More Important Laws

Important Laws:

Guidelines for Trucks and Trailers

Commercial Registration Plates
Maine law requires commercial registration plates on your truck if: 1) the gross weight or loaded weight of the truck is over 6,000 pounds or 2) the truck is drawing a trailer and the combined gross weight is over 6,000 pounds. A simple rule to remember is that anytime you are pulled over by the state police and have your truck and trailer weighed, your truck registration needs to cover the weight shown on the scale. Having a commercial registration plate does not make the truck commercial. Other conditions need to be met before it becomes commercial.

Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)
SUVs are not classified as trucks and therefore do not need the commercial registration plates even when drawing a trailer.

Weigh Stations
All trucks are required to stop at weigh stations. Chances are you will be waved by, but you need to stop.

Commercial Vehicles
A truck becomes commercial when it has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) over 10,000 pounds used on public roads in interstate or intrastate commerce. The GVWR is the weight specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of the single vehicle and the GCWR is the weight in pounds specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle, i.e. the loaded weight of the truck and trailer.

The definition of commerce is somewhat involved. If the transportation of horses is part of a business such as operating a boarding stable or giving riding lessons, then this is clearly commerce. Trucks used occasionally and not for hire transporting horses to tournaments, races, shows and other similar events may or may not be commerce. The state police guidelines state this would not be commerce provided: 1) the underlying activities are not undertaken for profit, i.e. a) prize money is declared as ordinary income for tax purposes, and b) the cost of the underlying activities is not deducted as a business expense for tax purposes; and, when relevant, 2) corporate sponsorship is not involved. The proof of these non-commerce activities is the responsibility of the truck owner.

Trailer Brakes
Since 1965, state law has required that all wheels on all axles be equipped with adequate brakes except when the trailer has a gross, or loaded, weight of 3,000 pounds or less. You will be in violation of the law even though the trailer was sold to you without brakes on all axles.

Commercial Vehicle Inspection
Commercial vehicles used in interstate or intrastate commerce are required to have an annual commercial safety inspection when the gross vehicle weight or the combination vehicle weight rating is greater than 10,000 pounds. Every commercial truck used towing a trailer must be equipped with a breakaway device that activates the brakes. A trailer used with a commercial vehicle required to be inspected must also be inspected. However, if the commercial vehicle is towing a trailer used for non-commercial purposes, such as transporting horses for recreational trail riding, then the trailer does not need to be inspected.

U.S. DOT Identification Number
Commercial trucks not for hire and crossing state lines or entering into foreign countries must have a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. Commercial trucks for hire are required to have an Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) number. Generally, reimbursement of expenses such as gas or the standard IRS mileage rate given to a truck owner to transport horses would not be considered for hire.

Medical Certificates and Log Books
Medical certificates and driver’s log books are required when operating a commercial truck with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds or a commercial truck and trailer with a GCWR greater than 10,000 pounds and if the truck is operated in excess of 100 air miles (approximately 115 statute miles) from your home or across state lines or to Canada (air miles are not a factor in this situation)

Pleasure Activities – Truck and Trailer Requirements
A horse owner with a typical pick-up truck and trailer used for transporting horses for pleasure, such as trail riding, is in compliance with the law when: 1) the truck is registered for the proper weight and 2) each axle of the trailer has brakes.

For more information, contact Jon Olson at the Maine Farm Bureau, 1-800-639-2126 or Lt. Chris Grotton of the Maine State Police, 207-624-8946.

Reviewed and approved by the Maine State Police
(September 2002)