Having the right type
of driver’s license and tags on your vehicle sounds simple enough, but is it?
If you are hauling agricultural commodities, horses and livestock, there are
certainly rules and guidelines to be familiar with. This is just one component to remember when
driving on public roads, hauling ag commodities. There are many guidelines to follow and be
familiar with. Today, lets focus on the
driver’s license and vehicle tags.
First, we need to think about what, who, where, and how
something is being hauled.
Is this a truck and trailer, a semi load of crops or
livestock, a tobacco trailer, etc. There
are so many different situations and scenarios, and it is difficult to address
them all here, but hopefully we can scratch the surface.
Let me mention two resources upfront that will help with
questions. First, the NC Highway Patrol
offers educational opportunities to help us learn. Troopers in the commercial motor vehicle
division are tasked with offering this education to us, and they are very
thorough, knowledgeable, and willing to help us understand. Many Extension Centers have partnered with
NCSHP to offer a workshop, and more will be scheduled. The
second, very useful resource is a booklet created by NC Farm Bureau, titled
“HAULIN’ AG: A Guide to Transporting
Farm Products and Equipment in NC”. The
booklet is a nice summarization of federal highway laws that helps us
understand the many laws and regulations we must learn. You may find a copy of the Haulin’ Ag booklet
at your local Cooperative Extension Center or Farm Bureau office.
So, let’s review the rules.
The following is what I said last time, with one change:
The bottom line on licenses to pull trailers is to know the weight
of your trailer. Every trailer (and
vehicle) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVRW) listed on the body of the
vehicle. Look for a small metal plate on
the front end or side of your trailer, which lists all specifications,
including the GVRW. For regular
passenger vehicles, a class C regular license will suffice. According to the DMV, a class C license
allows you to “operate any combination of noncommercial motor vehicles
that have a GVRW of more than 10,000 pounds and less than 26,001 pounds, as
long as the driver is 18 years of age or older.” This particular
law changed as of September 2008.
There are two other classes of “regular” licenses. These are a Class A and Class B. The only real difference between the two of
these is that the Class A is for any vehicle towing a vehicle of 10,000 pounds
or more and the Class B is for a vehicle that weighs 26,001 pounds or more. If
the combined tow vehicle and trailer weigh 26,001 pounds or more, you
will need a Class A license, but as stated earlier, if you tow vehicle alone
weighs over 26,000 pounds, you will need a Class B license.
Now is a good time to check your trailer and make sure you
are in compliance. I did just that, so
lets use my situation as an example: My
½ ton truck has a GVWR of 6300 pounds.
My 12 foot trailer has a GVWR of 7000 pounds, for a total of 13,300
pounds. I have a Class C license, and
since my combination of vehicles are between 10,000 and 26,001 pounds and being
hauled with a vehicle under 26,001 pounds, I am in compliance. Additionally, I
have weighted tags on my truck for a maximum of 12,000 pounds. I have weighed my truck/trailer combination,
which weighs in at 8700 pounds, and if I hauled two average adult horses at
approximately 1000 pounds each, I would still be under 11,000 pounds and again,
in compliance.
Please note that I am not an expert on these regulations,
this is merely my research and interpretation of the law. The real experts are the Division of Motor
Vehicles and our NC State Highway Patrol force. Much of the information I have
provided here can be viewed at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles website, at www.ncdot.org. Otherwise, contact the closest
DMV office for questions you may have.
For those who live close to Sampson County, a “Rules of the
Road” workshop has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 27, 6-8pm, at the Sampson
County Extension Center, in Clinton, NC.
Come learn all about Hauling Ag and other safe driving tips from our
State Highway Patrol. Contact us for
more info and to register, at 910-592-7161.
Eileen Coite
County Extension Director, Sampson County
No comments:
Post a Comment