Cargo Van pulled for DOT inspection.

[bubblehead]

Seems like the DOT expected many drivers to switch to cargo vans after CSA 2010 and the push to EOBRs' at least in South Florida. After seeing many windowless vans with large "NOT FOR HIRE" lettering on the front, sides and back of their vans, I asked my local friendly DOT officer; Why? His response is that they are checking vans and duallys and any vehicle that might likely be used as a commercial vehicle for proper documentation including license (drivers and occupational) insurance etc...and if it is determined that they are improperly opperating a privately owned/registered vehicle as a commercial vehicle then they (the owner/driver) will likely find themselves in front of a judge. I am not sure what floridas requirements are for vans, trucks etc. but I do know they (the State) has linked up with the Federal data base when I regestered my vehicles today and apparently are proactive in closing the doors on all the john Qs' who are trying to get around "The System"

 

[idtrans]

Good deal they need to get the low balling cv off the road. and They need to get many of the dangerous old vans that are maintained enough to just drive off the roads.

I am all for strict enforcement if your running legal you will have no problems to worry about at all.

Last time I was in Laredo a van parked by mine at hook and my god what a hunk of crap the van was rotting away it was like a 1990 ford it was spooky rusty and rotted. I had to ask since they had Michigan plates do you really haul loads in that and they said yep we run team it was a young lady and her boyfriend. my god that van was scary even had a loud exhaust on it. A van like that IMHO just shouldn't even show up at a shippers dock no way.

 

[skyraider]

vans don't low ball,,corporate does this,,see Bolt, Blair,Panther, Tri State,and so on. U seem jealous,,u must be go n broke or something or just plain ornery or mad,,u may need prayer or medication IMHO. Its a thing with some isn't it.

 

[hotrodwilly]

Good deal they need to get the low balling cv off the road. and They need to get many of the dangerous old vans that are maintained enough to just drive off the roads.

I am all for strict enforcement if your running legal you will have no problems to worry about at all.

Last time I was in Laredo a van parked by mine at hook and my god what a hunk of crap the van was rotting away it was like a 1990 ford it was spooky rusty and rotted. I had to ask since they had Michigan plates do you really haul loads in that and they said yep we run team it was a young lady and her boyfriend.may maybe they don't have as much money as you do mr. hotsy totsy

 

[Jefferson3000]

Somehow this story sounds incomplete. First of all, FL does not require any special permitting to run inTRAstate as a for-hire carrier, whereas some states, such as TX, require a carrier to obtain a permit for inTRAstate hauling whether or not the carrier's home state is the same.

FDOT does not require an in-state carrier to even obtain a DOT number any longer, if the vehicles concerned are 26000 or less GVW. However, if the carrier is hauling Hazmat, they are required to have a DOT number for anything 10,001 and above. These vans are not even required to have "for hire" or "not for hire" on their vehicle. An FDOT officer can pull non CMVs the same way that the Highway Patrol might. They can even pull over a car for unsafe operation. FDOT doesn't have minimum limits for commercial operations in-state, so what do they have authority to inspect, other than what would be inspected by ANY law enforcement officer?

 

[skyraider]

Somehow this story sounds incomplete. First of all, FL does not require any special permitting to run inTRAstate as a for-hire carrier, whereas some states, such as TX, require a carrier to obtain a permit for inTRAstate hauling whether or not the carrier's home state is the same.

FDOT does not require an in-state carrier to even obtain a DOT number any longer, if the vehicles concerned are 26000 or less GVW. However, if the carrier is hauling Hazmat, they are required to have a DOT number for anything 10,001 and above. These vans are not even required to have "for hire" or "not for hire" on their vehicle. An FDOT officer can pull non CMVs the same way that the Highway Patrol might. They can even pull over a car for unsafe operation. FDOT doesn't have minimum limits for commercial operations in-state, so what do they have authority to inspect, other than what would be inspected by ANY law enforcement officer?

well,,Im glad u wrote this,,ty so much,,,thank g., there are those in here with knowledge. amen

 

[bubblehead]

Somehow this story sounds incomplete. First of all, FL does not require any special permitting to run inTRAstate as a for-hire carrier, whereas some states, such as TX, require a carrier to obtain a permit for inTRAstate hauling whether or not the carrier's home state is the same.

