New Hampshire trailer inspection advisory
Trailers with a GCWR of 10,001 lbs or more must undergo a federal inspection at least once every 12 months.
Given recent state law changes, NHMTA has received some questions regarding requirements for inspections of trailers, and we thought it appropriate to provide the answer to the entire membership.
The question, in general, is what inspection requirements apply to trailers. The answer is that any trailer (or semi-trailer) with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more must follow Federal Annual Inspection requirements, and be inspected at least once every 12 months. That is because 49 CFR 390.5 defines a motor vehicle as “any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property.”
Furthermore, the State of New Hampshire has adopted by reference these federal regulations for intrastate carriers. Thus, any trailer with a GCWR of 10,001 pounds or more must follow Federal Annual Inspection Requirements, whether it operates interstate or intrastate.
Finally, NHMTA has posted several inspection advisories on our website. We urge members to review them, including the comprehensive advisory posted on January 23.
If you have any questions, contact NHMTA’s Director of Safety and Loss Control, Mary Grace Johansen, at (603) 415-8402.