D.O.T.

I was noticing a 1940"s International straight truck for sale on my way to work for the last couple weeks, thinking of the possibilities. Today at work I mentioned it to someone and they told me the D.O.T would make you update the whole truck (brakes, split rims, etc) before they would consider it road worthy. He claimed he found it out by buying a 1960"s Chevy 2 ton truck to use for a mobile dumpster and his insurance agent told him about this. Is this true? This sounds like trying to make you put seat belts in a model T. I can see lowering the weight rating to compensate for lack of braking ability, But update things that were never required when new? Or am I just behind the times?

The rules might not apply to vehicles with an antique license. Just a thought.

I do not know about now but about 10 years ago I put a 1967 Dodge 400, 1 1/4 ton, truck back on the road. The only think I had to do was to make it pass the then Missouri vehicle inspection. The only thing weird that happen concerning this truck WAS on the time before last census, I got a CENSUS for covering the truck. It had ALL kind of Questions about when the truck was bought, how many miles on it, Who did the maintenance. Many thing. Some I could NOT answer so I called the 800 Number for help. The weirder thing about this is I have a friend who has ran several over the road trucks for years. He had NEVER heard of a census form for a truck. I wish now I had made a photocopy of the form.
I am now looking to license this truck as a Historic Vehicle. I will have to limit it to 1000 miles a year and keep a monthly log book on mileage. This will NOT be hard to do because I have only driven it about a half mile in the last two months. I think your friend is blowing more smoke than a cold DD.
I would ask more than ONE person about this.

Kent

You might also ask this question on the "Tractor Transporting" sub form here.

Kent

In my state the consensus is if it is original it is ok. But i do not know about interstate icc commercial use etc. There is also farm use. Here are a few oddities that passed muster, 1939 international had gas tank under pass seat open door to fill. Pre 1950's many had one tail light no blinkers. Seems like lots of this stuff out there for local use farm antique etc.

what a bunch of BS you can still buy 10.00-20 tires and it is all they will fit is split rims just about all 20 rims are three or two peace. as long as it met the rules when made it's good today. we did not have to install seat belts in older trucks. it still run 10r-20 tires on some dump trucks and they are split rims

I have a friend who has insured and registered several antique vehicles, and he does it very easily. The latest was just this week. A 1973 D600 w/14' grain dump.
Your acquaintances insurance agent either didn't want to insure him, or was looking for reasons to overcharge him.

As far as KenB's thought, I get a hunch when they want to know about your truck, it is a 'why' r these people doing it? Historical? home repairable? or... as in Mass.- emmissions tests. for a long time, people were keeping and buying and digging up 70's and 80's cars and trucks to avoid the strict pollution test. Then- couple years ago, 'cause of the computor pigtail? Nothing before a 95 gets a test, safety features and just 'no blue smoke'. Think tanks are either figuring ways to get people in line- or give up a loosing fight, just to get money moving again. I spent all last week getting the brake lines on my 94 fixed for this very reason. the state is debating letting new car dealers withhold repair parts - just so their own mechanics can handle the job. NAPA and auto zone etc are filling the windows with posters for us to email the state reps. Big brother up there keeps tabs on all this.
Marloweg has the nutshell for 'most' states and provinces, if is restored or still as it left the factory, it is legal.... you customize beyond a point- it may be concidered 'new made' big hastle for rodders. And if your freind is hauling interstate or heavy commercial, antique rules may not apply. As far as split rims.... there has been so many horror stories, no one want to touch them, insurance agents, inspectors, tire changers... I know accidents are rare, but about 15-20 years ago, one blew up in my cousin's lap, nearly killed him, he is even homelier than he was before it riped his face open, but really- I bet he was doing something wrong, just my hunch. If you like the truck, just go for it, but my ol '39 D15 was a gas hog beyond belief... a green diamond flathead 6. Still runs good tho.

Well I see the possibilities but the "Boss" doesn't see it that way! No really I have to start finishing projects before I find another one. Maybe finish the corn sheller, paint the M or the B, or get the H home, or maybe put the Plymouth back together, or put up fence, or clear trees, or play with the kids and wife, so many things so little time.

I can see Mass residents smuggling brake fluid and tubing from NH along with booze and fire works.Farm I worked on had 2 big Diamond T trucks that we used hauling hay and manure.I remember when it was illegal to sell cond/ms and unmarried coulpes were brought to court on morals charges.I left Mass in 1965.It aint getting any better.You couldnt buy a bottle of beer on Sunday.Ive read about the Mass no outhouse law.How can anybody stay there?Havent been back there since 1983.

I would replace the split rims anyway. If you need to have a tire worked on, I doubt that you would find anyone who wants to mess with it. Furthermore, the price of the new rims is going up. Might as well do it right away and save some money.