FDOT does not require an in-state carrier to even obtain a DOT number any longer, if the vehicles concerned are 26000 or less GVW. However, if the carrier is hauling Hazmat, they are required to have a DOT number for anything 10,001 and above. These vans are not even required to have "for hire" or "not for hire" on their vehicle. An FDOT officer can pull non CMVs the same way that the Highway Patrol might. They can even pull over a car for unsafe operation. FDOT doesn't have minimum limits for commercial operations in-state, so what do they have authority to inspect, other than what would be inspected by ANY law enforcement officer?

I agree there is probably a little more to this...when I worked for FEDEX express in Miami, there were frequent checkpoints set up for all vehicles and anything looking commercial(whatever that is) was pulled...this was also in conjunction with immigration officers and many times when I went thru these check points they had several people (mostly males) sitting on the curb with the tie-rap handcuffs. Also in an earlier time not long ago, I talked with a guy in his PU Truck who was an independent contractor in construction...he was ticketed (by local LEO) for operating a vehicle for commercial/business purpose without sinage on the vehicle...went to court asked the judge if she carried law books/materials in her car...case was dismissed. It may be more of a revenue thing than anything else at this time but the DOT Officer at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza said they are checking Vans. In the past I would rarely see "not for hire" on vehicles and they were the ones usually hauling custom trailers...but this past week, I have seen many displaying such sinage. as earlier stated, I am not familar with CV regs if any other that whats in the "green book." Also just thinking it may be part of the Florida Financial Responsibility Act... but as the DOT mentioned..CSA2010 and EOBRs are on their mind (as it probably should be.)

 

[bubblehead]

Ok this has got me looking further into this and appararently Florida Cities can formulate their own def. of "commercial vehicles" ...slightly off topic from my OP but after having to prove I have complied with getting my own DOT...updates etc. I do think that Vans may be regulated in by usage and not weight (another source of additional revenue)

The record shows that Rigo lives within a residential zoning district within the City of St. Petersburg. Rigo is physically impaired and relies on handicap-equipped vehicles for transportation. The subject van measures 7.5 feet in height, is less than 20feet in length, and resembles a box or bread van. The van was fitted by Rigo to
include a wheelchair lift. Rigo's property has a driveway in the front, entering
from a public roadway, where the van is parked. The Codes Compliance Assistance
Division determined that the van was a commercial vehicle/equipment and cited
Rigo for violating the City of St. Petersburg City Code (Code), Sec. 29-209(c),
which prohibits the parking of commercial equipment in any residential district.

Florida Land Use Law: The 2d DCA Needs to Adopt the 3d's Strong Position on Judicial Review of QJ Decisions (or)

No mention ow weight etc. just the 7'6" He lost his appeal based on the height of the vehicle but finding in this Palm Beach County case the city defines what is a commercial vehicle...am I missing something?

 

[greg334]

Bubble,
The city and the court decisions can be vacated under the ADA. I think there have been a couple cases where HOAs were sued under the ADA because they would not allow a handicapped vehicle in the drive.

 

[Jefferson3000]

Bubblehead: A DOT officer cannot fine you for not having proper signage on a vehicle that is 26K or under. If you park in an area that is marked for freight loading/unloading, the local municipality may require you to have a certain size company lettering (usually 3" height and on both sides). The FDOT has no authority to enforce occupational licenses, as that is a county issue.

If I wanted to, I could run up to a 26000 GVW straight truck (in-state only in FL) without lettering, and do for-hire work in that vehicle. In such a vehicle, I would need to cross the scales and could be inspected, but FL doesn't even have minimum requirements for insurance to use a vehicle commercially. If I wanted to maintain 300K liability on my truck and not motor truck cargo insurance, I could do so. At the state level, commercial insurance is a contractual issue between carrier and customer only. Fedex operates across state lines, even if your vehicle does not, which is why you had to comply with regulations.

 

[Jefferson3000]

You were most likely getting pulled in Miami for two types of things: immigration and agriculture inspection. Gotta keep those Medflies in check.

 

[purgoose10]

Somehow this story sounds incomplete. First of all, FL does not require any special permitting to run inTRAstate as a for-hire carrier, whereas some states, such as TX, require a carrier to obtain a permit for inTRAstate hauling whether or not the carrier's home state is the same.

