Imagine Ground Hog day (for those of you familiar with that movie), but instead of living life in a small town, just imagine trying to get a truck legal in PA. That's my vision of hell. 9 hours. 9 hours! That is my total time TODAY in trying to get the Night Moose to the point where it's worthyness can once again be considered by the almighty, all powerfull, omnipotent state of Pennsylvania. 
7:00AM Arrived at Susquehanna Truck Center to get the truck RE-inspected by this ENHANCED inspection station, considered to be worthy of filling out form 426B for the state. Take the truck off the trailer.
7:15AM There is concern that the lack of a title from Rhode Island (RI doesn't title after 10 years, but instead uses the registration card as proof of ownership) will prevent form 426B from passing the mustard. Phone calls must be made to verify, but it's too early yet. Nobody is open at PennDOT.
8:00AM Still no verification on the RI title delema. I convince them to inspect it anyway, and just hold the paperwork.
9:00AM The truck FAILS inspection. Because, the second light in the bumper for the license plate is missing, and there is no tailpipe. Now keep in mind that this truck PASSED inspection already at the less than worthy inspection station that processed the Bronco previously. I explained that the exhaust (muffler) exited past the back of the cab, and that this was acceptable. WAS exceptable is the response. The law changed. All vehicles now require a tailpipe. I say the light isn't needed, because it isn't there. One bulb is suficient to light the license plate. If a light is present it must work. If there is no light, it doesn't have to work. WELL, I'm told... THEY will see the light is missing in the pictures, and might reject the paper work for it. Put the truck back ON the trailer.
9:30AM Stopped at Stoner-Wade (my favorite non-omnipotent inspection station and Ford dealer) to see Bob. Bob's the guy who did all the Bronco 426B stuff when it was legal 2 years ago, and is the owner of the trailer the Night Moose is sitting on. I tell Bob I need to whip up some tailpipes. Where should I go. He tells me that he has a friend at a muffler shop nearby, and that he may be able to help me.
10:00AM So I trailer the Night Moose over there and explain my situation. $40 later, I've got two universal tailpipes a handfull of clamps and two hangers. Drive back to Stoner-Wade. Take the truck OFF the trailer.
10:30AM I say to Chad, the service manager "how fast can I get these put on". He says right now, so I get fixed up with Russ, the mechanic who did the headgaskets in the Moose Truck after my first attempt failed, and an hour and a half later, and a hundred dollars lighter, the Night Moose has tailpipes. The parts counter has my light lens and a light bulb. I snap them in, and now the truck has no more excuses not to pass.
12:00PM I put the truck back ON the trailer, and drive back to Susquehanna Truck.
12:30PM Good news. PennDOT has alieved their fears that there is a problem with the Rhode Island document. Registration card is acceptable. "Fine" they say. We need the truck off the trailer to take pictures. So I take it OFF again. He takes 4 pictures. "OK. All done. You can load it back up.".
1:00PM Bad News. We can see the Moose hanging on the rear view mirror in the pictures. PennDOT specifically states that nothing can be in the windows or on anything. We'll need pictures without the Moose (I kid you not! This is for real). You'll have to take it down, and then take it off the trailer for more pictures. YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME!
1:15PM I convince them that since they need pictures of the exhaust and engine that they would be better served to leave it on the trailer. One small victory for me.
1:30PM They realize the weight of the truck can't be the same as it was before. It's heavier. It's going to have to have the new unladen weight on the title. Mr. Agne, you're going to have to get the truck weighed.
2:00PM I've been at this since 7:00AM. I've had one cup of coffee. I'm starving. I stop for lunch.
2:30PM Powells feed mill. Location of a certified scale. The parking lot is full of melting snow, large puddles, and mud. Unloading the truck for a weigh seems painfull at best. Definitely messy. I explain to the scale girl.... I need a weight slip that just shows the weight of the truck. BUT I don't want to put just the truck on the scale. Can I please have you weigh the truck on the trailer, then let me bring the trailer back without the truck, you record the difference as the weight of the truck, and the slip shows JUST the weight of the truck. OK? OK she says, so we weigh the combo. 5520 is the gross Night Moose on Trailer.
3:00PM I stop at my moms and pick her up. I need somebody to talk to. She rides along back to the house. I unload the truck. 3rd time in the same day.
3:30PM I drop her off at her place, and go back to Powels. Back on the scale. The trailer weighs just a little over 1800. Night Moose weighs exactly3680. Lighter than I thought. It should scoot along nicely and get great fuel milage. The scale girl gives me the slip. What's THIS? I point at the gross, tare, and net. I said ONLY the truck weight please. OH, we can't do that. WHAT! Susquehanna Truck told me it had to be just the truck weight or PennDOT may not accept it. Well, I'll have to take my chances. I'm out of time and options.
4:00PM With the completed form 426B in hand, and a stack of attached exhibits totalling 11 pages, I leave $70 lighter and Matthias now is positioned to re-submit the now ponderous document pack, consisting of the new 426B the old 426B with the failed letter, the recepts for fees already paid and whatever else on Gods green earth was needed to get this through the gauntlet of PA buracracy. Once Matthias signs the rejection letter, it can go back to the title and tag outfit for formal attempt #2, where the state will have another opportunity to reject the package for whatever reason they see fit. If they don't, they will have no choice but to mail my boy a freshly minted F-150 diesel title.
