[Eric B]

Hello

It seems this thread has moved to Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) category from historic plates.

There are lots of good points brought up. Generally 4500 kilograms is the magic number.

One thing you must remember is its not the actual combined weight that is looked at, but the Registered Gross Vehicle Weight (RGVW), this is the weight that the trailer and truck is capable of carrying.

There are two parts to your truck registration. The left side has the empty weight (GVW). The right side has the RGVW, this is the maximum you registered the vehicle for including occupants, load and trailer. If you exceed this number you are overweight and you pay by the kg over the trucks RGVW.

You can get this increased at the MTO office...for a fee of course.

The trailer will only have the GVW on the left side. The RGVW will be on the data plate attached to the trailer. (This is the number looked at for RGVW not what you have actually loaded on the trailer).

Many time the trucks RGVW is too low, when you add the GVW of the trailer with the GVW of the truck, combined it exceeds the trucks RGVW. If this is the case then you are overweight just hooking the trailer up.

If you have an unmodified pickup that exceeds 4500 kg (dual wheels) then you have some exemptions (with CVOR, Annual inspections etc).. that is until you hook up a dual axle trailer. Most dual axle trailers have a minimum RGVW of 3175 kg. Which as soon as you hook up to any truck will put you over 4500 kg.

If the trailer requires an annual safety inspection.. so does the truck.

MTO now check for CVOR when you renew your vehicles plates. If the RGVW is over 4500 they will not renew it unless you have a CVOR or advise them that it is under the exemption.

MTO Enforcers are well trained in this area. It is a standardized training and not up to individual interpretation as insinuated in this thread.

It is up to the vehicle owners/drivers to follow the rules.

With Commercial Motor Vehicles (those above 4500 kg regardless of what it is being used for) the driver and /or the owner can be charged.

Not having an annual safety inspection is a $240.00 fine, for each the trailer and truck. It is cheaper to get the safety than to get the ticket, which then will effect your insurance rating as well.

There are no exemptions for renting or borrowing a truck or trailer for annual safety inspections, so make sure it has one if you choose to exceed the 4500 kg category.

There may also be a requirement for a daily vehicle inspection and/or log book.

Again there are some exemptions but they are very limited and specific.

Please go to the MTO web page or e-laws Ontario for more clarification. Don't ask the person at the Service Ontario office, or in law enforcement who does not deal with CMV's on a regular basis as they have limited knowledge.

By the way if you are from out of province, i.e. Quebec, you might be exempt from an annual inspection in Quebec but will require to follow the Ontario rules if you choose to drive here and your combination is over 4500 kg.


Thanks

Eric