Ever since PRI there has been a lot of talk about the legality’s of the tow vehicles. Since Dec 18th when the new ELD (Electronic Logging Device) mandate came down, a lot of people are asking questions about being in compliance with the rules and we can discuss the needs for exemptions, the law is the law for now. Since my living is made out on the road lets look at a few things that do concern you.

Lets look at some definitions here. If your rig has a weight of more than 26000lbs and or your trailer comes in over 10000lbs, you are a commercial vehicle. You can make the argument “but it’s my personal truck and I own and operate it privately” well sorry. I hate to break it to you but the laws don’t define it that way. Putting “Private, Not for Hire” on the truck means nothing to the officer or inspector at a scale. If you are on the road and you meet the definitions of a commercial vehicle, you better be legal to be safe.

The quick answer that I hear over and over again is get a CDL (Commercial Drivers License) and run an ELD. And yes, that’s what I would recommend. But hang on. it’s not that easy. IF you are going to run those things, you better be aware of the requirements that those entail. Are you aware of the HOS (Hours of Service) rules? No more crazy cross country trips to make races, unless you have more than one qualified driver to team up with (and yes, there are special rules for running as a team). Are you aware of what you need to do for a Pre Trip inspection, or a Post Trip inspection?

This looks and sounds complicated, but it’s really not. A little homework on the DOT website can answer most questions. But the fact is if you run any kind of log book and or pull out that CDL at a scale or inspection center you better know what you need to have done to be compliant with the laws. If you blindly declare on your Pre Trip that the truck is safe and sound, you better not have half the lights burned out, or bald tires. It better be as you declared. And yes, to answer the question I’ve seen debated several places, They DO have the right to inspect inside the trailer. Proper load securement is a mandate in the laws, and they have a right to ensure the load is safe.

In the era of so many Pro and Semi Pro Sportsman racers on the road it’s time to step up the game, the rigs are huge and dangerous in inexperienced hands. Is a Volvo Toterhome and a Stacker infinitely safer than a dually with a tag? Yes of course. Proper brakes, possibly an engine brake (Jake Brake) the power to climb and descend hills. But with that comes the need for responsible operation. Remember, these things can kill others as quickly as they can save your life. Are the rules regarding their safe operation heavy handed at times? Of course. But the benefits outweigh the hassle.

The appearance that more racers are getting stopped, from what I witness on the road is true. As Drag racers we look at things in a vacuum. But remember their are more than just us out there. The stock car, dirt track, road course and just anyone hauling cars in general are on the same roads with the same equipment. Just by sheer numbers I see more dirt track guys stuck at scales than drag racers, but for whatever reason their are more of them. So yes, it is a problem across the board, but then in this era of trucks being the bad guys on the road it’s tough for anyone with a big rig.

If I was advising a racer out there, I would recommend getting a CDL and an ELD. Know the laws regarding both. Get a permit service to ensure you have all the right permits for the state or states you will be travelling in. As well as checking with an accountant as to how to handle the IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) stickers. Personally when I cross a scale or inspection center I always know i’m in compliance and any document they might need is right at hand, Be nice to them and more than likely they’ll be nice to you. Those guys never want to deal with a hassle, the easier you make it, the better it will go.

https://www.donlen.com/blog/dot-compliance-cmv-regulations

http://protecttheharvest.com/2017/11/29/eld-mandate-will-impact-the-horse-industry/

A little sidenote on the inspection. I know the majority of you are racers not truckers. But how many times do we need to see guys on the side of the road with problems that could have been easily avoided with a little maintenance. I had a guy ask me, at the track, in a toterhome I know he’s had at least 2 years, how to open the hood. This is a Freightliner based rig. You have got to be at a minimum once a week checking basics like oil and coolant. Even if you don’t put tons of mileage on your rig these things can deteriorate just sitting. Just as I would never pull a trailer out of the yard that’s been sitting a couple weeks without a detailed inspection you shouldn’t leave the track after a weekend without checking at a minimum, Tires, hubs, lights, fluids and double check the hitch or pin. Here’s a short list of things that will take you Out of Service. Flat tires, Air Leak, Broken suspension parts. And it’s unlikely for you but overweight. And if you been driving more than 11 hours, you’re most likely getting parked for 36 hours.