the 1970s.
U.S. D.O.T. sets the minimum required by the Feds on US primary & secondary highways. The states can do whatever the f*ck they want as long as ther ARE NOT less restrictive than the FMCSR standards! BTW, just because the moron manufacturers are calling "towing capacity" at stupid weights doesn't mean that it's safe or that the PICKUP TRUCK will survive for very long pulling the weights. Some of the "tow capacities" for a half ton truck are advertised as heavier than what most 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks can actually pull or STOP safely.
@jimf1450 I was thinkging the same thing about the 26K limit. I think it goes back to 1992 per FMCSA, that's when one tons had a tow capacity of about 10K. Any Ram 3500 DRW with the 6.7 Cummins after 2016 has a GVWR of 14k if not derated. Every Chassis Cab Ram 3500 with the 6.7L cummins made in 2023 has an GCWR over 26K! Even the SRW has a 27.5K GCWV now. There is a 10K derated SRW that drops the GCWR to 24k. Or you could order a 6.4L Hemi gasser. That drops it to 22K, or 25K.
In Michigan my neighbor a Lawn scarper was hauling a bobcat loader on his trailer with his pickup and because of the total gross vehicle weight he had to get a DOT number after he was pulled over. US DOT says if you haul anything over 10,000lbs you must have a CDL any where in the USA. I had a CDL A license. When the company I worked for decided to get a small box truck they turned to me for information on how to register it. Sadly they had some stupid people questioning my advise they didn't have the facts and this company was never in the business in hauling anything, they were a print shop. I found a person that was able to get the truck registered fast, the usual route was to let the state dictate you to go slow up to 3mo. The drivers had to get CDL B license.
@@j.c.smithprojects which part? this? FMCSA Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP) Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications: Class A*: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater. Class B*: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.
@deepcow can you qualify your comment/statement? Regardless of the type of brakes installed, you need a CDL for 26,001 + GVW. I have a c3500 pickup truck with hydraulic brakes, if I tow a trailer with a large enough GVW, I would need a CDL.
That set up is illegal in Manitoba canada. Trailer is too long. That style truck in mb can only be 44 ft long because of tongue weight. Also you cant sleep in a truck like that. Also you have to have your company name , adress and phone number with ifta sticker. Plus rear overhang cant be more than 12 ft. Goose balls illegal too.
Manitoba has an overhang rule. Must have 25% of the trailer behind the axles. A stinger car hauler usually has 35% behind the trailer axles including he overhang. I had to have a stinger permit to operate on Manitoba roads.
@williamuskoski1385 No they prefer duallys over single tires. And goose ball is OK, but prefer 5th wheel style hook up. Lots of length overhang bs. 5th wheel adapter illegal must be 5th wheel pin not adapter type. They made my truck driver show where he slept back seat illegal. So I put a bagged tent and sleeping bag in back seat. Now prove I didn't use them.
Hmm so my 08 dodge 5500 same set up as yours you showed would be illegal because mine has a 12 ft flatbed in wisconsin they wouldn't care ( i never been bothered personally) butt i dont have a 40ft gooseneck a coworker does for his megacab (i rented it once not agian) i think is a pain to use personally butt he doesn't go in and out of tight field driveways and around a farm environment i would love to get a 30 to 35 ft gooseneck with a stepdeck butt won't use it enough to justify the cost can haul more say hay or bedding bales with the 12ft bed and a 20ft bumper pull trailer then my 24 ft gooseneck that I can't find running gear parts for anymore
the ohio "length law" for semi trucks was dropped in the 1980's, which is why you don't see cabovers anymore. not sure about a trailer with a regular truck. i live in ohio, 30 miles east of cincinnati
ohio department of transportation publication 5577.5c shows what each and ever vehicle length can be. line 8 shows "50' for all other vehicles except trailers and semi trailers"
This idiot doesn't know what he's talking about . Open the drivers door and read the stick . Then go read the one on the trailer it will tell you everything you need to know .
youtube doesnt require viewers to pass an IQ test before they comment.....here is the result.
I got in a tiff with ADOT, Az, a few years back with my 3500 dual rear wheel ram and a 32" goose neck. I am not commercial, only personal use, BUT , my 32' tandam dual put me over the max GVW for non-cdl., so I sell my tandam dual 32' and buy a single wheel 32' with the same GVW and switch to a single wheel 3500 dodge, and it's O.K. Here's something better, friend has a 5500 ram with a 45' travel trailer weighing a total loaded of 38,300 ad he's fine without a CDL because it's a R.V. Talk about government not knowing a damn thing.
It's my understanding that when they were working on the CDL requirements in the late 80s and very early 90s they wanted to include a catagory for big camper trailers and motor homes including some required training and testing but the ARRP threw a fit and threatened a letter writing campaign from their members protesting and claiming they were unfairly targeting older people.
Travel trailer and Goose neck are entirely different things.
Eff the Government.
It is not about Safety.
It is all about 'Mining for Dollars.'
They use the citizens as a cash cow.
@@2nickles647 what about goose neck campers? Maybe terminology got mixed up a bit
@@2nickles647 Yep, but GVW is GVW
TLDR Overall Length. This is common on many states. Remove the bed and it's a tractor not a truck. The other option is to have the gooseneck shortened.
Federal DOT is pushing it Nationwide to fight non-CDL drivers and hotshotters "skirting" DOT regs.
