I was talking to a guy at the diesel pump in MD and he told me that you can get a master tag for your truck to put it at 26,000lbs and zero out your trailer only having to worry about one tag that costs like $180 for 6 years or something ridiculous like that.

It sounds too good to be true to me and I can't find any info on it probably because I lost the note I made with the agency name that issues these tags.

Please let me know if this is BS, the real deal or just say that you have never heard of it because I would really like to know how it works. Thanks.

 

Can't say that I have ever heard of this. From my experience in the trucking industry, I've never heard of it. If it did exist, I'm pretty sure that more people would know of it. I'd call BS on it. Sounds like a story from someone who has no idea. Check the source of any advice. If you register below 26K, you can avoid IFTA. Not even sure what zeroing out your trailer means. Again, I'd throw the BS flag.
My thoughts.

 

That is what I thought. It sounded to good to be true. Thanks for the input.

 

That sounds like what I have. It's called Apportioned (IRP). The truck carries all the weight. My trailer has a Token Trailer Plate. My truck is Apportioned for 36,000 LBS.

 

I was checking with my DMV here in SC and from what they told me. The truck tag is what detemines what weight you can carry. not the trailer. Like what Delmar said.

 

Apportioned is only for CDL. I am running under CDL because I do not need the extra expense of apportioned tags, random drug testing and IFTA. The truck determines weight in many states. Every state is different. Apportioned tags suck because you have to choose the states you are going to run in and pay for each state.

I recently talked to a DOT officer that told me what the dude was talking about is a Maine tag. The state of Maine allows you to rate your truck and not have a rating on the trailer. You must travel through Maine at least two times per year to qualify for the tags. It is low cost (I think he said ~$180 for 6 years).

 

I have the link to get Maine tags is anyone wants it. They claim you can just register there without going...

http://www.mainetrailerregistrations.com/

 

very interesting

 

IRP plate is a multi jurisdictional plate that makes you declare where you want to operate and then pay for the miles driven in those states. When you say that truck carries all of the weight, I assume you mean it is a tractor-trailer combination? Is your trailer a gooseneck or semi trailer?

This is true for a tractor-trailer combination. I don't think it holds true for a truck and trailer which is what a typical gooseneck trailer is classified as.

Apportioned has nothing to do with a CDL. It has everything to do with a vehicle operated for commercial purposes and traveling in many jurisdictions or states. The need for a CDL is determined by the type and dimensions of your vehicle. Over 26K on a straight truck needs a CDL unless you operate if for a farm and then with limitations. If you drive a commercial combination vehicle that is pulling a trailer over 10K, you are required to have a CDL except for farm limitations again. 26K and over run an IFTA sticker to pay for fuel taxes due in each state operated in. Apportioned plates can be on almost any commercial vehicle traveling in multiple states. The deal with Maine plates might still be there but that was done many years ago to avoid high priced trailer plates. The rules changed and there isn't a need anymore to do that. It only worked on semi trailers and tractors and not weight carrying trailers like goosenecks pulled by trucks. The difference there is a truck can carry a load, a tractor can't unless it is hooked to a trailer.

 

I know in Iowa you can liscence your truck as heavy as you want to pay for. Idot does not go by axle weight or GVWR. We used to have an f250 powerstroke licensed to 100 pounds below the weight required for a CDL. (I can t remember if thats 13000 pounds or 26000 pounds) we used it to pull 35' church steeples, tools, and all install materials around the country for installs. truck was WAYYY overloaded but it was "Legal" and I didn't need a CDL. That was the truck that sold me on a diesel. I miss that '99 7.3

I also know several guys pulling Comercial and 3 pulling LARGE Race-Haulers with bumperpull trailers behind 7.3 Excursions because there is no weight limit. the IDOT lists the Excursion (even a 1 ton diesel one) as an SUV. and since there is no weight limit listed for an SUV in Iowa, none can be enforced.

Gotta Love Loopholes.