Boy,
Am I glad I don't live back east, we transport our small gas engine vehicles and mowers just about anyway we can, no problems at all.
The guy asked a question, is all. In the context of carrying lawn equipment, gasoline, propane, etc., there isn't anything different about being 'back east'. I can carry all those things without issue- rules that apply to commercial carriers do not apply to consumers.
My .02
I think the original poster may have been referring to commercial vans and trailer, not his personal mini-van or personal trailer, car, truck or whatever.
Commercial companies have rules they have to follow, and no gas and oil in moving vans is one of them.
In Ontario:
Cylinders must be transported upright and secured in place, so they won't move around in a vehicle.
In a passenger vehicle, cylinders must be secured, on the rear floor, upright, with the window open or in the trunk inside a secured tote box and with the trunk partially open to ensure proper ventilation.
Kind of hard to do "on the spot". And pretty much impossible with many of the smaller cars of today.