The patchwork of trucking regulations is out of control. It's practically impossible to be in compliance.
Especially when you cross State lines. To make it worse, not everything you read on the internet matches up with how any individual officer interprets the law.
Maximum length laws are very old - likely predate you. Also Ohio isn't alone in the 65' law, many other states including neighbor Michigan have 65' max length. Compliance with the law is not hard at all when you know the law ahead of time - before picking out your truck and trailer for the big/long load you want to haul. Also it wasn't said in the video but people with motor homes that want to tow a trailer behind also get hit with the max length law if their motor home with trailer is too long in the state they traveling.
Just how the CCP roll...
I'll agree with that,should be the same nationwide, it's a federal thing,interstate commerce is federally regulated all load laws should be the same nationwide under federal regulations!
Yip,chain tight n haul at nite
The Ohio Highway State Patrol Motor Carrier Inspectors love pulling over Hotshots
Yea but this is not a hotshot I know a lot ppl that don’t know shit about the dot and drive truck and trailers this guy is one of ‘em
if you knew half as much about the dot as you think you do, then you would know the dot has zero jurisdiction over this truck and trailer.
Great information!
You explained it well, and very plain.
Thank you !
Excellent visual aids with the other trucks.
I have a buddy that used to be a Motor Carrier Enforcement officer here in Ohio. He quit to hecome a trucker, he couldnt deal with his boss putting unofficial quotas. Said his boss wanted him to stop a minimum of 6 trucks per shift. (Quotas are illegalbin Ohio)
Incompetent bureaucracies are the bane of society.
Get active, vote out the scrubs!
ALL bureacracies you mean.
If it meets the requirements in its home state, the other states have to let it through.
But if the trooper or other LEO doesn't want to play ball you're still screwed. I've had instances where weighmasters don't accept exempt logs.
No they don’t you have to know length laws fl is the same the 65ft rule what you have to do is get over demional permit
You can buy a annual permit and you can run that truck and trailer
Having all those other trucks on hand to use as illustrations was very effective in answering questions one might have.
Ohio has been a gestapo state for trucks since at least the 80's. If your truck makes you one thin dime ODOT wants their cut of the gross income.
Speed ticket for 57 in a 55 in Ohio. Trucks are a rolling source of revenue for states.
@@ronwest7930 Road pirates
Bastards got me for $600.oo. 'Improper operating authority' is what they called it and because I was from out of the country they wanted their pound of flesh in cash on the barrel head or me and the truck would go to jail.
❤ This is called people writing laws they know nothing about it a sad day when people sitting behind a desk cause the real working people so much trouble 😢
Politicians are all about making feel good laws. Has nothing to do with practical and enforceable
@@daviddeaton1575 I hate them wouldn’t fart in a jar if they was suffocating and needed air!!
Just like Gun Laws.
I got a $10 bet that if that trailer had "East Ohio Trailer" printed on it instead of "...Texas...", they would've left you alone... BET...
Great video! I loved my aluminum flatbed on my hotshot truck. My trailer was only a 30' so I didn't have to worry about the length. There's a ton of 40' hotshots out there running illegally in all kinds of ways. I'm running a Pete 387 and a 48' flat now.
Sad part it's about being in money to the state. Not about safety, it's about money...
They want their money.
Those rules are pretty standard across the country except Indiana it actually 60ft although they aren't as strict at enforcing it. I have my truck registered as a tractor with my 53ft stepdeck and I routinely run 3ft overhang in front and 4ft in back.
The last few lines about the truck and trailer is the most telling but you did a good job answering the comments before hand and with a good background on the trailer subject...
Great video J.C.Smith thanks for sharing your truck and trailer length trouble with Ohio. Happy Thanksgiving Mr & Mrs J.C.Smith and Jeffrey.
Didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Have a great evening, JC and Mrs Smith
Important Notes:
Indianas max length is 60’
Not all states will allow a truck to be registered as a tractor, is included Kentucky.
In order to get past this reg: truck has to be a registered as a tractor with the IRP office, no bed, and has to have a fifth wheel. However, with a fifth wheel, one can get a permit. Indiana has 90-day or year permit.
In Ohio, they're eating our dogs, they're eating our trucks and tractors.
😂
It is a FACT that they eat these critters in their homeland.
Countdown has started. Those with TH-cam can't handle TRUTH. tick tock tick tock
🤣🤣!!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Well Springfield has started to empty out sense the election.. thank god. Think they are runing to blue states. Should make them easy to gather up.
Great educational video. Great voice you have, makes for easy listening. Thank you
Ohio has gotten pretty greedy with the commercial vehicle enforcement in the last few years. Southern Ohio and Eastern Ohio especially.
They have been since at least the 80's. They write more tickets than any other state in the union.
Excited to see what projects you got coming. And hope you had a great weekend
Need to get rid of those amber marker lights on the rear of the deck.
Another reason for a ticket.
those are not "rear facing" they are "side marker" lights. completely acceptable.
@@j.c.smithprojects actually supposed to be red marker on side rear but idk I’m not a tyrant!!
im not going what what i heard, what others think, what i read in a post. this is what is in an ohio state publication.
As a non cdl tow truck operator in Colorado with a light duty ( 1 ton chevy dual rear wheel standard cab gas engine hydraulic brakes 4x4 wrecker body/wheel lift & sling or known as combo bed ) as a for hire commercial tow company with PUC had no issue from c.d.o.t. towing a 1 ton crew cab 4x4 long bed that was towing a double stacker race car trailer that was fully loaded with all tools and race equipment that weighed in at 27,231 lbs and a lenght of 65 ft then add the tow truck weight of 13,000 and almost 21 feet length. Tell me again its not about the money and how its used and registered. But this was back in 1990's.
