Weigh stations and TT's

[BuxCamper]

Well today was my lucky day. On a short trip for a little warranty work I passed a weigh station open sign in MD. I did not pull in with the big rigs. No greetings from the staties after passing the coupe!

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[CarKath]

Here in Manitoba and other Provinces and States I have personally visited. RV's are exempt from crossing scales . Most Provinces and states have that posted on there scales signs as you approach. RV's are exempt , period.

If you read carefully the Cali law , pickups are exempt as well . A pickup with a modified bed / box or box removed is not exempt.

Hell, I am forced here in Manitoba to plate my truck as a commercial vehicle by virtue of GVW , I am still not required to stop at scales. Reciprocity does not follow on that............

[Ken / Claudia]

I suppose most states have similar rules maybe with different definitions about what is a pick up or a truck. Here in Oregon a pick up is a truck with a pickup bed period. A truck without a pickup bed is called a motor truck. That will have a cargo box, flat bed or utility bed. Until or unless the bed is longer than 8ft. IE a F450 with the 9ft bed. A vehicle can leave the factory as a pickup and changed into a motor truck, that is done a lot in the 1 ton class vehicles. Than you need to know weights for knowing is it really a motor truck, 8,000lbs or heavier. It needs a truck plate not a passenger pickup plate. At 10,000 lbs gross it is to stop and get weight checked. So far no rvs unless your a transporter of RVs for hire meeting above guides.

[BuxCamper]

I am getting a new appreciation for all these rules and what OTR truckers need to deal with. I should download the PA rules and get real familiar with them.

PA pick-ups get truck tags, the same plate that trucks which can carry more than enough to bend my frame get. My Chevy 1500 can get vanity tags which I did to get the truck designation out of sight in case I need to go on the parkways of the northeast.

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[jsmith948]

Originally Posted by CarKath

Here in Manitoba and other Provinces and States I have personally visited. RV's are exempt from crossing scales . Most Provinces and states have that posted on there scales signs as you approach. RV's are exempt , period.

If you read carefully the Cali law , pickups are exempt as well . A pickup with a modified bed / box or box removed is not exempt.

Hell, I am forced here in Manitoba to plate my truck as a commercial vehicle by virtue of GVW , I am still not required to stop at scales. Reciprocity does not follow on that............

Your statement regarding CA is correct. Also the weight declaration and the little square sticker only apply to vehicles used commercially for hire. Does not apply to RVs.

[Bolo4u]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Your statement regarding CA is correct. Also the weight declaration and the little square sticker only apply to vehicles used commercially for hire. Does not apply to RVs.

Incorrect... If your vehicle has a GVWR of 10001 or more it is required to have the weight declared. It does NOT say only if for hire. Pickup trucks (weather a Toyota, F150 or Ram 2500) are considered "commercial vehicles" even though they may not be used for commercial/commerce purposes. Essentially all pickup trucks below the 11499/8001 number are exempt from declaring their weight, as the weight fees are "built in" to the registration. The larger F350/3500 pickups do not have those fees built in, thus the declaration of weight. It has NOTHING to do with being used for hire. If it is going to be used for hire or in business, then the Motor Carrier permit process (getting assigned a CA number) kicks in.

Here is the verbiage from the declared weight form again. Notice it says nothing about being used for hire:

All registered owners or lessees of commercial motor vehicles operating at 10,001 lbs. or more Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW) registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles are required to declare the gross/combined gross weight at which their vehicle(s) will operate (see de nitions below). Pickup trucks with no body type modi cations (e.g., utility bed added, stake, etc.) and an unladen weight under 8,001 and a GVWR of 11,499 and under are excluded.

[Dhuhn]

Originally Posted by Bolo4u

All registered owners or lessees of commercial motor vehicles operating at 10,001 lbs. or more Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW) registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles are required to declare the gross/combined gross weight at which their vehicle(s) will operate (see de nitions below). Pickup trucks with no body type modi cations (e.g., utility bed added, stake, etc.) and an unladen weight under 8,001 and a GVWR of 11,499 and under are excluded.

This is for commercial vehicles only, you are not a commercial vehicle so this does not apply to you.

[Bolo4u]

Originally Posted by Dhuhn

This is for commercial vehicles only, you are not a commercial vehicle so this does not apply to you.

Not to beat a dead horse or argue your comment, but... I happen to work for a California enforcement entity so I am knowledgeable when it comes to this.

In California EVERY pickup (from a Toyota to a Ram 3500) is considered a commercial vehicle, even if its only driven to the store for groceries and not used for a business. That is why in California when you register said pickup you are issued a commercial plate (9A99999 or 99999A9) type of configuration, and certain fees are a part of the registration (weight fees, etc.).

In California if you have a camper "permanently mounted" on your pickup, you can then register your vehicle as a "passenger vehicle (it's then considered a PM - permanent mount), But you are limited as to what you can carry in the bed. And if the camera is removed, then you are obligated to re-register it a s a commercial vehicle (pickup, weight fees due)

Taxi cabs also get registered as a commercial vehicle...

However, when used for commercial purposes (a business) then there are additional rules that come in to play, such as being issued a CA number (Motor carrier permit)

The attached pic of the registration for my 1998 Ford Ranger shows its a commercial vehicle, but its exempt from the declared weight fees as its well under the 10001 cutoff.

If you're really bored, and/or care, here is the link to the DMV commercial vehicle registration guidelines. It explains it all. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/co...df?MOD=AJPERES

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Dhuhn

This is for commercial vehicles only, you are not a commercial vehicle so this does not apply to you.

