Where did that come from? Why not 25,000lbs, a more "round" number? Just curious what the history is of the break between CDL and non-CDL.

 

I think you are trying to apply logic where none exists. Government bureucrats rutinely pull ideas out of their rear end and impose them on us.

 

Maybe so

Seriously, though. Did it have something to do with trucks of years past and GCWR's? Busses, straight trucks, tractors/trailers? There has to be some theory(s) behind why the 26k.

 

subscribing...interesting topic. Who knows.

 

Before 1986 each state had it's own laws regarding CDL's. The problem was that in one state you had to have a CDL to drive a truck the size of a UHaul rental, while in another state, you only had to have a CDL to drive a combination. The FED's had to have a cut off somewhere. When you consider that most trucks with a GVWR over 26001 have air brakes or a combination of air and hydraulic, and is much more difficult to drive. Stopping distances vary according to the braking system and the amount of weight loaded. Visibility is poor, with a huge difference in performance depending on engine, and transmission combination's. And those vehicles really should have a training program prior to turning a driver lose on the unsuspecting public. Some states are seeing a 25% or more serious injury or fatality rate involving commercial motor vehicles. Even if the commercial driver is not a fault, someone usually gets hurt when a collision involves a big rig.

And the CDL is not just for 26001 lbs. Passenger vehicles, those hauling hazmat, and school buses all have to demonstrate the ability to operate the vehicle safely.

Overall I would like to see all drivers be required to be as professional as commercial drivers are. The roads would be allot safer for sure.

 

You nailed it. +1

 

Actually I think the post just above yours makes more sense. Just because we don't always understand where the regulations come from, doesn't me there's no logical reason for them.

 

I don't know about out your way, but here on on the east coast, more and more of the "professional" drivers know less and less of how to be proffesional and safe. most tend to think they are driving either sports cars or maybe little econo-boxes. I commute @ 1000 mile a week and see this day in and day out. There is no reason for a truck or anyone else for that matter, to be doing 15 or more over. Dump trucks are the worst offenders.I have been passed by loaded trucks doing at least 85 in a 65, all because they get paid by the number of loads they pull.. You can tell the really ****ty drivers easily., they have spray painted all the phone numbers on the trucks, whether its the advise stickers or the company office numbers. Some of these jackasses know nothing about physics or stopping distance. I really love the snowtarded ones that try to do 80 in the driving snow and then end up closing the mountain pass because they all slid down the hill and jackknifed. They are worse than the trophy wives in the "indestructible" SUV's.

/end soapbox...

BTW, it took me me over 13 hrs to get home last Wednesday due to these type of drivers... closed the mountain.

 

As a Class A CDL holder, and a twelve year veteran of semi dumps, I have to agree with most of what you said.
There are some real professional drivers out there, but they are far and few between anymore.
Alot of small companys are popping up and cutting the rates.
Along with cheap freight you get a junk wagon of a truck, and a driver that you desribed. It's BS, but its free economy.....
Unregulated trucking is what we can thank.

As for the Phone numbers on the trucks...I partly agree with you, but the flip side of that are the people (truck haters) that are looking for something free. IE a windshield, a paint job, a new tire...ect, ect.
There are more abundant than you know.
The last company I drove for didnt have the "If this driver is unprofessional call 800-xxx-xxxx" ect, but we did have the number on the door of the truck. The owner finally removed the numbers because of people calling complaining about the truck dropping gravel, broken windshields. blah blah blah. We had GPS on the trucks, and 99% of the calls were people saying the truck was somewhere it wasn't. and spilling something it wasn't even hauling, and doing something it wasn't.
I had a complaint that I was doing over 80 mph, and cutting people off one morning. all while me and my truck were sitting in the yard warming up 45 mins away. They even got my truck number right...
Spend some time behind the wheel of a loaded truck in a metropolitan area, and you'll understand the "other side"
And by no means am I defending the s#*tty truck drivers, your right about that.

 

The 26k number has to do with the teamsters and supposedly what a large team of horses could pull.

 

Most likely it was set just above what most two ton trucks had for a GVW, therby sparring the smaller business the expense that running a DOT certified program costs.

I a thinking about the small construction company with mabye one or two F600 flatbeds - they are generaly below the 26,001 cdl requirement.

Just my two cents

David