A truck liscence question...

Okay, here goes.. Didn't know where to post this but, I have a 1977 Peterbilt 359 that I haul grain and lime with for the farm and tractors to shows, repair etc. It has a farm (80,000) plate on it and I don't haul for hire. A buddy of mine wants to take his old Freightliner and my old truck to Walcott IA. for the truckers jamboree. Do I need to get a permit for the day to run there? I'm not hauling a trailer, just driving the tractor out there. Thanks for any replies! Rodge

The Illinois SOS could answer your question quickly, but I believe the short answer is that you cannot leave the state with a farm plate.

If your going into Iowa you need a DOT number on the side of the truck. Even an out of state pickup towing a flatbed trailer is required in Iowa. A cousin runs a vending business out of Omaha and needs one for his box truck. Also, a coworker of my Dad's tried going into Iowa with a pickup and trailer. Got stopped and told to turn around. A quick call to Iowa's DOT should give you all the proper information you need to know.

I think you're already breaking the law by using the truck to haul tractors to shows. That's not an activity that's strictly related to the business of operating your farm.

Depends on the state you're in too, but if they offer prizes at the show (interpreted by the law as "compensation") you're now involved in a commercial venture...

The problem with DOT law is, it's a moving target. Then you've got different interpretations of the law depending on who you talk to. The most important interpretation is the one from the DOT officer as he writes you a ticket.

My attitude is, don't give them a reason to pull you over and you should be fine.

I would tend to agree on both points, especially the latter for a "nonfarm" activity.

Here is the direct quote from the Illinois SOS web site.

Can I go out-of-state with a Farm Plates?
Illinois Farm Registration is recognized by some states. Before entering another state, however, truck operators should check with that state.

I'd say that a call to the IA DMV is in order, they will have the final say.

My opinion is to talk to ILL. Secretary of State Office about the rules for a Farm Plate. I think that the rule is ,no highway travel except on buisness concerning your farm and transporting "your" and only "your" farm commoditys .Your tractors to a show are not farm commoditys. Travel to the ILL/Ia state line for a venture into Ia is not related to your farm buisness. Doesn't matter if IA.will issue a permit or not,legally getting to the river to cross is the issue and then at that event the Ia.DOT will be sitting at the off ramp at Walcott waiting for you. Unless you are on farm buisness for "your" farm you are unlicensed.This is my opinion based upon your question.

This is just my opinion,and I really dont know what the law says,but if you have insurance that covers you in Iowa,thats about half of the problem taken care of right there.The whole DOT number thing was to have a way to check up on truck companies and see if they had insurance or not.Next you might need a DOT number.That might not be too big of a deal as long as you have insurance,and wont hurt to have it anyway.The last thing is you probably will have to buy a fuel permit for Iowa.You also might have to pay Federal Road use tax if you dont now.But if you want to go over there with your truck,and your tractors,I dont see why that would be a problem.You just want to check on that other stuff so they dont ruin you at the scale house.Or I guess you can try and get in when the scales are closed.Thats what I would do.Sometimes those guys in those scale houses are real @sshole$.That would probably be the biggest problem you run into,and as long as you arent over loaded or tied down stupid when you cross the scales,and have a DOT number,IFTA sticker(Iowa Fuel Tax Agreement)they might not even give you a second look.They might just give you a bypass light and you pass and not even stop.Tie it down good,cross tie it, with plenty of chains and have them tight,and that might be most of what they look at if they do stop you.If its possible to get a permit for just a few days,do that.As far as the license is concerned,as long as you dont haul over the road for hire,I dont think it matters about crossing state lines.If you are hauling for pay is when it would be a problem.Now dont take my word for it,I could be wrong.Id just not worry so much about the license,they will look at all kinds of other stuff before they even get to that.IFTA sticker and DOT number would catch their eye even if you didnt have a license plate.Ive crossed scales and didnt have a license plate and didnt get stopped,but have an expired IFTA sticker and its an inspection for sure.

i would not be going to a show, but going to get my truck specially modified and repaired at a known truck repair center in that town. then its pretty legal as far as i'm concerned. If you happen to stop for an overnight stay and rest and eats, who cares.

IFTA means International Fuel Tax Agreement not Iowa,although they participate in it.

I think most states have provision for a "trip permit" for unlicensed vehicles. You'd need to get one for each state you go through. I think they're 10 bucks in Washington, good for 2 or 3 days, and much cheaper than a ticket.

