Trailer crackdown; anyone know anything about this?

A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.

My friend has an SUV or van (can't remember which) and pulls a cargo trailer
that apparently has a capacity of greater than 10,000 pounds. I know he
doesn't actually *haul* 10,000 lbs, but capacity is what counts and it seems
DOT was running what is tantamount to a sting where they were pulling over
*all* trailers into a rest area and checking out their paperwork -- or lack
thereof.

In my friend's case, the officer mentioned to him that he'll need to start
running paper logs, obtain a physical, etc. There also seemed to be issues
with his registration and he'll be needing to "register" with different
states as he travels into them. I'm fairly certain that in Nebraska one can
register one's cargo trailer as simply a "trailer," it's certainly not an RV
or anything like that. Ironically, because it isn't an RV (and is much
smaller and lighter than one), it probably is more regulated.

I'm not sure what spurred the "sting" -- homeland security, interstate
commerce, highway safety, or a combination thereof -- but I don't believe
I've ever heard of such a thing. Anyone else?

brink

brink wrote:
> A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
> I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
> as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
> Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.
>
> My friend has an SUV or van (can't remember which) and pulls a cargo trailer
> that apparently has a capacity of greater than 10,000 pounds. I know he
> doesn't actually *haul* 10,000 lbs, but capacity is what counts and it seems
> DOT was running what is tantamount to a sting where they were pulling over
> *all* trailers into a rest area and checking out their paperwork -- or lack
> thereof.
>
> In my friend's case, the officer mentioned to him that he'll need to start
> running paper logs, obtain a physical, etc. There also seemed to be issues
> with his registration and he'll be needing to "register" with different
> states as he travels into them. I'm fairly certain that in Nebraska one can
> register one's cargo trailer as simply a "trailer," it's certainly not an RV
> or anything like that. Ironically, because it isn't an RV (and is much
> smaller and lighter than one), it probably is more regulated.
>
> I'm not sure what spurred the "sting" -- homeland security, interstate
> commerce, highway safety, or a combination thereof -- but I don't believe
> I've ever heard of such a thing. Anyone else?
>
> brink

No clue here...I'm surprised there's no mention of necessity for CDL
given the other checks.

In article >, brink wrote:

> A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
> I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
> as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
> Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.
<....>
> I'm not sure what spurred the "sting" -- homeland security, interstate
> commerce, highway safety, or a combination thereof -- but I don't believe
> I've ever heard of such a thing. Anyone else?

Haven't heard of it, but it doesn't surprise me one bit.

It's just your centralized federal police state keep you safe from the
boogie men.

In article >,
brink > wrote:
>A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
>I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
>as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
>Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.

Last week was "commercial vehicle crash-free Labor Day"
in Southern New England:

<http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=pressreleases&agId=Eeops&prModName=msppres srelease&prFile=2006/msp_pr_2006_august_29_commercial_vehicle_crash_fre e_labor_day.xml>

--
John Carr )

brink wrote:
> A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
> I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
> as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
> Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.
>
> My friend has an SUV or van (can't remember which) and pulls a cargo trailer
> that apparently has a capacity of greater than 10,000 pounds. I know he
> doesn't actually *haul* 10,000 lbs, but capacity is what counts and it seems
> DOT was running what is tantamount to a sting where they were pulling over
> *all* trailers into a rest area and checking out their paperwork -- or lack
> thereof.
>
> In my friend's case, the officer mentioned to him that he'll need to start
> running paper logs, obtain a physical, etc. There also seemed to be issues
> with his registration and he'll be needing to "register" with different
> states as he travels into them. I'm fairly certain that in Nebraska one can
> register one's cargo trailer as simply a "trailer," it's certainly not an RV
> or anything like that. Ironically, because it isn't an RV (and is much
> smaller and lighter than one), it probably is more regulated.
>
> I'm not sure what spurred the "sting" -- homeland security, interstate
> commerce, highway safety, or a combination thereof -- but I don't believe
> I've ever heard of such a thing. Anyone else?
>
> brink

In Ontario, to haul a trailer over 4500kg (about 9900lbs for the
metrically imaired), you need a class A drivers license. There is no
exemption for RVs but the reality seems to be that you won't be
bothered if you're pulling an RV trailer.

Same thing with a truck: register it over 4500kg GVW and they'll be
looking for CDL, logs, etc. Ask me how I know...

I'm guessing that many jurisdictions are like this but people just
don't get "caught".

Cheers, Joe

My apologies. Should have looked closer at the header. Won't happen
again.

Cheers, Joe

"Joe Bedford" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> My apologies. Should have looked closer at the header. Won't happen
> again.
>
> Cheers, Joe

Are on-topic cross-posts somehow verboten?

brink

In article >,
brink > wrote:
>A friend of mine who was travelling thru Iowa (I'm assuming westbound on
>I-80) called me to let me know he just got pulled over by Iowa State Patrol
>as part of a *federal* (DOT) crackdown on trailer violations. He lives in
>Lincoln, NE and was on his way back home.
>
>My friend has an SUV or van (can't remember which) and pulls a cargo trailer
>that apparently has a capacity of greater than 10,000 pounds. I know he
>doesn't actually *haul* 10,000 lbs, but capacity is what counts and it seems
>DOT was running what is tantamount to a sting where they were pulling over
>*all* trailers into a rest area and checking out their paperwork -- or lack
>thereof.
>
>In my friend's case, the officer mentioned to him that he'll need to start
>running paper logs, obtain a physical, etc.

For 10,000 pound vehicles, as opposed to 26,001 pound vehicles,
non-commercial use gets you out of some of the rules.

--
John Carr )

"John F. Carr" > wrote in message
...
>
> For 10,000 pound vehicles, as opposed to 26,001 pound vehicles,
> non-commercial use gets you out of some of the rules.
>
> --
> John Carr )


I mistakenly bought a bobcat trailer once thinking I could use it as a car
trailer. (you can't).
The manufacturer purposely rates it at 9,999 lbs GVW to avoid having the
commercial requirements imposed on the user/buyer.

Eisboch

brink wrote:

> "Joe Bedford" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>My apologies. Should have looked closer at the header. Won't happen
>>again.
>>
>>Cheers, Joe
>
>
> Are on-topic cross-posts somehow verboten?
>
> brink
>
>

on topic cross posts are fine by me. what usually happens though is
someone takes exception to having "their" wheel peed on by someone else
or some such and there goes the on topic.
oh well, sometimes it is nice to hear from other individuals in other
groups. a cross post is how i ended up in RORT, soooo.

chuck b:-)