Do You Have To Register A Single Axle Trailer In Utah

Trailer towing laws, codes, requirements and limitations…Ahh …sifting through those feels a bit like reading a long textbook in a foreign language. Are we correct?

Only, never fear…your Weigh Safety team is here to help keep your towing experience legal, safe, and simple.

Did y'all know that because trailers are attached to your vehicle, their use is governed by the police? Yep, indeed. And, if you are planning to tow a trailer behind your vehicle, you need to be mindful of federal and state laws governing trailer rubber and installation requirements.

Why? Considering failure to comply with federal and country towing regulations can create a dangerous situation that leads to property harm, personal injuries, and expensive litigation.

Yikes. Have you ever read a state's legislative code on transportation, entirely? How virtually all 50 of them? No? What about all of the regulations published by the Federal Motor Carrier Association? If and so, give yourself a big circular of applause considering that's an insane amount of reading.

Need a place to help y'all get started?

Ta-da! Run across your summary of federal and land trailer towing requirements. In this guide, we'll review the most important factors y'all need to exist aware of when information technology comes to towing a trailer legally, including: registration, insurance, safety equipment, and safety measures. Did we mention that we've also included some examples, references, and links to official legislative resources? Oh, yep, nosotros did.

Let's begin…

Let's say you have ii drivers, each with the exact same truck, trailer, and hitch…towing the exact same kind of landscaping equipment. Y'all may presume that they are liable to comply with the aforementioned towing laws and regulations…

But, they aren't.

You see, one driver is towing privately owned equipment for use at his private belongings, while the other commuter is towing concern-owned equipment to a jobsite.

Fifty-fifty though their hitch set up-up and load looks identical….

• The concern owner towing equipment for commercial employ will take more laws and safe regulations to comply with than the driver towing equipment for personal use.
• Federally enforced regulations come into play for the driver who is towing materials for commercial utilize.

Towing loads for private employ

As explained to a higher place, if you're only planning to tow a loaded trailer for private use, yous only demand to be mindful of your state's most basic regulations.

State Regulation Basics:

Let's use an example to assist illustrate what this means…

Case #ane: Calorie-free-duty towing for personal-use in the state of Utah

Let'due south say you are living in Utah, and you've just purchased a trailer to tow landscaping equipment to and from your house. You lot're planning to utilize your trailer to choice up a stump grinder and a powerized tiller that you've rented for leveling out some areas of your m.

You enquire yourself:

"Do I know how to tow this equipment with my new trailer, safely and legally?"…

"Er….." You realize you don't know what Utah'southward rubber regulations are for towing loaded trailers.

And so, you head to google… and now, here you lot are! Gear up to follow this easy guide:

MINIMUM REGULATIONS TO COMPLY WITH

REGISTRATION

• For this instance scenario, you'd want to commencement past making certain both your truck and trailer are registered in the land of Utah.
• Every vehicle operated in Utah, including travel and tent trailers, weighing more than 750 lbs, must be titled and registered. Utah's Division of Motor Vehicles, Trailers
• Check with your country's DMV to comply with your state'southward registration regulations.

LICENSING

• In this case, you'll probable be using a light-duty truck and light-duty trailer with a GVW (gross vehicle weight) of under 10,000 lbs.
• This ways y'all'll be able to tow your trailer, legally, with a Course D driver'southward license (this is the most mutual type of license, and likely, the 1 you lot already have).
• Holders of a Class D driver's license can typically tow loaded trailers that weigh fewer than ten,000 lbs. UCA 53-3-102
  • Some typical examples include boat trailers, travel trailers, landscape trailers, etc.

INSURANCE

• Merely like your truck has to be insured, the land of Utah also requires you to insure your trailer. Utah's Division of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Requirements
• You will need to provide proof of this insurance in club to register your trailer.

Pro tip: Ask your insurance provider or agent about adding the trailer to your existing auto policy.

Rubber EQUIPMENT

• Trailer Connections: In the land of Utah, the connection between your truck and the trailer must consist of a drawbar, trailer hitch , or other like device.
  • It is not to exceed 15 feet in length. UCA 72-seven-403
• Emergency chains: An emergency chain or cablevision capable of supporting the weight of the trailer is also required. UCA 41-6a-1634
• • These chains, which cross over in the shape of an 10 to connect the trailer to the towing vehicle, aid prevent separation if the hitch connection fails.