Back then and now, completely different breed of transport drivers out here. Truck driver shortage, pandemic, and lost jobs have led to many not very qualified individuals getting into the industry purely for the fast easy money and giving zero f's about becoming a professional and doing things right.
@@killer2600 SWIFT= Sure Wish I'd Finished Training. There is no "fast easy $$$$" in the trucking business. Owning a commercial truck is the short cut to bankruptcy, even IF one has his own "authority" & brokers his own loads. Rates don't pay enough to pay the bills & IF one doesn't go broke, one could make more $$$$$ per hour working at McD's!!!
Florida used to be that way with wreckers back in the day
I live in ohio, and my understanding of the revised code is if the truck is used to make money ( hauling anything not belonging to the owner for a profit), a cdl is required. The revised code also states that for private use, a cdl is not required. If it's used to haul a slid in camper, 5th wheel camper, or pull behind camper, it's then considered to be an rv, and no cdl is required . I have a 5500 ram and use it to haul my side by side and related camping gear on the flat bed and pull my bumper hitch camper. My overall length is 60 feet on the money. I've used it like this since i bought it in 2017 all over the United States. I've never been stopped by DOT or highway patrol anywhere. The truck is registered as a commercial vehicle and can not be registered as anything else since it came from the factory with a commercial designation. That my interpretation of the gray area of the law.
That is incorrect you can register it non-commercial. But once again you don't even need to register it for personal travel...
FMCSR states that anybody getting paid to haul anything must have a CDL, even in a half ton pickup, one of the reasons there is more than 1 classification of CDLs. It also requires everybody to keep a log & abide by the hours of service in every vehicle with a U.S.D.O.T. number on it.
Ohio has been unfriendly to big trucks for years. The MOFOs gave me a bullsh!t speeding ticket that was immediately reduced to an "equipment violation" after I hired a "Trucking Lawyer" & paid 4 1/2 times the speeding violation fine, BUT I didn't have a movong violation & points on my record! LOL
@@ChesterMolester-i1b DMV says differently than you.
go ahead and post the publication number of the "federal motor carriers safety administration" that states this. ill wait......
Happy tHanksgiving all.
To be in business in the United States is to be in violation of something.
Do you think these laws are being aimed more at the non CDL hotshot drivers?
No, these rules have been around for decades, long before hot shots were even a thing lol
they have been around for a long time. i think the hotshot world has been pushing it long enough that ohio is taking notice and beginning to enforce it.
@@j.c.smithprojects That's what I was thinking. Several videos from Everything Autos in Gatlinburg, Tn seem to be them pulling hotshot rigs off of sharp curves and ditches where anyone with a little common sense would know not to drive down.
? - Don't know what the weight distribution would be on truck axles , but how hard would it be to move hitch pin well forward on your bed to shorten overall length. Have to make sure axle weights Ok and gooseneck clears rear of truck.
that would grossly overload the steer axle.
IF you move the hitch forward, you start running into clearance issues between the front of the trailor & corners of the bed when turning. That's the reason B&W & all gooseneck hitches are designed to sit in a certain place on the chassis. My B&W is mounted 4 ft ahead of the rear of the bed in pre-existing holes in the frame. The only hole I had to cut was through the floor of the bed to drop the ball into the receiver. One should set the load centered on the trailer axles' CL because the trailers flex & bend when the load is between front of the front spring mount & the front of the trailer's body. A gooseneck hitch more evenly distributes the load on the truck's ft & rr axles so one can put as much tongue weight on as he likes until the GVW on the 2 truck axles if reached. It's easier to carry a load than drag a load.
If I remember here in Florida there is something about a 5th wheel and a tractor in the laws. But then again you occasionally see a streched out semi tractor with a drom deck if i remember which is basically a flat bed on a semi.
It's more than just Ohio, Michigan and other states have a 65' maximum length. And enforcement has increased as we have gotten more people trying to get into the transportation industry in recent years; especially in the hotshot sector where non-CDL is seen as a no effort way to get in and start making money picking up lucrative loads. A word of caution for hotshots that do auto transport, if you haul 3 cars on a 3 car trailer in Michigan you're almost certainly going to be pulled over if a state cop is anywhere on your route - I don't know why they seem to pull over every single 3 car hauler loaded with 3 cars but they seem to really not like them.
One reason is that to get authority it only takes a $750,000 liability insurance policy. Once you transport vehicles it is considered Haz Mat, and although you do not need a Haz-Mat endorsement or to be registered as a HazMat Carrier, you must have a 1 million dollar liability insurance policy. It is because the vehicles have corrosive materials such as batteries and flammables such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
@@stevejoramo8013 "land of the free"
@@stevejoramo8013 Its not considered hazmat, if it was considered hazmat, it would be notated on the bill of lading, and then the hauling vehicle would have to have placards on each side. Hazmat rules dictate that you can haul specific types of hazmat up to a certain amount before you're required to have placards. The same goes for having to have a hazmat endorsement on your license. That amount is 119gallons per bulk package, or an overall weight more than 1001lbs. At this point, it is considered a hazmat load, and is required to have a hazmat endorsement and be placarded as such. The above doesnt apply to explosives or radioactive substances or hazardous waste. Those items have their own requirements for endorsements and placarding
@Mount56 no endorsement or placards are needed, just a 1 million liability insurance policy but hauling vehicles is considered hazmat.
