OCHC hosted Rich Agostinoni from Farm Family Insurance on 7/18/08.

Rich helped us all understand our insurance risks as horse-owners with an entertaining presentation for the evening.  He hoped that if we all walked away with an awareness of our insurance needs, he had done a good job.  Rich takes a boring subject - insurance - and highlights it with humor.  He answered many questions of the audience with flare.  Those of you who missed this great presentation and would like more information, please contact Rich Agostinoni directly at 845-928-7000

OCHC hosted Doug Eighmey from the NYS Department of Transportation on 3/20/08. 

Doug helped us understand the DOT requirements for towing a vehicle and commercial driver's licenses. 

Here are the Driver License Classifications.  Be careful in checking how much your truck and trailer weigh!  DOT is requiring a CDL Class A license if your Truck & Trailer Combination Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is over 26,000 lbs - Provided the gross combination vehicle weight rating or GCWR of vehicle being towed is more than 10,000 lbs.  For Example:  Ford F350 Dually Truck GVWR 13,000 lbs and the trailer is rated at GVWR 20,000 lbs, then that is 33,000 lbs combined - You need a CDL Class A to drive this combination!  The ticket for driving out of class is around $1500 and you are shut down immediately!! Yikes!!

If you have Class D (regular driver's license) you can drive a vehicle (truck) up to a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,000 lbs or less - may tow a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. or less; or may tow a vehicle of more than 10,000 lbs providing the gross combination of truck & trailer weight rating (GCWR) is not over 26,000 lbs. 

US DOT Number Notice - If however, you operate a truck with a gross vehicle weight of 18,001 lbs. or more for business purposes in New York State, and you don’t already have a USDOT # you need to obtain one by July 5, 2005. You can register online at www.safersys.org and then click on “FMCSA Registration & Updates.” All you’ll need is a valid credit card (no charge – the card is needed for an electronic signature).  The USDOT# is Free.

Any trailer over 3,000 lbs must be inspected.

When applying for a Commercial Driver's License at DMV, be sure to tell them you will be towing a vehicle - a special item must be checked on your application - will save a lot of heartache if you get pulled over by DOT. 

For further information on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration