need advice

Jeff_Cochran

Jeff_Cochran

New member
Location
Memphis TN
I bought a 85 log loader truck from up in the tip of new hampshire and need to get it back down south. what is the D.O.T. like in the northern part of the country? and should i try and skip scales? it won't be loaded or have D.O.T. numbers yet as i haven't got a chance to get it inspected. It will have a temp tag and i will have the bill of sale and title. should i be worried? i will have a chase truck following me home.
 
If it were me, and it has been, I would bite the bullet and pay a driving company to do it for you. I have been there and it is well worth the money to aleviate the hassle and ensueing fines if you get pulled over by the wrong officer on the wrong day! I know a few companies, if you need them pm me.
 
I bought a bucket truck in Connecticut a few years ago and drove it to Florida. About half of the scales on the way down were closed, and the ones that were open gave me a green light to go on through without stopping or getting weighed. Your results may vary.
 
If you do it, get a DOT log book to keep track of your hours. Is your physical card up to date? I drove a truck from Ohio to Maryland and got popped at the last scale before home. Good luck.
 
Hey Jeff, I bought a log truck about a month and a half ago from just north of Pittsburg and drove straight through to Ga. Great trip other than a scale house in Va.. I didn't have temp tag visible. Just a little advice, if for some reason you do get stopped don't act like your in a hurry they will hold you there just to mess with you.
 
As mentioned above, be sure to take a log book and keep track of your hours! Also, make sure the old company's logo and DOT number are not visible (tape paper over them if you have to), and make sure you have all your paperwork right. With declining budgets, state police are looking for revenue- especially at the scales. I got hit out-of-state recently bringing a truck home for multiple violations (none of which my local state trooper's office felt were valid) and spent 10 hours in "out of service" and paid over $700 in fines. Be Careful! Things have changed out there!
 
Get a DOT number first. Make a sign with your "company name" and DOT # on there and slap it on the doors. Make sure all the lights are working properly before you set out. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is just starting a program involving a lot of random roadside checks to intercept violators before they become a problem. That's a good thing. Nobody wants a bunch of big $hitty trucks out on the roads.

You picked the wrong time to try to squeak by.
 
Jeff, take Dan's (Treeswinger's) advice. I bought a truck in Atlanta (from Dan, coincidentally) and drove it home to RI. 100 times out of 100 if I could do it over I would pay someone to do it. I guess it depends on your tolerance for 'worst case scenarios,' but I am in the tree business, not the vehicle transport business. Just my 2 cents. PS, Dan, she's still going strong!

-Tom
 
home safe, prayers answered,didn't have to pull into one dot stop for almost 1500 miles didn't dodge just planned a route and took it. the dot was off due to being on for 72 hours nation wide didn't find that out until halfway through my trip. god said go now and i went out in faith on an old truck with some leaks for 1500 miles. no problems god is very good.
 
awesome man one for the good guys !!
grin.gif
 
Good to hear Jeff. Have you got to do a lot of work on it or can you put it straight to work? Post some pics. I bought one in Pa. and it took me a month to get it like I wanted, but now it's a beast.
 
that thing has made me $3000 already this week! there are some changes i'm designing right now. but it is working and making money. I bought it from nash equipment in colebrook nh. Jimmy is as honest as it gets, they are really some great people to deal with.
 
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