Lots of good info Tim. I might try and find one of those Cat books.
Regarding VIN swapping - that seems pretty obvious, if you get caught you are in
deep shxt.
Regarding running overweight, etc. This is were the states seem to really
vary. My registration has nothing about the GVW of the truck on it anywhere.
It is registered as an Antique vehicle since the BMV themselves couldn't follow
the laws of the state of Indiana. ( A long and really stupid story!) It is not
registered as a commercial vehicle, although I do have full blown commercial
insurance. The plates cost me $35/yr. whereas commercial plates would cost
$500+ per year. While I certainly would not condone overloading a truck and
driving it (especially near me!) The state of Indiana seems most concerned
about axle overloads. With a dual axle truck that means 34K for the tandem and
18K for the single axle or 52K lbs for a dual axle truck. The good thing about
5 ton trucks is that it is just about impossible to overload them. I can't put
enough rock in the back of my truck to get much over 10 tons. Plus, most
gravel pits won't even let you leave if you scale out too high, they could face
liability charges also. They will make you dump part of the load. 2 1/2 ton
trucks are a different story.
Also, in Indiana and several other states, if a truck is used for Farm use
(hauling your own stuff back and forth) you are not required to have a CDL even
if you are driving a Semi-trailer combination with a 80K lb GVW. There is a
specific exception in the federal code for farm vehicles. However as many
people have found apparently the states can put regulations in place which are
more stringent for farm use vehicles if they want to. Many farmers have their
own tractor-trailer rigs that they use to transport all kinds of stuff. Few if
any have CDLs in Indiana.
Timothy Smith wrote:
> Hi list,
> I have been watching with interest the communications on the list, offering
> information on the weights of materials. For the benefit of those of you
> who have the large haulers and perhaps even construction type equipment, may
> I suggest a kind of on-stop source for information on anything and
> everything having to do with the big stuff. That is the Caterpillar
> Performance Handbook. It has many tables in it not the least of which is
> weight of materials. If you want to know about speed conversions,
> coefficient of traction factors, rolling resistance factors, angle of repose
> of various materials, slump factors, etc etc etc, this book has it. I will
> include some info on some common materials you might haul......(varies with
> moisture content)
>
> Decomposed rock -
> 75% rock, 25% earth......loose, 3300 lb/yd......bank, 4700 lb/yd
> 50% rock, 50% earth......loose, 2900 lb/yd......bank, 3850 lb/yd
> 25% rock, 75% earth......loose, 2650 lb/yd......bank, 3300 lb/yd
>
> Earth -
> Dry packed......................loose, 2550 lb/yd......bank, 3200 lb/yd
> Wet excavated................loose, 2700 lb/yd......bank, 3400 lb/yd
> Loam................................loose, 2100 lb/yd......bank, 2600 lb/yd
>
> Gravel -
> Pitrun................................loose, 3250 lb/yd......bank, 3650
> lb/yd
> Dry....................................loose, 2550 lb/yd......bank, 2850
> lb/yd
> Dry, 1/4"-2"......................loose, 2850 lb/yd......bank, 3200 lb/yd
> Wet, 1/4"-2".....................loose, 3400 lb/yd......bank, 3800 lb/yd
>
> Sand -
> Dry....................................loose, 2400 lb/yd......bank, 2700
> lb/yd
> Damp...............................loose, 2850 lb/yd......bank, 3200 lb/yd
> Wet...................................loose, 3100 lb/yd......bank, 3500
> lb/yd
>
> Top Soil -
> Generally..........................loose, 1600 lb/yd......bank, 2300 lb/yd
>
> Remember, always secure your loads and tarp materials likely to blow or
> spill. There is nothing like an irate motorist with a cracked windshield
> (even if you didn't necessarily crack it) and a cel phone to call the
> attention of law enforcement to you. This may result in your getting an
> invitation to court by your friendly license and weight officer and a hefty
> fine. (In my area, exceeding your gross weight or inner bridge weight by
> 5001-10,000 lbs has a fine of $500 and over 10,000 lbs is $1000. Upon
> second conviction, the fine doubles!) This, of course, does not include
> being caught running in excess of a registered gross weight, in which case
> you will also likely be escorted to the nice ladies at the tax office who
> will whack you for the additional taxes (up to the max you are legally
> allowed to carry.)
>
> While I am on my soapbox,......some fellas have advocated swapping vin
> plates on vehicles in order to solve some form problems. Consider this. In
> many states, swapping vehicle identities is either a heavy misdemeanor or a
> felony (not to mention you are screwing the guy who will end up with the
> other vehicle and the vehicle's current owner.) And, in most states, this
> makes the vehicles with the switched VINs contraband.....subject to
> immediate seizure when discovered.
>
> Any by the way, if you sell a vehicle with an altered identity (which, by
> the way, is usually a crime in and of itself) and the new owner finds out,
> he could sue you and would probably recover damages for having been
> defrauded. And if he is VERY slick, he may even know about this before
> buying the vehicle but keep it to himself.....then sue you and (1) get his
> money back and then some and (2) find a way to keep the vehicle!
>
> So, if you are doing this, or considering doing this, please stop. It is
> illegal. Wait for another truck to come along that isn't a headache. Uncle
> Sam has lots of them.
>
> (my two cents worth)
>
> TJ
> MVPA 21162
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Mar 05 2001 - 07:58:33 PST