• Trailer Brakes: In the country of Utah, every combination of vehicle is required to take a service braking system which will stop the vehicle or combination within 40 feet from an initial speed of xx mph on level, dry, smooth, difficult surface. 41-6a-1623
  • All trailers with brakes must have an annual country inspection.
  • Breakaway brakes: Like safety chains, these forestall accidents when your hitch fails. These are ability brakes that apply to the trailer upon separation from your truck.
  • Cheque your official legislative resources to find out which trailer restriction regulations are required in your state.
    • Some states have no rule regarding brakes and others crave brakes on all trailers. For trailers with more than ane axle, some states require brakes on all axles, some crave brakes only on a single axle.
• Trailer Lights: At minimum, the state of Utah requires your trailer to have…
  • Tail lights, brake lights, and license plate lights
  • Turn signals and 2 or more red reflectors
  • Clearance lights: In the country of Utah, a trailer over fourscore inches must have clearance lights.
  • UCA 41-6a-1604
  • Pro tip : It'due south up to you, of course, to make sure all of your lights are working any time you hit the road, so always bank check tail, brake and signal lights before each trip.

WEIGHT AND SIZE

• Trailer Weight
  • In the land of Utah, y'all may not tow a trailer on any highway with a gross weight in excess of 10,500 lbs on one bicycle UCA 72-seven-404
• Trailer Height
  • The maximum trailer top in the state of Utah : fourteen′ UCA 72-7-402(one)

• Trailer Width
  • The maximum trailer width in the land of Utah: 8′ 6 UCA 72-seven-402(1)
  • Pro tip : In most states, a trailer more than 8 feet half dozen inches in width is considered a "wide load" and subject to a number of regulations, such as special permits, flags or banners, and limits on when the trailer can be on the road (no weekends in some states, for case).
• Trailer Length
  • In the state of Utah, a truck-trailer combination is allowed upward to 65 feet of overall length. UCA 72-7-402

Safe MEASURES

• You can avoid incidents and legal claims by becoming familiar with all parts and safety requirements of your tow fix-up…
• Tow Capacity: Make sure your truck is capable of towing your loaded trailer
  • Hitch: Learn how to operate your hitch or drawbar and secure it properly for travel.
  • Tongue Weight: Learn what information technology ways to load your trailer within its target natural language weight
    • Pro tip : check out this video, Dangers of Improper Tongue Weight
    • In the state of Utah, a person may non operate a combination of vehicles when whatever trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle beingness towed:
      • whips or swerves from side to side dangerously or unreasonably; or
      • fails to follow substantially in the path of the towing vehicle.
      • UCA 72-7-403

• Tie downs: If you are loading anything onto a trailer that could perhaps autumn off, you'll need tie-downs to secure information technology at multiple angles.
  • For this scenario, you'd desire to bring several ratchets to position and secure both pieces of equipment to your trailer

Get off to a to great first by checking out this article: ​​ Definitive Guide to Safety Towing

When do federal trailer towing regulations apply?

The simplest answer: When making coin is involved.

If you are a business owner, towing a trailer for business purposes, or furthering commercial operations of any kind, and so federal safe regulations apply to you.

And, yes, Federal Safety Regulations even apply to individuals who choose to participate in professional competitive events such as:

• motor sports
• rodeos and horse shows
• angling tournaments

Here'south some questions to help you evaluate if federal regulations apply to you:

• Do you declare prize money as income from a business concern for tax purposes?
• Are the costs for the underlying activities deducted as a business expense for tax purposes?
• Practise you accept products and/or money for advertising a sponsor?
• Is your trailer existence used in the furtherance of commercial operations?

If you answered "YES" to whatsoever of these questions, you are legally required to follow appropriate commercial regulations for the locations you travel, intrastate or interstate. ( Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation, Office 390.iii )

Requirements for towing a trailer commercially

Equally we mentioned above, drivers who program to tow commercially need to exist set to take their condom regulation awareness to a whole other level.

Only, let's besides be clear on this one thing:

There's no way the full extent of federal safety regulations for commercial carriers tin exist fully explained here.

Yet, nosotros can become yous started by emphasizing that the safety of your staff and protection of your business relies on the following:

So, are you gear up to kick information technology up a notch??