I got no bone to pick in this discussion but the way I read the regulations is that California arbitrarily considers any pickup over a certain weight/GVWR weight a commercial vehicle for registration/taxation purposes.... However if not actually used as a commercial purpose certain placarding requirements are waived...

Here in Texas we simply register the pickup by the weight/load..

Note: The gross vehicle weight of a truck is determined by adding the empty weight of the vehicle and the heaviest load that will be carried by the vehicle (carrying capacity) during the registration year.

WEIGHT BASED REGISTRATION FEES

Vehicles 10,001 lbs. or more will pay the following registration fee*, plus applicable and local county fees

10,001-18,000 lbs. $110.00

18,001-25,999 lbs. $205.00

26,000-40,000 lbs. $340.00

40,001-54,999 lbs. $535.00

55,000-70,000 lbs. $740.00

70,001-80,000 lbs. $840.00

[BethH]

Originally Posted by Bolo4u

In good ole' California, any truck 10001 pound GVWR or over is ~supposed~ to have their weight declared (CVRA process, which is the little square weight sticker on the sides of certain vehicles) BEFORE they to or carry cargo. If the owner did do the process then technically they are required to stop at a scale empty or loaded/towing. The one ton (dually or SWR) are generally deemed a motor truck, vs. pickup truck.

Heres the verbiage:All registered owners or lessees of commercial motor vehicles operating at 10,001 lbs. or more Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW) registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles are required to declare the gross/combined gross weight at which their vehicle(s) will operate (see de nitions below). Pickup trucks with no body type modi cations (e.g., utility bed added, stake, etc.) and an unladen weight under 8,001 and a GVWR of 11,499 and under are excluded.

Clearly states commercial your private rv isn't commercial.


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[Bolo4u]

Originally Posted by BethH

Clearly states commercial your private rv isn't commercial.


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I'm guessing my former posts were not read? It has NOTHING to do with being used for commercial purposes (i.e. used in commerce or for a business). My 2017 Ram 3500 and my 1998 Ranger are BOTH commercial vehicles and neither are used for business reasons. However the 3500 is required to have additional fees because of the weight, thus meaning I'm legally required to stop at a scale facility, regardless if I'm towing, hauling a banana or empty.


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[canesfan]

Originally Posted by Bolo4u

I'm guessing my former posts were not read? It has NOTHING to do with being used for commercial purposes (i.e. used in commerce or for a business). My 2017 Ram 3500 and my 1998 Ranger are BOTH commercial vehicles and neither are used for business reasons. However the 3500 is required to have additional fees because of the weight, thus meaning I'm legally required to stop at a scale facility, regardless if I'm towing, hauling a banana or empty.


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Thanks for your insight on this. CA laws, well, no surprises there. Thankfully I never plan to bring my RV full of bananas to CA. MD is another one of the states you have to be careful with. They seem to have some oddball laws as well, whether you live there or not.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by canesfan

Thanks for your insight on this. CA laws, well, no surprises there. Thankfully I never plan to bring my RV full of bananas to CA. MD is another one of the states you have to be careful with. They seem to have some oddball laws as well, whether you live there or not.

Thankfully I will never have to worry about the laws in either of those states....

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Javi

Thankfully I will never have to worry about the laws in either of those states....

^^^^x2 ME TOO!! I like simple.....and cheap!

[Frank G]

FYI You can purchase a F350 or 3500 SRW with all the springs they are willing to put on it and then select the 10,000 GVWR sticker option. This keeps you out of the 10,001 Trap, but legally keeps you from hauling the dogs.

One need to be careful when shopping for a new or used vehicle as these 10,000 lb. stickered vehicles are out there. You cannot assume a F350 is a 11500lb. GVWR vehicle.

[the sodfather]

Good grief. Just read this entire post. I know two states I'm never gonna have to deal with traveling to. They probably have a law about additional taxing of out of state visitors as well...

[jsmith948]

I hesitate to post further on this thread for fear that it will be arbitrarily closed. However, in the spirit of honest debate, and in order to illustrate a point, I will take a chance. The problem we encounter here is interpretation. The verbage posted by one of the respondents clearly states that vehicles under 8001# unladen/11499# GVWR are exempt. I can assure you, if you have the unmitigated audacity and are foolish enough to pull into an open California Weigh Station, you will be forcefully commanded by the individual in the scale house to "Get that RV off my Scale!". What troubles me are those "informed" LOEs or Caltrans scale house workers that have their own interpretation of the law. Then you get to spend your money on a lawyer

[chuckster57]

FWIW, I have been following this thread from the beginning and haven't seen a reason to lock it...yet
Let's keep it that way guys.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Bolo4u

However the 3500 is required to have additional fees because of the weight, thus meaning I'm legally required to stop at a scale facility, regardless if I'm towing, hauling a banana or empty.
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When I bought my 350 in '08 I did get a form from DMV asking me if I was going to use it for commerce. I said no and only had to pay the weight fees. I have passed numerous scales and never have stopped. I don't have a weight tag as the GVWR is 10,000 Lbs. If I read your statement right I'm actually required to stop at the scales?

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

FWIW, I have been following this thread from the beginning and haven't seen a reason to lock it...yet
Let's keep it that way guys.

To second what chuckster57 has said, the moderators do not sit around seeing how many threads they can shut down, edit, delete or send out PM'S on. We do want everyone to follow our very few community rules (go check out forest river forums if you want to compare. Wow what a long list they have!) without the need for oversight. Frankly, it's a lot of work to be dissed and the pay sucks. That said, it is very rewarding to see someone helped, welcomed or encouraged. It is also great when our members make great contributions. I hope this adds some perspective.

As far as this discussion goes, there has been nothing in it to cause problems. Disagreement, done with respect, is healthy. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

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