Christopher

not true per say, you can drive any year vehicle you want, BUT as with any vehicle, old or not, to operate it on public roads, you will be required to keep the old truck in proper condition, this means replacing / repairing any worn parts like in the steering and suspension, the brakes must be in excelent condition, and stop the truck straight and quickly, [ some of these parts may be scarce for older medium duty trucks] the engine, trans,rear end, ect, no external oil leaks, no excess blue smoke out the exhaust, some people like myself, finding newer trucks to be too expensive and full of computer glitches chose to run older vehicles, besides in todays cookie cutter trucks, the older ones look cool too, lol, sometimes it is to the owners advantage to install a later model drive train in a older chassis, this gets around the parts availability problems, gives the truck greater power, and more road speed, remember most medium duty trucks from the late 50's and back are geared to top out around 50 mph, with the roads of that era and the engine power of the day that was plenty fast enough, also if the truck is sporting a set of those r-5 wheels that split in the middle of the rim, those got to go, they were not a good idea when new, and many serious injuries and deaths were caused by them blowing up when a tire was installed and the rim was not properly seated, today, there just plain dangerous, and tire shops will not work on them, a late model rear end gives a higher road speed, and allows you to run modern tubless wheels too, if you get to this point the older trucks are plenty good, and insurance runs about the same as any other farm truck of the same class

Depends on state and use, any remanufacture. Laws from federal and states usually say original equipment for private use- absent a specific performance standard for new registration- means it is legal on road as made. Problem is some states- which you didn"t disclose- have emissions tests that get picky about old "restored" vs hot rod/remanufacture- California noted to require a "Remanufactured/replaced engine" to meet newer standards than original body year. Commercial use of 1940- probably not, private use likely OK as restored. Collector and Antique plates might be possible, would let you drive most places except interstate and at night depending on state and vehicle. Nevada had for a short time a section of law regarding pre WW2 collectors plates that said speed restrictions didn"t apply in daylight- the rerquest was from model T and A owners who didn"t want to be forced to do over 45 mph on the main highwas while parading or putting around and legislature went along with the idea, but didn"t specify top speed might still apply so law was interpreted to read no minimum or maximum speed limit. W125/196 Mercedes racer, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, big Cords can go faster than a posted 75mph and some did for about 2 years. Harrahs auto museum had the Mercedes that was doing it"s normal 150+ on highway that got the law changed to specifically read minimum speed limits don"t apply, max speed do.
Check your state DOT- might have to slight upgrade with turn signals, tail lights for street license-- some of the classics have trailer light sets on a light bar for their road use and shows allow them in street clas as they are licensed, no points off for non original, extra 10 points given for street legal useable. RN

Last week the Ministry of enviromewnt and the dept of transportation and the Ontario provincal police were using the highway yard as an inspection station outside of town (Carleton place Ontario)was driving my 1985 chev 1 ton and was flagged into the yard. Pull over behind the brown car. As I waited for the insoector, the guy in the brown car left a nice late seventioes monto carlo,mumbled some nasty words as he drove off.The inspector asay they are doing inspections on vehicles.Asked what kijd of inspection.he says checking for emission s.Told him him I was exempt because of the year and he said they were looking for the emissions stuff that came with the vehicle.Opened the hood and he found all the hoses and the canisters there and sia d the truck was in nice shape.He said he needed to check for a cat,none there.Went to his trucka nd looked in a couple of books and came back and said that model with engine didn't need one.said he neede to check under the hood again.Looked and looked and said he was going to give me a warning this time.A warning for what??said I neede either a air pump or cat.You just finished telling me that the truck did not need one,does it need a air pump,he said its needs one or the other.I said How can it a cat if didn't come with one aor wiith an air pump.Can you give a writtien warnibg as to what i need in case I get stopped agian if I put acat on and the next guy says I need a air pump. Handed me my paper work and said to have a nice day Took my paper worj and drove by DOT inspector and left.No saftey that day. I just repbuilt the trucka nd it was passed about 2 months earlier,but I'm sure he could have found something he wanted to.They will tell you in theirer opinion you have broken the law and it is up to you prove them wrong.

I was a DOT Trooper for the last 6 years of my career. The first question is who do you mean by "DOT" and what do you intend to use the truck for? And, what State do you live in? If you mean the Federal DOT Inspectors that's different than your State DOT or DMV. SO a bit more information is needed to start.

FWIW- I plan on putting a 68 Chevy dump on the road. In NYS you have to meet the Federal DOT regs IF it's a CMV which it will be for me- farm use IS a CMV. I won't need to "update" anything. I may end up replacing a lot of stuff, but no "update" (wheels, brakes, emissions) will be required.