Signage and Advertising

[davekc]

Dave I expect that the money that I spent in the store to be the permission to be on their lot.Not only for the time it takes to do the shopping,but for staying overnight also just like gramma and gramps in their RV.DD.
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I would totally agree. But there are that handful of managers and locations that are anti- trucking.










Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[ATeam]

>I would totally agree. But there are that handful of
>managers and locations that are anti- trucking.

I would guess that some of those are ones that have written checks to repair the parking lot posts trucks have run down, curbs trucks have crushed, ruts trucks have left in the lawns, and dealt with employees that did not want to clean up the messes some truckers have left behind.

 

[RLENT]

Some states like Michigan and Alabama may require you to stop at weigh stations.

If one is under 10K and is not transporting placardable amounts of HazMat, one is not considered to be a Commercial Motor Vehicle in the state of Michigan, under Michigan law.

Therefore, one is not required to enter the scales.

See questions No. 1 and No. 10 and their answers here:

http://www.truckingsafety.org/faq/faqgen.htm

 

[greg334]

Rlent,
That is incorrect and out of date. The legislator has lowered the definition of a truck from 8500 to 6500lbs in the state and it has been enforced through the Carrier Enforcement section of the state police since last year. I have yet to see a retraction of this change and no one I know at the MSP has told me otherwise.

Any vehicle with commercial plates is considered a commercial vehicle - period.

There is no off duty stipulations, no 'not hauling cargo' stipulations but a commercial vehicle all the time. This has been the case since 1930's in the state and has not changed.

This means any pickup, any non passenger carrying van (i.e. cargo van) and any thing that can not fall under a passenger vehicle, motorcycle or go cart can be considered a commercial vehicle.

With that above definition, I must point out two things one is completely wrong and misleading;

Question 9: Is it a violation if the actual loaded weight of a commercial motor vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the GVWR or GCWR specified by the manufacturer?

Guidance: No, as long as the allowable load limits established by federal, state or local jurisdictions have not been exceeded.

This is not correct in any way, the GVW and GCWR are the ruling factor because if this was true, we can run our trucks unsafely in the state. Well it is not.

11. Am I required to identify my business on my truck?

Guidance: Michigan requires all commercial vehicles with a single or combination gross weight rating or total gross weight of more than 5,000 pounds and all towing or platform bed wrecker road service vehicles in operation upon the public highways of this state shall have the name, city, and state or the registered logo or emblem of the registered owner of the vehicle, and lessee of the vehicle if the vehicle is being operated under lease, painted or permanently attached on each side of the vehicle in letters of not less than 3 inches in height, not lower than the bottom edge of the door. This information shall be in sharp color contrast to the background


Again, anyone with a van that has a GVW over 5000lbs needs to be identified. Which if I remember is any GMC 2500 or Ford E250 van.

 

[younglobo]

Ok Signage I can see if you are compensated as an o/o .

I ran for a co. that not only wanted a big sighn for the side of the truck but wanted you to paint the truck their co. colors and the drivers all had to wear co uniforms all out of my pocket.On top of all this you had to put your personal CO. name on the side with city and # so in case of liabilty it was known you were still a O/O (dont know if Fed ex requires this) . My reaction is man you cant or shouldnt have it both ways so I took my leave. This was a Large well known carrier. They had other issues too so they got caught and had to change there ways.

 

[fastrod]

Greg, am I correct that you would need your name and adress along with the fedex name on your truck? That is how I am reading no. 11.

 

[cheri1122]

I was recently pulled around behind the scales in Colorado, and told that the information listed on the side of the truck, must include the last 6 digits of the vehicle's VIN.

 

[nobb4u]

Actually in Colorado, if I am not mistaken you do not HAVE to have last six of VIN on side, but if you do, you do not have to go inside with your papers.

 

[ATeam]

nobb4u, I believe you are correct. That is my understanding too, based on what scale cops told me multiple times when we drove a fleet owner's truck with no VIN number on the side. Passenger side only is required as Colorado scales are set up to view that side of the truck.

 

[greg334]

fastrod,
That is what I am reading it as, but I have yet heard that as a real requirement for the state. I would think if you get that one MSP trooper who is p*ssed at the world, they may ticket you for it.

 

[GittinThere]

Mr.&Mrs.GittinThere
FedEx CC O/O D6758
OOIDA #788426

We wanted the Large Fed Ex signs on our truck but were told by Fed Ex that because we had our company name anywhere on our truck they wouldn't put the large signs on, per Fed Ex in Memphis. We live in TN and our company is an L.L.C. and the state told us we are suppose to have our Co. name on the truck. We were told we could remove our signs and Fed Ex would put theres on, then when we got back home we could have ours put back on and they wouldn.t know. We chose not to go through so much trouble just for signs. We were also told if we got a new truck make sure we get the Fed Ex signs put on first next time, which we will do, since we are proud to work for Fed Ex and would be proud to display there large signs.

That's Us, We're Gittin There!====>

 

[RLENT]

Greg,

I appareciate your clarifications - and I don't doubt them in the least - unfortunately the Michigan Center for Truck Safety website is somewhat incomplete and misleading, apparently.