If your set up is legal in your home state, it’s legal everywhere because when you cross a state line, federal regulations override state.
6:40 that's your entire mistake right there buddy... You do not have to take the bed off of your truck to register it as a truck tractor. You can clearly tell the bed is basically only to protect the frame.
The only issue you would get into is if you were hauling cargo on the bed and got caught doing so.
I live in Ohio and have a 45 ft Diesel Pusher and pull a 20 ft enclosed car trailer.and technically I'm over 65 dt long about the same amount. In my 71 yrs living in Ohio, I have only seen 1 time where the OSHP measured the overall length on the side of the road. That person was "Double hauling" a boat behind a fifth wheel. Just looking as I drove by, I'd guess it was closer to 75 ft.
dot doesnt have jurisdiction over recreational vehicles. state and local usually dont care. ohio seems to have an eye out for these types of setups.
hi there having the same kind of problem here in Md , the Gov has pothered all the big truckers now they are working there way down in sizes , best to all john
Missouri tried to do me like that a few years back
Federal law is 65 ft.. it goes to every state... I've been pulled Maryland and n.c. been measured for length
I like the cabover in the back ground in Wisconsin if you have a truck and trailer that weighs more than 10,001 pounds you are suppose to get a dot number
So this is creative financing that Ohio has come up with.
This is exactly why, when I was setting up my businesses nearly a decade ago now, I started smaller and then got more familiar with the wording on the laws. I wound up ordering a 38' DC Fmax212 and the 17' 5500 and trailer measures out to 64' 10 1/2". I've even had DOT officers challenge me on the length, then they wind up rolling the tape measure back up with that look of disbelief. Gotta know what you can and can't do for sure.
I did the hot shot gig and loved it but fyi : If you keep your bed ( regular truck bed) on the truck in California scales have sighns ( no trucks in scales) allowing you go on by the scale houses. That was a dream for me because I lived in CA. at the time and did allot of work in CA. I personally never had issues in Ohio and my personally opinion is Ohio is the best and safest state because of their roads and state rest areas have plenty of parking food and FREE SHOWERS !!!
As someone that did hotshot work livestock and flat for a couple years if you are hauling for interstate commerce you are required to stop at all scales REGARDLESS of GVWR. For context I have been trucking for over 30 yrs and own a couple trucks.
@JAleksandr Yep, your right. However I was doing non CDL hot shot general freit as according to the DOT regulations required non cdl must not exceed 26 k lbs gross. My set up allowed me a 10 k payload. My rule of thumb was " if DOT wanted to make an issue they would send out an officer to get me" but they never did. Secondly: why would they post a sighn 3/4 mile before a scale entrance stating ( no LT trucks in scalehouse). If you ever go into CA. check it our for yourself. They don't want small trucks in there. Don't know what else to tell you it's only in California ( that I can recall) . When I was hauling RV out of Goshen Indian it was their company rule that we go into every scale house and I can attest to you that they (dot) did not want us in there in California and Oregon and they would rip our asses but we had too or get fired. Kind of like being between a rock and a hard place but we did what the company wanted.
@ actually did extensive hauling in and out of CA. You are right that the scales don’t like the smaller trucks, but the ag stops DEF do. Also, CA has a more strict weight restrictions for truck/trailer combos than most others for less than class 8 trucks. Only I couple things I miss about running out in CA, none of which are enough to make it worth it. Man, this chat has me suffering some Truckee AG PTSD….. 😂
Our Ohio roads are 💩. And getting worse
@hondaxl250k0 I just remembered my trip going up into Michigan and those roads were really bad then dropping down into Ohio and them were like driving on a cloud in comparison but they must be needing repairs now. My overall experience w Ohio was good when I was on the road sad to hear their in bad shape now.
Can you make a trailer for the tractor that has no wheels that creates a bed when not pulling a wheeled trailer?😮
When you pull a gooseneck like that behind an air brake semi, do you put dummy glad hands on the truck to block airflow and push in the trailer brakes to make the rear truck brakes do more stopping like when it's connected to a traditional air brake trailer? Im guessing the newer trucks with abs still reduce braking to the rear when bobtail and trailer brake valve isn't pushed in? Was thinking about this the other day and figured you'd be the person to ask.
I think you have a misunderstanding of how air brakes on a tractor work. There is no difference in the applied air pressure to drive axles with or without the trailer supply pushed in.
@gregolson1824 No I don't think I have a misunderstanding, but I was asking @J.C. SMITH PROJECTS Because I know he has pulled multiple types of trailers with trucks with air brakes and has worked on and repaired many and has real world experience doing so. If you will do a little google search here's what google will tell you...A bobtail proportioning valve will reduce braking to the drive axles brakes by up to 75% when unhooked from the trailer. When a semi-trailer is removed from the truck, the truck is called a bobtail. To prevent the rear wheels from locking up, the bobtail proportioning valve redirects most of the braking to the front steer axle brakes. This action helps to maintain steering control when there isn't any weight on the rear of the truck.
@@LifeWithChase Yes, the device you are talking about is a Bendix BP-R1. This type of valve is very rare to have on a truck, in the 15 years I've been working on commercial vehicles I've come across one and it was disconnected. So you are correct there is such a device, but the likelihood of running across it in the real world is low, at least in my area.