Talk to the nice folks at DMV.

Crossing the Iowa weigh scales with an ILL Farm Plate on? Get real,Iowa is one of the toughest DOT states other than Tenn. in the union.When he drives out his farms gate and unless he is on a mission that concerns his farm or it's operattion he is unlicensed in the eyes of the ILL Dot. A Milage plate is more legal for his intended use than a Farm Plate is. His Farm Plate is not Resprocical.And yes on his way to Iowa to pick up goods for use on his Farm can be permitted if done before hand with Ia. but not to show his truck at a monster truck show like they put on at Wolcott Ia.The journey on Ill. hiways to and from Ia.is satisfactory to ILL.Law as the purpose is related to his farm operation.Check the Ill. License and Regulatory Statutes,their available at google online.

Right.Cross the scales without an IFTA sticker and they will pull you in and ask for why you dont have it.I dont know if he needs it or not,but if he doesnt have it they will probably pull him in,and as you know thats when the fun starts for them.I dont know what you are required to have to cross state lines on a farm tag,but I know what they will pull you in for.I think an IFTA sticker only costs 15 dollars.Maybe not that much for just 2 states.Insurance for sure,it will have to be covered in Iowa.I bet a trip permit is all he needs if he has insurance,but I dont know.

And after you call them and get their opinion have them fax it to you (if it is an approval) so it's in the truck. Otherwise you have your verbal claim that a person on the phone said it was ok and that will mean nothing to the guy writing you a ticket.

I would call the Iowa DOT and ask them

IN Michigan the book states you can use a farm plated vehicile for personal use also. I carry the manual in my Farm plated pickup that I drive all over the country with, at times pulling a trailer of some sort. Although I will not be doing anything that is not personal or farm related if I'm ever questoned on it. I have never had a problem with it. I would do as the others say and check the laws out but I would think you would be ok. It probably would sound better though if you were transporting it to a repair shop or something instead of a show.

I doubt they even look for his license plate as long as he is not overloaded he will probably get the bypass lane.The DOT knows who has money and who doesnt,and I doubt they mess with a farmer.Of course Iowa is bad at their super coops.Also Walcott Iowa is before the Iowa scales isnt it?That means his biggest trouble will be the Illinois scales.Once again,if he has a DOT number and an IFTA sticker,chained down good,they might not notice his farm tag.Even if they do,he is still in Illinois.What can they do?He is going to Iowa with his tractor,we dont live in Russia,I dont see how its their business where he is going.Im sure he wont be the only farm licensed truck out there with tractors going to that show.His biggest problem would be to get in a wreck while in Iowa and not have insurance that covers it.He probably wants to look his drivers license over real good and see if it will pass inspection,like it isnt expired or something and is a class A CDL.
Of course Im just guessing,I have never tried to cross a state line with farm tags,and for sure not into Iowa,which has a reputation for mean DOT inspectors.Best thing is to call and see what they say.Maybe call a couple of different people like the DOT and whoever signs their paycheck.
Ive seen people about 4 states away from their state,and Im sure some were Illinois farm tags,hauling grain.Now if asked Im sure that the grain belongs to the guy who owns the truck(yeah right),but thats what they will say,and I havent seen one of them shut down for that.Of course I havent seen everything either,and maybe they know what states they can run in and what states they cant.Maybe they dodge all of the scales,I dont know how they do it,but Ive seen them out there doing it.Ive even seen a few trucks pulling a reefer with farm tags.Im right sure they frown on that,but I cant say that Ive seen any setting at the scales for that.Maybe and I just didnt know it.

I think the Ohio farm plates have either a miles from home restriction or a within state only or both.

Local guy got caught somewhere a few states west of here and I here he got alot of fines.

Check with your local gestopo for sure before you head out.

Ohio no longer has farm plates for any truck anymore. They are Comerical plates now even on 1 tons with a GVW over 10001 lbs up. I have 2 1tons, 1 is 10000 GVW and has non comercial plates like a pickup has. The 2 one is an 11000 GVW and has to have comerical plates on it. One of these days I am going to forget wich truck I am driving and I am going to get into trouble. Bandit

Hey guys, good answers, I will call the DMV, but not hauling tractors just bobtailing out to I-80 truckstop. THX guys.

You only need a DOT# if you're engaged in business. If you hitch up your trailer to your truck to say go buy a tractor to take home and mow the yard, that is personal and exempt from commercial regs.