I just got off the phone with the MSP, trying to ask them what the requirements were to scale - they referred me to the MCTS (or their website, just as the MSP's website does)

After talking with "Jo" at the MCTS I found out the following:

1. In her estimation, the specific website questions and answers I referred to are indeed correct ...... but:

2. From her viewpoint a "commercial motor vehicle" and a "commercial vehicle" are not the same thing. (Question 1 defined a "Commercial Motor Vehicle" and Question 10 refers to a "Commercial Vehicle")

The problem with this is that while the MCTS website defines a Commercial Motor Vehicle, it does not define a "commercial vehicle" or a "truck" in the FAQ, leaving one to believe that a CMV and CV might be the same.

I pointed this out to "Jo" and she said she would change the website to define both and clarify it.

Long story short, she was of the opinion that I would be required to cross the scales with my Sprinter. I would say her certainty on this was not what I would call absolute (which in itself says something) - just more of a "it would be best for you to cross ...... and if they don't want you there they just will send you thru."

Interesting point on the signage issue - again it refers to the nebulous "commercial vehicle" ..... although it does specifically define a weight rating for such vehicles. As I read it, I would be required to have signage on my vehicle - something I don't have at the moment.

 

[RLENT]

"Again, anyone with a van that has a GVW over 5000lbs needs to be identified. Which if I remember is any GMC 2500 or Ford E250 van."

After doing a little further research I found the following in the 10th addition of the MCTS Guidebook:

All commercial vehicles registered in Michigan with a single or combination gross weight rating of more than 5,000 lbs. and all towing or platform bed wreckers, must have the name, city and state or registered logo or emblem of the registered owner of the vehicle, and lessee of the vehicle if it is being operated under lease, painted or permanently attached on each side of the vehicle, with letters not less than three inches in height and not lower than the bottom edge of the door.

So it would appear that the identification requirement is ONLY for vehicles registered in Michigan.

Greg, if you know otherwise please refer me to where you got the information.

 

[greg334]

RLENT
I will be having breakfast with my friends at the MSP Friday if I remember to go and will ask them to point me or get me the enforcement bulitens on the changes from last year. I had a copy of the one dealing with Cargo vans and scales but I can't find it anywhere seeing my wife has rearrange my room here while I was gone.

But I got to tell you this - you can ask the same question to five different people and get five different answers. The state is messed up and they are all trying to capture fines to help the 'crisis' we have here.

 

[RLENT]

Greg,

Thanks - I'd definitely appreciate it if you can steer me to those bulletins.

Got it on the asking five different people ..... it kinda blew me away when the MSP website referred me to another (apparently non-profit, non-governmental) organization's website ..... for answers about the motor vehicle laws they are supposed to be enforcing.

And you're right - it is majorly messed-up when the laws become so complex and so hard to find that the average John Q. Public, who desires to be a law-abiding citizen can't make himself aware of them - despite significant effort. It's a real good way to manufacture "criminals."

 

[greg334]

Well I can tell you that between the state house, the MSP, the governors office and the SOS - not one of them are in sync with each other.

Just look at the speed increase for the trucks from 55 to 60, someone forgot to tell our ***** governor that the signs to make the changes on the actual road was not in the budget but the signs for the increase speed for the cars was allocated - her excuse was so lame, I actually forgot what it was. So in some parts of the interstate it would say 60 MPH and a mile or two down the road it would say 55MPH. The MSP in some areas where it was like this was out ticking trucks, using the differences in the speed as a speed trap.

 

[theoldprof]

Which is one of the many reasons I am glad I am a RETIRED expediter.

While I am here, try not to get hit in Michigan by a Michigan driver with "no fault" insurance. I was around Detroit, running about 65 or so in my van and got hit in the rear while moving. She didn't see me. To make a short story long, I put the truck in the body shop under my $1000 deductable, and the only thing I could collect from the other driver's insurance was $500. In other words, she hit me, and it cost me $500. I checked with my car insurance agent and she said that's the law.
:+ :+

 

[RLENT]

Well, after a little digging I managed to find the source:

http://198.109.173.11/(S(eszxvn45cpie5e45tubipc45))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-chap257

Everything you always wanted to know about the motor vehicle laws of the State of Michigan.

Definition of a commercial vehicle:
http://198.109.173.11/(S(eszxvn45cpie5e45tubipc45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-7
(Note - this is different than a Commercial Motor Vehicle)

Definition of a truck:
http://198.109.173.11/(S(eszxvn45cpie5e45tubipc45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-75

Indentification Requirements:
http://198.109.173.11/(S(eszxvn45cpie5e45tubipc45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-723

Requirements to scale:
http://198.109.173.11/(S(eszxvn45cpie5e45tubipc45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-724

Happy reading.

 

[terryandrene]

Randy:

Having worked your way thru the definitions and bulletins, do you plan to scale in Michigan like so many other of us?

 

[greg334]

Prof,
the laws are written where you can collect your complete deductible from her insurance company, unless they changed it again.

Rlent,
It don't matter what the laws say in this d*mn state, they are all open to interpretation anyway. You will read one thing, the cop will read another, your lawyer will read something completely different and the Judge will tell all of them they are wrong and read it as something else.