@@gregolson1824 I didn't think it was very common anymore with the advanced abs systems since the abs system is able to control the pressure and wheels from locking up.
I was a fleet mechanic for 10 years and the only BP-R1 I saw was on a Kalmar trailer spotter. Most everything I worked on was Freightliner with a couple Kenworths and Volvos sprinkled in though so I can't say there wasn't one anywhere else.
Thank you for sharing JC
I would be embarrassed as a transportation enforcement officer trying to enforce all of that. What stupid bullshit.
I actually think that is the law in most of the country (i think a couple of states have shorter lengths). So it comes down to enforcement of that law.
Sounds like the D.O.T. rules in Ohio need to be changed ..
Ohio is the ONLY state I’ve driven through that makes me a little nervous when pulling my 25’ dual tandem axel Gooseneck, with a 3500 CCLB dually. Luckily, I’ve not been pulled over…so far, but have ALWAYS heard people say Ohio DOT or highway patrol or whatever they’re called are the worst about pulling over pickup trucks and trailers. I live in KY, 2 counties away from Aberdeen OH. and usually make a trip to the lime quarry in Peebles OH. once or twice a year.
I’ve been hassled a couple times passing through Ohio over my tow dolly not being tagged and titled?
I was using it for personal use and don’t live in Ohio plus a majority of the country doesn’t require a tag for a tow dolly.
I got into a back and forth with some rookie deputy about it and he finally let me go even more confused than at the beginning of the traffic stop🙄
I told him how can I register it here if I don’t reside in the state-makes absolutely zero sense🤣
Ohio seems to like having very strange regulations🤷♂️
Thank you. Been looking at an International 4700. I do work in Ohio sometimes.
I used to feel sorry for some of the hotshots that had spent so much money on a pickup they couldn't afford a bed , only some cheap fenders.
then i learned they were considered tractors and had different length limits.
Thanks J.C., great info.
Could you do a video explaining the semantics of when a CDL is required?
Anything over 26k pounds
that will be one of the most heated debates in the comments. there will be many who argue one point but leave out the other. others will argue only what they know in their state and try to push it onto others in different states. a real soup sandwich right there.
I live in ohio, and my understanding of the revised code is if the truck is used to make money ( hauling anything not belonging to the owner for a profit), a cdl is required. The revised code also states that for private use, a cdl is not required. If it's used to haul a slid in camper, 5th wheel camper, or pull behind camper, it's then considered to be an rv, and no cdl is required . I have a 5500 ram and use it to haul my side by side and related camping gear on the flat bed and pull my bumper hitch camper. My overall length is 60 feet on the money. I've used it like this since i bought it in 2017 all over the United States. I've never been stopped by DOT or highway patrol anywhere. The truck is registered as a commercial vehicle and can not be registered as anything else since it came from the factory with a commercial designation. That my interpretation of the gray area of the law.
According to the FMCSR laws, a CDL is required as soon as the person driving is getting paid to drive, period! This is 1 of the reasons a CDL is required with a pickup delivering camping trailers.
Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)
Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A*: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.
Class B*: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.
So Class A - any combo with over 26K combination GVWR Truck plus Trailer, Class B any single vehicle over 26k GVWR, or with trailer up to 10k (tow trucks), Class C - any vehicle with more than 16 passengers, any hazmat.
I'm going to weigh mine. I have a raptor 415 and the dry weigh is listed just under 16k. Guessing w two bikes I could be pushing that 20k. I'm not bragging. Will be curious to see what it scales at
Move the gooseneck forward 2 feet. Transfers weight of course as well as move pivot point. Turns might be more difficult tho?
that much of a move would put the steer axle overloaded with the smallest of load on the trailer.
@ if you’re running empty or just need to get through the state on your weight & balance axle check sheet? Where’s the centerline of weight? Which is located somewhere between the 2 axles. I ran a tow truck and was always too light on the front axle when carrying a a vehicle. I’ve asked truck drivers this question & most can’t answer this… I’m not a cdl holder, just someone that thinks differently
to trucks are lifting behind the drive axle which lifts the steer. these trailers put the load on the steer and the drive. the farther i move the gooseneck / kingpin forward, the more that goes on the steer and off the drive. both axles are rated differently. the steer can only take a fraction of what the drive does.
@ I understand this weight limitation on each axle. Your kingpin is typically directly over the rear. I’ve seen traveling 5th wheel plates for weight transfer. In the case of over length you have moving kingpin toward front axle means you’d shift the load on the trailer to maintain overall load capacity but you’d shorten the overall length. Maybe put a hitch extension in reverse towards the trailer if there is room for swing thereby shortening the trailer …
Just get a shorter trailer at your earliest convenience & don’t bother with my nonsense. Too much turkey stuffing at my end… happy holidays!
It's bad enough here in Ohio but Pa is even worse. They will pull you over just for pulling any type of trailer behind you, big or small. They will just sit and wait near the border and wait for you to cross the state line. Plus they have helmet laws for motorcycles. So it's always bikes and people pulling trailers that you will see shortly after crossing into Pa.
it is my understanding that pa has something in law about towing any trailer with 10,000lbs or more requires a cdl? have you read state publications on this?
Lol probably shouldn't be going through ohio anyway. Way too many cops there to begin with
Good point go around if possible plan your trip around that state!!