Alright then, let's move onto the side by side large important factor…

When information technology comes to towing for commercial use, yous will encounter drastic changes in one case you cross the threshold of 10,000lbs GVW.

What kind of changes?

Well, not necessarily any changes to your tow set-up or equipment.

Y'all'll notice big changes in the price of your insurance, required regulations, and associated licenses.

Let's use another example to illustrate…

Instance #2: Towing 12,000lbs of landscaping business equipment

Okay, so at present, let's say you are a landscaping business organisation owner living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Your business has grown in size, and you're hoping to send a couple of employees and 12,000lbs of landscape equipment to complete a chore in Ogden, Utah. You enquire yourself:

"Do I know the regulations required to get this task done, legally?"

"Er….." You realize you don't know exactly what the federal safety regulations are for towing trailers.

So, you lot head to google… and now, here you lot are, ready to follow this simple guide:

MINIMUM FEDERAL REGULATIONS TO COMPLY WITH

LICENSING

• In this scenario, your crew will be towing a trailer with a GVW (gross vehicle weight) of over 10,000 lbs. This is kind of a big deal. Why? Because…
• Any commercial driver towing a trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs GVW, needs to hold a current CDL or "Commercial Driver License". UCA 53-3-412

• Other Helpful Resources:
  • Federal Regulation Commercial Driver License Standards – 49 CFR 383
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations – 49 CFR 390

REGISTRATION

• As with towing a trailer for personal-use, yous'll want to make certain both your truck(south) and trailer(due south) are registered in the land of Utah.

• Withal, for this example, your drivers will accept to deport more than just proof of registration. Here'southward a few requirements that apply in the state of Utah:
  • CDL drivers are required to have a DOT medical card in their possession Utah Department of Public Safety, DOT card
  • You must take a USDOT number and brandish information technology on your power unit in addition to the carrier proper noun. Utah Department of Transportation, USDOT numbers
• Ship vehicle(s) must behave proof of an annual inspection Federal Motor Carrier Association, Inspections
• Drug and Alcohol Testing applies
• Record keeping applies
• Accident recording applies

INSURANCE

• Utah state law requires all commercial car policies to take a minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person, $65,000 per accident for actual injury and $15,000 for holding damage. UCA 31A-22-305
• In this scenario, it would exist important for you to choose limits that match your business vehicles in addition to what's required past Utah law. Failure to do then could leave you responsible for a claim that financially affects your business organisation. Utah Insurance Department, Business Use of Your Auto
• Pro Trip : talk over whatsoever business use of your truck and trailer with your insurance agent to ensure you are fairly covered.
  • Other Helpful Resource: Motor Carrier Insurance Requirements

SAFETY MEASURES AND EQUIPMENT

• For towing more than v,000 lbs: cheque out this article: Complete Guide to Towing with a Weight Distribution Hitch
• For towing 16,000 – thirty,000 lbs, or more than: check out this article: The Ultimate Guide to Condom Heavy-Duty Towing

Other helpful resource: Utah DOT & Rubber Regulations

You lot may exist wondering…

 "Do I need to be mindful of the differences from one state'southward trailer towing regulations to another?"

Our answer:

Yeah, specially, if you lot are towing a trailer for commercial use.

Intrastate vs Interstate

INTRASTATE COMMERCE  – hauling loads in only 1 country

• Mandated by the state

INTERSTATE COMMERCE – crossing state or land borders

• Handled by the Federal Motor Carrier Condom Assistants (FMCSA)
• 49 CFR 390.five

When are you subject to inspection?

In general, if you are transporting loads intrastate with a privately endemic pickup or light duty truck, you will rarely be pulled over for inspection – unless a clear, visual violation is apparent:

• trailer overload
• trailer sway
• unlevel trailer and truck

However, if you get in an accident – your truck, trailer, and towing equipment will be subject to a strict DOT inspection (Department of Transportation).

For great tips on avoiding towing violations, check out this article: Seven Risks You Have past Non Measuring Your Trailer'due south Natural language Weight

This brings united states of america to our next instance…

Instance #iii: Towing 20,000lbs of landscaping business concern equipment beyond state boundaries

Okay, so now, let's say your business organisation has grown large enough that you lot are ready to send your employees, and 20,000lbs of landscape equipment, to complete a job in Bear Lake, Idaho.

This means you have answered 'Aye' to all three of the big factors we've discussed, so far….

You're feeling pretty confident about handling commercial registration, licensing, insurance, safety equipment, and taking proper safety measures.

Simply, now you're curious…

"As a business concern possessor, towing for commercial purposes, what can I expect when crossing port of entries at country borders?"

Answer: In most cases, nada!

Passing through Port of Entries

Nearly port of entries are fairly automated and allow the vehicle to 'laissez passer' through the port at a irksome charge per unit of speed. Equally you pass through:

• Officers will visually inspect your load
• In-route scales will capture the weight of your vehicle

If everything is in order, you lot'll only receive a greenlight to continue frontwards. If something were to be noticed during inspection, i.east…

• a missing motor carrier number on the vehicle
• a load that seems to exist overweight
• or, a load of hazardous materials that doesn't comply with Federal Interstate Commerce Regulations

…the driver would then meet a ruby light with an indicator to pull into the port for further inspection and documentation.

Volition I get a ticket?

If, as a commercial vehicle, you are found to exist in violation of local, state or federal laws relating to legal weight, equipment specifications or drivers license type – you will exist fined.

If, in the case of an blow, you are found to be in violation of any of those items – you lot will non only be fined, but also exposed to civil litigation for damages.

Officers manning the port of entry at each state take the ability to write a citation with a fine for safety or weight violations (or, what is chosen a 'gear up it ticket', for minor violations). In extreme cases, where condom is priority, the port of entry officer has the ability to impound the vehicle until the violations are corrected.

Managing the risks of towing a trailer

Nosotros cannot finish this article without addressing one last important fact:

Driver error can pb to trouble with the law, as well.

Then, in improver to post-obit all state and federal safety regulations, you also demand to practice and follow safe driving techniques. Failing to do so could be a form of negligence that creates serious legal liability.

Keep in heed that, in many cases, your trailer will counterbalance more than your truck. All that extra weight behind your truck volition accept a huge impact on your truck's driving power. You'll need to learn new driving techniques to ensure safe on the road while towing:

• Know the maximum safe speed at which your truck can safely tow your trailer . Y'all'll need to take into account how its beliefs changes depending on its load and road weather condition. Proper maintenance, including keeping tires fairly inflated, is also an of import role of maintaining control.
• Allow for longer stopping distances. Exist more than attentive to vehicles stopping of a sudden ahead of yous when towing, and brainstorm braking sooner than if you weren't towing

• Take constant care to make wider turns at curves and corners. Remember, gooseneck hitches pin faster because they're fastened in the middle of your truck bed (not to the bumper), and so you lot'll need to swing wider than you would with a receiver hitch trailer.
• Drive in the right lane on highways as much equally possible. This volition make information technology easier for you to get over to the shoulder if ever you need extra stopping room or happen to have a tire blowout.
• Don't ride your truck's brakes on long downhills. Shift your truck's transmission to a lower gear to help ho-hum your speed and take some strain off of the brakes. Applying the brakes at intervals to keep the speed in cheque (every bit opposed to constant awarding of the brake pedal) will help keep the brakes from overheating.
• Consider Height. Trailers can be much taller than the truck, so keep clearances in listen when pulling into gas stations or low bridge situations

• Use a spotter when backing up. Have someone outside at the rear of the trailer while bankroll upwardly whenever possible. Even wide tow mirrors can't provide all the visibility y'all may demand, particularly in situations where there are other vehicles, objects, or people in shut proximity.
• Cheque your route ahead of time. Some roads don't allow trailers on them, and certain roads also have weight, elevation, and width limits. Plan your route ahead of time to avert the hassle of having to backtrack to discover roads that allow your rig.

Decision

This commodity doesn't fifty-fifty come shut to roofing the full extent of trailer towing laws and safety regulations (specially for commercial carriers) – however, drivers who accept these three big factors into consideration will exist well on their way to towing safely and legally!

For more support and tips on towing, you can browse some of our how-to videos , or feel free to contact usa with any of your questions. We're here to help!

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Do You Have To Register A Single Axle Trailer In Utah,

Source: https://www.weigh-safe.com/towing-safety/trailer-towing-laws-which-federal-and-state-regulations-apply-to-you/

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