7:00AM Arrived at Susquehanna Truck Center to get the truck RE-inspected by this ENHANCED inspection station, considered to be worthy of filling out form 426B for the state. Take the truck off the trailer.
7:15AM There is concern that the lack of a title from Rhode Island (RI doesn't title after 10 years, but instead uses the registration card as proof of ownership) will prevent form 426B from passing the mustard. Phone calls must be made to verify, but it's too early yet. Nobody is open at PennDOT.
8:00AM Still no verification on the RI title delema. I convince them to inspect it anyway, and just hold the paperwork.
9:00AM The truck FAILS inspection. Because, the second light in the bumper for the license plate is missing, and there is no tailpipe. Now keep in mind that this truck PASSED inspection already at the less than worthy inspection station that processed the Bronco previously. I explained that the exhaust (muffler) exited past the back of the cab, and that this was acceptable. WAS exceptable is the response. The law changed. All vehicles now require a tailpipe. I say the light isn't needed, because it isn't there. One bulb is suficient to light the license plate. If a light is present it must work. If there is no light, it doesn't have to work. WELL, I'm told... THEY will see the light is missing in the pictures, and might reject the paper work for it. Put the truck back ON the trailer.
9:30AM Stopped at Stoner-Wade (my favorite non-omnipotent inspection station and Ford dealer) to see Bob. Bob's the guy who did all the Bronco 426B stuff when it was legal 2 years ago, and is the owner of the trailer the Night Moose is sitting on. I tell Bob I need to whip up some tailpipes. Where should I go. He tells me that he has a friend at a muffler shop nearby, and that he may be able to help me.
10:00AM So I trailer the Night Moose over there and explain my situation. $40 later, I've got two universal tailpipes a handfull of clamps and two hangers. Drive back to Stoner-Wade. Take the truck OFF the trailer.
10:30AM I say to Chad, the service manager "how fast can I get these put on". He says right now, so I get fixed up with Russ, the mechanic who did the headgaskets in the Moose Truck after my first attempt failed, and an hour and a half later, and a hundred dollars lighter, the Night Moose has tailpipes. The parts counter has my light lens and a light bulb. I snap them in, and now the truck has no more excuses not to pass.
12:00PM I put the truck back ON the trailer, and drive back to Susquehanna Truck.
12:30PM Good news. PennDOT has alieved their fears that there is a problem with the Rhode Island document. Registration card is acceptable. "Fine" they say. We need the truck off the trailer to take pictures. So I take it OFF again.
He takes 4 pictures. "OK. All done. You can load it back up.".1:00PM Bad News. We can see the Moose hanging on the rear view mirror in the pictures. PennDOT specifically states that nothing can be in the windows or on anything. We'll need pictures without the Moose (I kid you not! This is for real). You'll have to take it down, and then take it off the trailer for more pictures. YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME!
1:15PM I convince them that since they need pictures of the exhaust and engine that they would be better served to leave it on the trailer. One small victory for me.
1:30PM They realize the weight of the truck can't be the same as it was before. It's heavier. It's going to have to have the new unladen weight on the title. Mr. Agne, you're going to have to get the truck weighed.
2:00PM I've been at this since 7:00AM. I've had one cup of coffee. I'm starving. I stop for lunch.
2:30PM Powells feed mill. Location of a certified scale. The parking lot is full of melting snow, large puddles, and mud. Unloading the truck for a weigh seems painfull at best. Definitely messy. I explain to the scale girl.... I need a weight slip that just shows the weight of the truck. BUT I don't want to put just the truck on the scale. Can I please have you weigh the truck on the trailer, then let me bring the trailer back without the truck, you record the difference as the weight of the truck, and the slip shows JUST the weight of the truck. OK? OK she says, so we weigh the combo. 5520 is the gross Night Moose on Trailer.
3:00PM I stop at my moms and pick her up. I need somebody to talk to. She rides along back to the house. I unload the truck. 3rd time in the same day.
3:30PM I drop her off at her place, and go back to Powels. Back on the scale. The trailer weighs just a little over 1800. Night Moose weighs exactly3680. Lighter than I thought. It should scoot along nicely and get great fuel milage. The scale girl gives me the slip. What's THIS? I point at the gross, tare, and net. I said ONLY the truck weight please. OH, we can't do that. WHAT! Susquehanna Truck told me it had to be just the truck weight or PennDOT may not accept it. Well, I'll have to take my chances. I'm out of time and options.
4:00PM With the completed form 426B in hand, and a stack of attached exhibits totalling 11 pages, I leave $70 lighter and Matthias now is positioned to re-submit the now ponderous document pack, consisting of the new 426B the old 426B with the failed letter, the recepts for fees already paid and whatever else on Gods green earth was needed to get this through the gauntlet of PA buracracy. Once Matthias signs the rejection letter, it can go back to the title and tag outfit for formal attempt #2, where the state will have another opportunity to reject the package for whatever reason they see fit. If they don't, they will have no choice but to mail my boy a freshly minted F-150 diesel title.
It sucks, but I think we're all going to see more and more of BIG GOVERNMENT under the leadership of BIG O.
....... 