Live and work in Ohio. Rarely see cops on the freeways, even more rare to see them pull anybody over for anything. see plenty of idiots in cars and pickups with no tags, expired tags, non-functioning headlights or taillights, going way over the speed limit.
Pulling over trucks is safer than pulling over expired or no tag vehicles plus guaranteed
payment of fine knowing it's the drivers livelihood
@ The Tyrants know how to legally steal off their fellow Americans!!
i encourage you to replace these tyrants. run for office and fix it.
Great information video!!!
Those hot shot setups are some of those most dangerous vehicles on the road. Terrible brakes
they are only as dangerous as the guy driving. i see far more steering wheel holders in semi trucks wrecked than these combinations.
@@j.c.smithprojects What’s the ratio of seeing hotshots and semis probably 1 every 1000 ?
i dont know what state your in or if you are driving with your eyes closed but i see a ridiculous number of hotshots every single day. not as many as semis but it certainly isnt 1000 to 1. its not even 100 to 1. in my area of ohio i see more hotshots pulled over than semis.
@ Yeah sure 👍
How many accidents have you seen with a HS vs a OTR semi. In my state rarey have I seen a accident on any of our 13+ Interstates hwy that has a HS involved.
Great video JC been a long time since I’ve seen you really like how you explained this live in Ohio they have gotten crazy with the rules they chose to enforce laws they are giving campers a fit about size and weight.
As a Ohio resident and hotshot guy, trailer length and OAL is based on either gooseneck ball or king pin coupler. Easy hit. Also king pin doesn't require safety chains GN ball does
post the publication that says this. i have searched with no success.
A much simpler and often more affordable solution is to just shorten a trailer. I just helped out and showed a DYI friend that is an actual fabricator how to shorten his trailer. He was mostly freaking out over the wiring and possibly cutting into it. That solution did require cutting the harness back by the lighting and again at the brakes by taking off the wheels. I did not want to screw around trying to remove any of the deck boards other what was necessary. We pulled the wires out of the frame that took most of day one. We cut the wooden deck first the steel with an angle grinder. That was day 2. On day 3 I cut the new braces and that was that. The deck was cut out a little larger than he liked and he made a fuss over that big time. I used steel and alum pieces up top as a deck to cover the surgery area. It looked factory when I got done with it. The facts are my friend did not want to spend the money on building a wooden jig and bracing to hold the dam thing during surgery which did cost him over $100 bucks in todays prices. The rest of the expenses was the metal another $100 is all it was. The 5th wheel portion of that trailer weighed a good 450lbs to my estimates. It was no joke trying to walk it forward and then back again we did some friends and a little Kubota in order to that. In theory its easier said than done. It was not as easy as I thought. Weather closed in on the day we were going to paint over the surgical marks which also upset both of us having to cover the thing up. Its not a gravy job. Another thought that he and I almost had at the same time was we made the 5th wheel neck a bolt on goose neck with some 5/16 steel plate I have in my shop. That was a nice touch because if he has to work on it again for one the wiring now has plugs to it and the goose neck can be removed and moved forward or backwards. Its one solution to length requirements. He has 18 inches total to move it forward or backwards now. That would have almost fixed the problem which was the actual 4" of frame we removed is how close it really was.
Good explanation on ODOT length rules ridiculousness. Also, I love your Kenworth K100 Aerodyne in the background. 👍😊 (Maybe do a short vid and walk around on that old sweet girl?) 👍👌😊
Michigan and other states have the 65' max length regulation. It's not really a Ohio only/specific thing.
Federal law is the same for all the states regarding what determines needing a cdl. The states can have their own laws regarding non cdl.
there was no regard to whether you need a cdl or not. each state has the ability to enforce their own regulations on cdl requirements.
@j.c.smithprojects I know the CDL testing is the same across all states along with the medical requirements.
you are misinformed. look into interstate and intrastate.
Wish hotshot trucker wod listen to how my grand dad got around the law legally was this. He used a regular vab ext long wb. Dually. His minifloat was a 30 foot minifloat. But had a great party trick. Built in floor slide extension to 10 feet or less. Hard to believe his setup was designed and built in 1980 and he never had issues ever.
This just reminded me . The company I worked for we had probably 125 53’ trailer’s we ran will another devision of our company had just purchased a bunch of 63’ trailer’s an was being a loaded 63’ into our shop . Now I can remember what state it was but the truck driver stopped. It was either sc or Ga well the SHP said you can come through our state with that trailer but it can not be loaded it has to be empty to be in there hwy . So we had to send two trucks down there an off load the load on to two trailer’s . Then turn the 63’ truck an trailer around an go back to our other shop . How stupid that was . I am thinking it may have been Ga. Now . With trucks there is never a dull moment. Thanks
GSP! God's Special People. GA Troopers! They suck! Money grabbers on 95!
@ you sure said that correctly
53 is the longest big truck trailer allowed anywhere without oversize permitting.
I have thought about getting into doing hotshot hauling. But is there a Website that Lists All the State Regulations in a List for a little easier Forum ??
Get a real job. Being a commercail driver isn't much of a life & you'll go broke IF you own the truck! My first year owning a truck, I grossed $155,000 & spent $90,000 on fuel, $200 per month for oil changes & $7,500 on tires, & then there are the unexpected repair expenses of which I did most of the labor myself! A horse hauler that I know has a 3500 for her "little trailer" & a 5500 for her big trailer so she has well over a quarter million $$$$$ in equipment alone, probably over $400,000.
what year was this and what was the avg cost of diesel? sounds like you were hauling cheap freight and letting the business run you instead of you running the business. what was you cpm?
