In California its of course more complicated. Class "C" is a regular driver license here.

A commercial motor vehicle is a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles that:

* Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
* Is a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, if the trailer(s) has a GVWR of 10,001 or more pounds.
* Tows any vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more.
* Tows more than one vehicle or a trailer bus.
* Has three or more axles (excludes three axle vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds or less gross).
* Is any vehicle (bus, farm labor vehicle, general public paratransit vehicle, etc.) designed, used, or maintained to carry more than 10 passengers including the driver, for hire or profit, or is used by any nonprofit organization or group.
* Is any size vehicle which requires hazardous material placards or is carrying material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR part 73.*
* Transports hazardous wastes (Health and Safety Code §§25115 and 25117).*

A Noncommercial Class A license is required if you tow:

* a travel trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) which is not used for hire.
* a fifth-wheel travel trailer weighting over 15,000 lbs. GVWR which is not used for hire.
* a livestock trailer that is not for hire, weight over 10,000 lbs. GVWR but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, and is operated within 150 miles of the farm by a farmer to transport livestock.

A Noncommercial Class B license and endorsement is required if you operate:

* A housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet.

 

Thats good to know, its been over nearly 20 years since my cdl's. But like any law in Pa.
it probably has a section somewhere big enough for a elephant to go through that is summed up by the "officers discretion" lol
+1 for the reminder.

 

Good to see they keep it nice and simple

 

 

The only time a CDL is required for a trailer over 10k GVWR is when the CGVWR is over 26k.

Doesn't matter what your truck weighs since it goes by GVWRs.

 

If you go over the truck or trailers rated GVWR and your caught, you get fined. So it matters what the truck weighs. However I think you were referring to the truck and trailers rated GVW adding up to the 26k GCWR not what the truck actually weighs.

 

Not if I am plated for it.

Exactly. Towing a 19k trailer with a truck that weighs 7k will be a CMV (assuming your within your GVWRs).

 

I wonder how long till they start slapping some kind of tax or "permit" on the trucks if these ratings keep going up. All i got to say is HAIL HAIL AMERICAN MADE! unless we were on a big rig forum and somebody would start with the Volvo's and Scania's.... I'm pretty much impressed with them all even tho they cost more than my 3 bedroom house..lol

 

Once the GVWR of your "pickup" exceeds 10,000lb, California starts taxing it even more that our already expensive unladen weight fee. What other state taxes you on that?

 

IDK my friend, i got a class 2 in Pa. and the registration is $81, my coal truck triaxle (class 8 73,280) is $1200 a yr.

 

wait a minute think i am it's about trucks not registrations. go america show the world we rock lol

 

Let's see some pics of that tri-ax!

 

Great idea.....for the trailer/towing forum

 

I don't think so Tim.

 

yeah I'll get a shot of it here monday or tmrw when i get it at the garage. its not no asphalt hauling showtruck, it dirty and mean. i haul for power plants cleaning up old waste coal piles then fly ash to them to filter the old acidic waste water. its a 2004 fld freidhtliner with a 475 cat and 18 spd. 538000 miles and with the big injectors she'll run down a new 550 acert and laugh. haha with the thaw here in pa and the rain friday we were pushing mud nearly up to the bumper.