o/s signs question

Usually when I see them running empty with the signs on its because they're still classified as oversize due to trailer width or length driver. I was always told that it was against the law to run with the signs on if you weren't oversize but I can neither confirm nor deny.

 

I got my very first ticket in a big rig for doing that in Iowa two decades ago. It was my first oversized and I was so proud that I didn't want to take the banners off. Never made that mistake again.

 

Most cases? Too lazy to remove them.

 

I have left the flags and signs on the truck when running from dropping one OD load and picking up another, but I tape the flags to the sticks and the center of the signs so it looks like a yellow bow tie, a bear could still write me though I guess.

 

Some states, Pennsylvania comes to mind specify that the banners must be removed when you are no longer oversized...

 

I was working at Osborn transportation in Gadsden,Alabama. Primarily, we were steel haulers. They had their drivers divided into certain teams. There were bunches of big loads, and so being a new flatbedder, I got the opportunity to get on the team that pulled the oversized. I was so happy...it was something I've always wanted to do. First load I had to take some oversized machine west of Des Moines on 80. Emptied out and went into that eastbound scale with the banners on. They pulled me around back and a scale master asked me why did I still have the banners on. And he wrote me a ticket. Can't remember how much it was but until South Dakota wrote me a ticket for being 18000 over gross (was still registered for 80k), it was the biggest ticket I've ever received.

Ive seen the guys twist their banners and whatnot, I've thought about doing that, but after getting burned by Iowa, I find it just as easy to take them off.