Not here in Alabama. According to Ala. Law 40-12-248(HB222) If you use your truck to make revenue you have to have cdls and dot stickers. Doesn't matter whst your truck weighs. This law states if your cutting grass, hauling race cars or even towing a boat to fishing tournaments. This is just examples there's more bit I'm not going to type them all. Trucks used for agricultural use in transporting harvest and weighs less than 12k lbs is except. Dot numbers is not based on weight neither is cdl requirements in the state of Alabama.

 

I searched that for that law and couldn't find anything that referenced that and your states CDL manual seems to disagree with you. Maybe you could post a link to where it says that. Either way federal regulations are based off of GVWR/GCWR.

 

DOT is federal agency. How Alabama can rule on their laws?

 

Any commercial vehicle that isn't class A or B is class C...

Still requires DOT numbers and a class C CDL.


It seems many posters in this thread have confused GVWR with GCVWR.

When you register, it makes a difference. Those 1-tons registered for 40,000# GCVWR still stay well within the GVWR stamped on the door... they HAVE to.

I'm not saying the DMV doesn't do it, but when registering, the GVWR stamped on the door is supposed to be the MAX allowed... but you can register it for less if you don't expect to hit the limits of your load allowance.

To the OP:
It has been pointed out, the GVWR stamped on the B pillar is what you go by. They have mentioned that you should also pay attention to the axle ratings and the tire ratings, but I haven't seen anyone mention BRAKES! Brakes are generally what limit the GVWR... That is why the sum of the axle ratings and the sum of the tire ratings will be higher than the posted GVWR.

GCVWR is a different bear, because when you're talking combinations, you're also talking about a supplemental brake system. The tow vehicle brakes only have to stop the weight of the tow vehicle itself and the tongue weight that it carries (which should never bust the GVWR)... the trailer brakes will handle the rest.

 

I am not sure if I understand your question but yes AL can make their rules strictor then the feds but it wouldn't appear that AL has.

That is not true at all. You can have a truck that requires DOT numbers but not require a CDL.

 

Per my understanding states can not apply federal laws for in-state use.
DOT is federal agency controlling interstate driving. If Alabama is enforcing the interstate, federal laws for intrastate commerce, that sounds like overstepping the authority.

 

Just the opposite. The feds are actually strong arming the states into adopting the federal regulations for intrastate commerce. Either way the states have the choice to adopt, or mirror, federal regulation as their own.

All states enforce federal law to a certain extent. Take the CDL program for example. All states have to comply to the federal standard at a minimum.

 

Cdl manual disagrees w/ me how? As far as a link I don't have a link I have copy of the law and the amendment of it. I'm not doing the leg work. What you can do is call montgomery and talk to them. I really don't care what you think I got my butt covered and that's all I care about.
Texas no I haven't confused gcvwr and gvwr. Yes it makes a difference when you tag your trailer. Here in Ala. Any truck weighing less than 12k used for personal use or agri. Is taged by what it weighs. Not it's gvwr "its plannly outlined to that fact". Now you tag your trailer to a weight limit. The 2 tags combined is the max you can gross. You can in fact register your truck to 12k lbs without any cdl or dot unless your truck is used to make money. So the little ford rangers if used for busness fall under the law. Just saw one yesterday maker of fact. It was used in a heating and cooling company.

 

Here is a link for New York State explanation of CDL needs.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/cdl/cdl10sec01.pdf


According to NYS, NYS contractors can haul trailers over 10k as long as you do not exceed 26k GCWR. My 250 (9400) with my dump trailer (14000) is 23400 combined, no CDL needed.

We need USDOT Numbers if we are over 10k and are for hire (single or combination) so most guys around here have them. If you are intrastrate it is the USDOT # ending with NY. If interstate the are just the USDOT #.

I have also heard some info on trailer weights since there is not a door tag for GCWR that it cannot be taken into account for an overweight ticket as long as the truck or trailer are not overweight. I mean yea it would be a problem if a truck was hook to a semi trailer. I'm talking a few thousand pounds. The problem would arise in a court if you were hauling above the manufacturers suggested loads and got into a bad accident in which people were hurt. You would be found negligent. This is only what I have heard. These laws are just confusing for most and getting answers is even harder.

If you scan down the document there is a handy table explaining the different classes. This is only for NY obviously.

 

Here is a link. I can't render it on my phone to verify its the code or not. Try it and see. I found it by just googling the code. The description is like the first sentence of the code so I think its it.
http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motor...mvrulebook.pdf

 

I think I wasn't clear. The least tag here and ala. Covers up to 8,000. That's for your cars and trucks. What I'm talking about is personal trucks that weigh less than 12k. Mainly because that's what the op is asking about. That's how you get over weight tickets in Ala. If your cc 4x4 f250 weights 8000 like mine does with toolbox and tools in it and you put a ton of feed in your truck you can be over weight. I just don't know what the gross of that tag is.
How the tags work for gcvwr is if you tag your truck the least 8k lbs and you tag your trailer for say 20k your gcw max is 28,000. Now I believe Ala. Says anything over 26k has to have cdl except for agriculture use if your hauling your own stuff to market.

 

you are confusing Class A/B with CDL

while many states no longer offer a Private Class A, they are still not the same thing.

When driving commercially, whether it be a semi or a moped, a CDL is required. Is it enforced? Not strictly, but why leave it up to chance?

 

In CA we do have to declare GCVW and pay according fee ($560 for my 30k sticker). The big stickers are put on the side of truck so HP can see them from distance.
I never heard about court case, but all over West Coast I see 1 ton pickups pulling gosenecks with 4 cars on them. Those usually have declared 40,000 lb GCVW. Now would you care to check what the best manufacturers rate their 1 ton pickups?

 

I don't think anybody is saying you don't have to declair gcvw. Everybody is chipping in how you do it in their state. Like here in Ala. Your declair is by your tags. And I know this hold to some degree in the commerical trucks I mean air brakes 10 wheel tractor what ever you want to call them. You have a tag here that's good for under 80,000 lbs then another 1 for 88,000 and 92,400 for triple axels. I use to beable to tell you the tag # of both of them but I've forgotten em. We use to only load the truck according to the tag. But then we started hiring trucks from Ga, Ms, and Tenn and they don't have 88,000 tags so we just let drivers deal w/ it.
As far as how can ala make laws, I don't know the feds role in all this, but the stat can add to what it deams as commerical use. We're talking about a class of trucks that is personial but can/is used for commerical purposes. What others and myself is talking about is non commercial stuff.

 

I'm just pointing out NYS information. Just because you are doing business with a vehicle here DOES NOT mean you need a cdl, it means DOT #'s if over 10k GVWR or GCWR and a CDL is needed for 26k GVWR or GCWR. This is for NEW YORK, any of your states may be different.

Not trying to stir the pot but according to Fords website a regular cab Dually 1 ton can 5th Wheel tow 22600 with the diesel and 3.73's. I mean if 4 cars weigh 3000lbs and from what I looked up the trailer could be 8000lbs thats 20,000lbs cars and trailer, 2600 below the manufacturers towing capacity. Even the extended and crew cabs could be configured to 21,000lbs. Throw in tools, fuel, extra body in the cab then it's cutting it close. Non dually....4 cars is quite much according to the website. But things could vary with options and such.