Basically as I understand it, if you don’t have a bed on the truck they call it a tractor (CDL)
As soon as I saw the entire truck and trailer combo I knew what your problem was. That 65 foot combined length is, AFAIK, a federal standard that applies to all vehicles operating in the USA. I have a Peterbilt 10 wheel flatbed that is 36 feet long. I had to make sure that my trailer was under 29 feet so that I was within the legal overall combined length for operating on the highways.
Then explain long wheelbase commercial trucks pulling 53 foot trailers. Federal length laws are for commercial vehicles only. Non Commercial is not federally regulated and goes by state.
Wow I cant get over that one that had the box on it has a 4 cylinder. Didn't know that there was a 4 cylinder Detroit.
Happy Thanksgiving. Nice video. Good to see you the missus are doing well.
Ohio - kingpin to rear axle distance: 41 feet. I assume your trailer also has to meet this requirement. I see semi's, especially pulling flatbeds, in ditches at intersection on rural roads that come off the interstate and don't move trailers wheel forward.
46 as i read it.
Ok if a truck registered in a state that it's legal can it drive in Ohio per Ohio law. ??
You and the Miss have a happy Thanksgiving
Reading the comments here JC I see what you mean about cdl interpretation being a ‘soup sandwich’! I’m in the UK and anything over 7.5 tons needs a Heavy Goods Vehicle licence (2 types depending on whether rigid or trailer) including RV’s. There are exceptions such as trucks pre-1960 or buses over 30 years old. The law is a nonsense and designed to confuse.
Is there a big price difference for registration between a "truck" or "tractor"? I'm sure there is.
Thanks for the information.
$$$$
If a truck are trailer or RV are registered in one State, it should be legal in all other states, regardless what their regulations are. You did not registered it in that State.
Had that problem in 2013 in Missouri and new York got warnings from both
50 years ive had a cdl with medical card, so how do I get a non cdl? What is a non cdl? I can't find anything in my latest cdl federal book. No matter with the difficulty now to obtain. There going to have to bury me, with my cdl.
British Columbia, Canada has been very sticky on tourists coming out of Alberta. People pulling a holiday trailer predominately get pulled over. They check the vehicle GVWR and compare the trailer weight. They may scale you with portable scales. If the vehicle is not certified for the trailer weight you will get a ticket and have to get the trailer transported by a tow company truck, to the border. If you have an Alberta plate, follow speed signs to the letter. A BC tagged vehicle can pass you while you are 5KPH over and more likely the police will stop the Alberta driver.
Makes perfect sense, people over loading their vehicles plus exceeded the GVWR ratings.
They are putting people in danger.
I can't believe how stupid it is in America to allow each state to make it's own laws, legal in one state and illegal in another... you are one country, the laws should be the same no matter where you travel and what you travel in, how confusing it must be, its worse than travelling between different european countries.
interesting like always, in Europe there are whole standarts for trailers and tractors, greetings from Belgium
Good information. Where intresting för us that are from other countrys. I am from Sweden.
The 65 feet law on a unit like that is not just Ohio it’s a federal law.
It is illegal to drill holes in the top or bottom of a frame rail UNLESS it is behind the furthest suspension hanger or mount. And for class 8 (i don't work with anything smaller) I am in Ohio have special ordered multiple trucks and since the 80s there has only been a trailer length. Not any for tractor hooked to trailer (under 53 ft) or straight truck (under 40ft) with pup trailer. Iv'e only been doing it since 1977 and been put through many DOT inspections. And sat with DOT officials ahead of time on my last 2 specialty service big trucks because of axle placement etc.
i dont disagree with the notion that you shouldnt drill the top or bottom flange but there is no law that says you cant. if you have an ohio state publication that says this, send it to me. there is a limit on truck tractor length it is outlined in section 5577.05.
Just wanted to wish you and Mrs. JC AND JEFF a happy Thanksgiving!!!
Shouldn’t there be reciprocity because of the interstate commerce clause?
The 65' OAL is pretty standard. I saw another video where they said it was because he was on a state highway not the interstate.
Truck manufacturers have made the mistake of giving one ton trucks too high of a gross weight rating in their zeal to have the highest rating. This makes it illegal to tow common trailers as the combined rating exceeds 26,000 pounds. GMC for example rates them 12,200. This with a common 14,000 trailer exceeds by 200 pounds.
It doesn't matter if the trailer is empty.
Interesting, I had assumed it was the actual weight vs possible weight.
Capable vs Reality
You can sometimes have the truck gvw derated when ordering one. You can almost always get a gvw tag with a lower rating for the trailer from the manufacturer.
@@harryniedecken5321 neither. its actually the combined GVWR or combined GVW whichever is greater.
New Ram 3500 drw are 14000, and srw are 12000, if you don't request the 10k derate.
Hi J.C & Mrs. Smith & it's Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks J.C & Mrs Smith & Friends Randy
I see most class A rv’s are to wide. The width is usually wider than allowed. The measurement is from tip of mirror to tip of mirror. Give them tickets or impound them.
mirrors and awnings and safety items are not included in the 102" width limits
Mirrors are specifically excluded from overall width.
The widths prescribed in division (B) of this section shall not include side mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, handholds for cab entry and egress, flexible fender extensions, mud flaps, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire bulge.
