Re: Weigh Stations & Horse Trailers

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

Ramey:

FMCSR  requires you to stop and to carry a log book if your gross weight
(combined/loaded or unloaded) is over 10,000 lbs. PERIOD!!!!  The only way
around it is RV plates on both vehicles.  I have had little problem in the
past, but I find they are now enforcing it more and more.

Teddy



Ramey Peticolas-Stroud wrote:

> Hi Teddy.  Our family hauls horses between 10,000 and 30,000 miles a
> year.  We use either a 9-horse horse van or a medium-duty diesel truck
> pulling a 4 or 5-horse gooseneck with living quarters.  These latter
> combinations are about 50 feet long with gross combined weights (GCW) of
> up to 40,000 lbs.
>
> When we design and build our bigger rigs,  we take into account various
> federal and state regulations so we can license them as non-commercial,
> motor-homes.  This exempts us from having to run over the scales in most
> states.  To this end, we place signs on both sides of our rigs stating
> "FOR RV USE ONLY," and just drive on by.
>
> The exception is a PORT OF ENTRY (usually the first weigh station after
> a state line). Most state regulations require ALL livestock haulers to
> pull in to Ports of Entry.  In this case we try to bypass the scale
> line, park-off to one side, and walk-in with our animal transport
> papers.  If we cannot get off to one side, we wait our turn to run over
> the scales.   As we do so, we received either a green bypass light
> (which means we are free to go on) or a red light (which means "park,
> and bring your papers to the office.")  There are usually public address
> speakers next to the scales for the officers to speak to drivers with
> additional instructions.
>
> We have never had a problem using this approach to horse transport.
>
> Ramey and Cynthia Peticolas-Stroud



Ramey Peticolas-Stroud wrote:

> Hi Teddy.  Our family hauls horses between 10,000 and 30,000 miles a
> year.  We use either a 9-horse horse van or a medium-duty diesel truck
> pulling a 4 or 5-horse gooseneck with living quarters.  These latter
> combinations are about 50 feet long with gross combined weights (GCW) of
> up to 40,000 lbs.
>
> When we design and build our bigger rigs,  we take into account various
> federal and state regulations so we can license them as non-commercial,
> motor-homes.  This exempts us from having to run over the scales in most
> states.  To this end, we place signs on both sides of our rigs stating
> "FOR RV USE ONLY," and just drive on by.
>
> The exception is a PORT OF ENTRY (usually the first weigh station after
> a state line). Most state regulations require ALL livestock haulers to
> pull in to Ports of Entry.  In this case we try to bypass the scale
> line, park-off to one side, and walk-in with our animal transport
> papers.  If we cannot get off to one side, we wait our turn to run over
> the scales.   As we do so, we received either a green bypass light
> (which means we are free to go on) or a red light (which means "park,
> and bring your papers to the office.")  There are usually public address
> speakers next to the scales for the officers to speak to drivers with
> additional instructions.
>
> We have never had a problem using this approach to horse transport.
>
> Ramey and Cynthia Peticolas-Stroud