Jim - 12/7/2017 07:49
I was pulling an EMPTY almost new tandem axle goose neck flatbed trailer with a Dodge 1 ton dually on I-29 in SD a few years ago. DOT came across the median just as I was about to cross into ND. Had to get his glasses out of his patrol car to read the trailer sticker which was 20,000 lb. I like the trailer for the brakes and deck space. Never carry over about 8 or 9,000 lb strip till toolbar, etc.
But with the dually, the total STICKER GVWR was over 26,000. No CDL. Out of service at the casino across the line in ND plus a big fine. I called the trailer mfg and they kindly sent me a new sticker for 14,000 lb, put it over the old sticker, now 12,000 for truck + 14,000 for trailer and I'm legal. Same truck and trailer. DOT officer didn't care what the plates or registration said, nor the actual weight of the trailer or combination. FYI.
Just don't load the trailer over 14,000 lb gross or the combination over 26,000.0000 lb.
[Yet grain carts with MASSIVE axle loads just destroy paved roads in SD...but that's a different topic.]