Pa doesn't differentiate between "truck" and "tractor" on the title or registration. You might want to check WV and Ky. and see how they classify them. I know WV has no problem with me registering trucks and trailers there using my Pa Business address. I kinda think Ky might be the same way. NJ will register to out of state addresses but you need a "corp code" # and that is a bit of a pain. If nothing else it will confuse the Ohio DOT lol. BTW Maine used to be really really easy too, but I haven't done anything in maine for years, so it might have changed
That Freightliner with the sleeper is pretty sweet! 😦
Almost every drw hotshot I see is either cab & chassis or bed deleted so tagged as tractor. There's a hotshot TH-camr with Ohio plate that has a 40' gooseneck bed deleted Denali & he goes coast to coast with it.
Maybe now the US dot will get their leash shortened, with all the increased capacity HD 3500s the 26K CDL rule is really out dated too, the regulations need to be updated to the 21st century not the 1970s.
U.S. D.O.T. sets the minimum required by the Feds on US primary & secondary highways. The states can do whatever the f*ck they want as long as ther ARE NOT less restrictive than the FMCSR standards! BTW, just because the moron manufacturers are calling "towing capacity" at stupid weights doesn't mean that it's safe or that the PICKUP TRUCK will survive for very long pulling the weights. Some of the "tow capacities" for a half ton truck are advertised as heavier than what most 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks can actually pull or STOP safely.
@jimf1450 I was thinkging the same thing about the 26K limit. I think it goes back to 1992 per FMCSA, that's when one tons had a tow capacity of about 10K. Any Ram 3500 DRW with the 6.7 Cummins after 2016 has a GVWR of 14k if not derated.
Every Chassis Cab Ram 3500 with the 6.7L cummins made in 2023 has an GCWR over 26K! Even the SRW has a 27.5K GCWV now.
There is a 10K derated SRW that drops the GCWR to 24k. Or you could order a 6.4L Hemi gasser. That drops it to 22K, or 25K.
In Michigan my neighbor a Lawn scarper was hauling a bobcat loader on his trailer with his pickup and because of the total gross vehicle weight he had to get a DOT number after he was pulled over. US DOT says if you haul anything over 10,000lbs you must have a CDL any where in the USA. I had a CDL A license. When the company I worked for decided to get a small box truck they turned to me for information on how to register it. Sadly they had some stupid people questioning my advise they didn't have the facts and this company was never in the business in hauling anything, they were a print shop. I found a person that was able to get the truck registered fast, the usual route was to let the state dictate you to go slow up to 3mo. The drivers had to get CDL B license.
that is NOT what the "US DOT" says. you need to read it again.
@@j.c.smithprojects which part? this?
FMCSA
Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)
Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A*: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.
Class B*: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.
so you see my point?
Smh. I heard most like to pull over or go after gooseneck trailers , go bumper pull.
In Florida you don’t need a CDL unless the truck’s brakes are pneumatic.
You do realize CDL is a federal requirement which means states can't exempt themselves from it, right?
@deepcow can you qualify your comment/statement?
Regardless of the type of brakes installed, you need a CDL for 26,001 + GVW.
I have a c3500 pickup truck with hydraulic brakes, if I tow a trailer with a large enough GVW, I would need a CDL.
That set up is illegal in Manitoba canada. Trailer is too long. That style truck in mb can only be 44 ft long because of tongue weight. Also you cant sleep in a truck like that. Also you have to have your company name , adress and phone number with ifta sticker. Plus rear overhang cant be more than 12 ft. Goose balls illegal too.
Goosenecks are illegal?
Manitoba has an overhang rule. Must have 25% of the trailer behind the axles. A stinger car hauler usually has 35% behind the trailer axles including he overhang. I had to have a stinger permit to operate on Manitoba roads.
@williamuskoski1385 No they prefer duallys over single tires. And goose ball is OK, but prefer 5th wheel style hook up. Lots of length overhang bs. 5th wheel adapter illegal must be 5th wheel pin not adapter type. They made my truck driver show where he slept back seat illegal. So I put a bagged tent and sleeping bag in back seat. Now prove I didn't use them.
@@wolftrainservicesltd6418 sounds like you guys have it rough up there with regulations
A combination tractor trailer is 73 feet and more in length?
Hmm so my 08 dodge 5500 same set up as yours you showed would be illegal because mine has a 12 ft flatbed in wisconsin they wouldn't care ( i never been bothered personally) butt i dont have a 40ft gooseneck a coworker does for his megacab (i rented it once not agian) i think is a pain to use personally butt he doesn't go in and out of tight field driveways and around a farm environment i would love to get a 30 to 35 ft gooseneck with a stepdeck butt won't use it enough to justify the cost can haul more say hay or bedding bales with the 12ft bed and a 20ft bumper pull trailer then my 24 ft gooseneck that I can't find running gear parts for anymore
the ohio "length law" for semi trucks was dropped in the 1980's, which is why you don't see cabovers anymore. not sure about a trailer with a regular truck. i live in ohio, 30 miles east of cincinnati
ohio department of transportation publication 5577.5c shows what each and ever vehicle length can be. line 8 shows "50' for all other vehicles except trailers and semi trailers"
@@j.c.smithprojects ok, thanks for the info. guess we'll have to talk to our state rep. and get that changed .
HAPPY THANKGIVING, J.C. Enjoy the video.