When I moved to the big city, buying a car seemed like a waste of money. The subway takes me anywhere I want to go, and there are always cabs as a backup. When I do want to get out of the city for a weekend, I arrange for a car rental. Rentals are great for me. I get to choose the type of vehicle that I want, buy insurance to cover the trip, and concentrate on enjoying myself. If the car develops engine trouble, I call the agency and they pick me up in a replacement. Thanks to my club discounts, I even get price breaks on some of my rentals. If you are new to the idea of renting a car, let me help. I'll show you how to get the best terms, including the lowest price. That'll make for a more pleasant trip.
Most consumer goods found in retail outlets spend time being transported via semi-truck. Each semi-truck and trailer is rated to tow a specific amount of weight. While it is possible to safely slightly exceed the maximum specified weight, having an overweight truck requires special travel permits.
Each individual state is responsible for enforcing weight limits on their highways. You will need to work with each state on your route to obtain the necessary overweight permits if you want to avoid costly tickets and fines.
Here are three pieces of information that you will need when applying for an overweight permit.
1. Your DOT number
All commercial semi-truck drivers are required to obtain a federal Department of Transportation (DOT) number. This number serves as a unique identifier that shows a driver has completed the necessary training to safely operate a semi on public roadways.
A DOT number can also be used to verify the driving history of any given individual with a commercial license.
You will be asked to include your DOT number in any overweight permit application. Individual states will use this number to verify that you have the proper certifications and skills required to maneuver an overweight vehicle.
2. Load Characteristics
All overweight permits will ask for information about the load that you want to transport. You should be prepared to offer a detailed description of your load if you want to expedite the permitting process.
Most states will ask for your load dimensions, how many pieces are in the load, and a description of how these items have been loaded onto your trailer. This type of information can be used to determine how risky it would be to have the load move through a particular state.
A brief review of the load characteristics of each permit request also gives state officials the opportunity to request changes in the way products are loaded to help maximize safety.
3. Vehicle Characteristics
An overweight permit application will ask for information about the vehicle you are using to haul your load.
You will be asked to specify the type of trailer, and to provide the dimensions of both your semi truck and trailer. Additional required information may include the number of axles your trailer has, the individual axle weight when loaded and unloaded, and the axle spacing of your trailer.
Information about your truck and trailer can be used to determine the risk involved in letting you transport an overweight load.
Share20 September 2022
