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Back in the days I drove over the road we had way more problems in Ohio than PA , with over zealous state troopers.
My understanding is that DOT is contracted in Pa and not actual government employees. Does anyone know this to be true?
I drove when I was young as well so I know exactly what you mean. Troopers are only part of the problem in PA. Their version of the DOT is the real problem. Any pickup truck pulling a trailer is a prime target for them. The trucks trailer rating has to match the trailer you are pulling. So if you have a half ton truck pulling an empty 14k trailer you are screwed. Even though the trailer is empty, and the truck is only moving it through the state they still get you. I've even heard from my local trailer sales place of guys from PA buying from them and going into PA and getting nailed. They are not being allowed to leave until a properly rated truck shows up to move the trailer. I've purchased several trailers from surrounding states but would never go into PA for this reason. I use a 1 ton single rear wheel that doesn't have 14k rated trailer capacity or the CGVW rating to cover the trailer. I don't load them that heavy or it is for a very short local load on back roads here. Only dual rear wheel trucks have this rating because it puts you into CDL territory which very few guys pulling a trailer with a pickup have. Cross the 26K line with your combined weight rating and you are sitting till someone with a CDL shows up to move your truck, and Penndot loves to get you on this one. Most states leave you alone for pulling a trailer with a dually that is lightly loaded. Not PA! Better have your CDL. Driving a CDL combo, even empty, without the license gets you big fines. PA loves to get the guys from out of state as it costs them a bunch more to show up in court and fight them.
They are. They have to call a trooper to oversee that its legal when they write you a ticket
I can tell you from driving tractor trailer that when being inspected by Ohio DOT that they can't write a ticket that goes on your driving record. They can write fines though-and will call a trooper to write the traffic ticket. I was lucky as the one interaction I had with them I got away with just a fine and no ticket since the nearest trooper was an hour away. This was 20 years ago so not sure if it is still the same way, but I believe it to be. I know courts have thrown out tickets in some states that DOT guys wrote without a trooper present.
Here in michigan the MPSC ( our version of DOT) are part of the state police with more authority than regular state police, even at the county level they are certified officers , so you will get all the tickets they can write.
All you got do is follow the laws , unless you have repeated violations they generally are not that bad. If you run like a commercial carrier charging for your services but don't run log books , have D.O.T. numbers, annual inspection proper permits and insurance you will get what you deserve. If you have a personal vehicle and hauling your own personal stuff your fine .
GP has been selling trucks for several years now , they are now going to sell non-rolling stock , so I don't understand your issue with them selling DOD stuff as they already are selling it.
RUMINT says 2 major warehouses, one in PA and one in Las Vegas NV.