FDOT does not require an in-state carrier to even obtain a DOT number any longer, if the vehicles concerned are 26000 or less GVW. However, if the carrier is hauling Hazmat, they are required to have a DOT number for anything 10,001 and above. These vans are not even required to have "for hire" or "not for hire" on their vehicle. An FDOT officer can pull non CMVs the same way that the Highway Patrol might. They can even pull over a car for unsafe operation. FDOT doesn't have minimum limits for commercial operations in-state, so what do they have authority to inspect, other than what would be inspected by ANY law enforcement officer?

I also agree. Theirs a lot going on in Florida by local business's that having nothing to do with us. It might be an over enthusiastic officer pulled someone who also was not familiar with the law. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[skyraider]

Good deal they need to get the low balling cv off the road. and They need to get many of the dangerous old vans that are maintained enough to just drive off the roads.

I am all for strict enforcement if your running legal you will have no problems to worry about at all.

Last time I was in Laredo a van parked by mine at hook and my god what a hunk of crap the van was rotting away it was like a 1990 ford it was spooky rusty and rotted. I had to ask since they had Michigan plates do you really haul loads in that and they said yep we run team it was a young lady and her boyfriend. my god that van was scary even had a loud exhaust on it. A van like that IMHO just shouldn't even show up at a shippers dock no way.

this stuff get way out of hand,,some folks just grab the first alarmist statement and print it as the gospel,,its just doesnt make sense,,no one gets the basics down first, this van thing is a itch for some, like they are so jealous of cargo vans they are gonna bust a gut,,,where does this crap come from,,some folks need counseling in here,,IMHO ur like truckers with a cb radio just saying stuff for u own heroics,,mercy.

 

[purgoose10]

this stuff get way out of hand,,some folks just grab the first alarmist statement and print it as the gospel,,its just doesnt make sense,,no one gets the basics down first, this van thing is a itch for some, like they are so jealous of cargo vans they are gonna bust a gut,,,where does this crap come from,,some folks need counseling in here,,IMHO ur like truckers with a cb radio just saying stuff for u own heroics,,mercy.

Wow! Have you had a bad week?

 

[skyraider]

Wow! Have you had a bad week?

nope,been having a great week,,,just watching the sky go by.

 

[purgoose10]

nope,been having a great week,,,just watching the sky go by.

Me too. Supposed to be 65 today here in S.C. But your right about the van and all that itching. I think some big truckers are mad and just can't figure out what we do.
Or maybe they would like to do what we do and just can't get out of what their doing. Something like that anyway.

 

[skyraider]

Me too. Supposed to be 65 today here in S.C. But your right about the van and all that itching. I think some big truckers are mad and just can't figure out what we do.
Or maybe they would like to do what we do and just can't get out of what their doing. Something like that anyway.

10/4 on that, they got way to much time on their hands,,use to ride with my son in his rig,,,it was an eye opener 18 wheeler driving is a whole different world and the turn over is 101pct too. 9o days of that life was enough,,to restrictive IMHO and absolutely no freedom or very little on where u can park and such and the DOT folks are a work of art, until u ride for sometime with an 18 wheeler driver, u have no clue what they go through,,its an insane lifestyle..

 

[mparsons72]

***/ SNIP/ *** Last time I was in Laredo a van parked by mine at hook and my god what a hunk of crap the van was rotting away it was like a 1990 ford it was spooky rusty and rotted. I had to ask since they had Michigan plates do you really haul loads in that and they said yep. ***/ SNIP / ***

Here in MI there is no safety inspection of vehicles; I've seen some many vehicles on the road and ask myself how in the world is that thing even still running.

Right now I am running my spare van; a 97 E-250, because my 09' E-350 SD extended CV was stolen two weeks ago. It might not be the prettiest thing rolling down the highway, but its mechanically sound and gets the job done!

 

[aristotle]

nope,been having a great week,,,just watching the sky go by.

Just watching the sky go by??? I'm thinking the sky doesn't move. Perhaps you're observing weather phenomena such as clouds. Bring this topic downstairs to The Soapbox where metaphysical conundrums are given their due respect.

 

[ATeam]

Maybe the DOT officer you talked to has been watching Shipping Wars.