Farm semi question

I hope this makes sense. Keep in mind that the farm is 45 minutes from the state line (MO- I'm in KS).

The neighbor's L8000 needed a new pump. I recommended my diesel mechanic who is on the Missouri side. We loaded it on the trailer and took it over. It is done now that we are all half way through bean harvest.

We could go over and load it up to bring it back across the state line but none of us have the time to mess with it. It would take us 4 hours to get it loaded, chained down, and home. We could drive it home except we aren't legal in MO. It has no DOT number as it only hauls in the county and not for hire.

I know that you can buy a day fuel permit to make it legal. That's what the guys do that haul to a sale barn over the state line. Used to be you could get them at the sale barn.

I am aware of guys that tried to chance it and ended up with a $5000 fine. Question is - are fuel permits universal? Can I stop at a KS weigh station and pick up one that works in MO or do I have to go all of the way to a MO station to get one? We would go get it after it is too late to cut beans so a station won't be open. Being the one with the connections is a pain.

does your mechanic have a repair plate or dealer plate? If so he could drive it to the state line for you then you could drive it the rest of the way in your state.

Unless you had to go by the scales I would go late evening, get in and drive it home. As long as you do not do anything to get the attention of the diesel cops you will be fine. Speaking from experience it is really hard to see any DOT numbers on a moving vehicle at night.

You can not buy a fuel permit for one state at another state scale. In fact very few state scales sell fuel permits for their own state because you need to have the permit in hand when you cross the state line.
You can buy the from the state of Mo or private places that sell trip/fuel permits online.

With that said he will still not be legal with a fuel permit because he does not have a DOT#.

"Operation Beyond/Across Missouri State Lines
Any Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) crossing state lines, including farmers and farm trucks, must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and obtain a USDOT number. There is no charge to receive this required number for private carriers such as farmers. This can be done by phone, mail, or via the Internet."

I am in the process of downgrading my Semi from apportioned plates to county plates after discussing the needs with a DOT safety audit officer. He pointed out how as farmers we are allowed to go 150 air miles from our home base without fuel permits, log books or truck inspections. He gave me a form to carry in our dually and semi to classify as a farm vehicle. He did say not all states are supporting the new crossover of laws but it at least gave us a basis to be exempt as a farm vehicle. Regardless all trucks exceeding the 26000 lb limit do require that DOT number

I see a lot of semis being used to pull Rv's they must be exempt as I've yet to se a DOT # on one.

(quoted from post at 23:00:41 10/24/13) I see a lot of semis being used to pull Rv's they must be exempt as I've yet to se a DOT # on one.

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A semi tractor pulling a RV trailer is a recreational vehicle, not a commercial vehicle. They are exempt from most of the DOT regulations.

Thats an awesome idea..Just disguise your tractor hauler as an RV AND DRIVE'EM INSIDE

Why dont you call Missouri DOT rather than ask advice from us as we arent Missouri DOT.

NEIADan
Yes being a farmer allows you exemptions from some DOT rules.
Logbooks inspections CDL and some office record keeping come to mind.
But fuel permits are not on the list. The reason you would be exempt from IFTA is most farmers stay within their state.
Once you cross a state line IFTA and DOT# become required. The limit for IFTA is 26,000 and DOT# 10,000.

When the original poster loaded a friends truck on his trailer he then crossed the point of being legal. Farmers exemptions allow for private carrier hauling ONLY. Hauling for compensation; even doing favors for friends is not allowed under farmer exemptions.

Getting a DOT number isn't hard and doesn't cost anything last I knew. IIRC you can do it all on line. The fuel thing isn't a DOT deal, it's a tax deal. That one I think you need to talk to the Mo guys about.

A weekend like Saturday or Sunday at night you will most likely find the scales closed. If you have to drive by the scale to get the truck you will know for sure. I am not out a lot but when I am on the weekend the scales are closed, at night on weekends they are closed. At night there are fewer Highway patrol on the rivers, the fishing isn't as good as the day time. My two cent's

Come on across.
Gov. Brownfield doesn't care. Gov. Perry doesn't care. Why would Gov. Nixon care. Less taxes in Kansas so less penalties for getting caught.

Come on down.....

If it's a one time deal, put any DOT# on it and do it in the evening. Take the # off when you get home.

Just my two cents, but I could find a way to come up with 4 hours of time much easier than I could come up with $5000 to pay a ticket. If you can't find an easier solution by contacting the MO law, I would just go bring it home the way I took it there.

You could just have it towed across the border.

I'd put more fuel in it than you can burn on the way out and go. That's all the fuel permit is about, and most states collect more than they receive under IFTA.