Weigh Stations and CDL
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 105
Likes: 14
Weigh Stations and CDL
Hello,
I am confused. Let me ask this hypothetical question.
A private person purchases a truck. The truck has a GVW of 16,000 pounds. The driver is not employed and uses the truck to travel and move personal items and or tow a flatbed trailer and or a 5th wheel RV. Let's assume the truck has a CGVW of 36,000 pounds. If a driver tows a 20,000 GVW trailer with his 16,000 pound truck (36,000lb capability) with nothing more than personal property that the driver/owner owns, do they need a CDL?
Must the person purchase a trailer that is 10,000 GVW or less, or purchase a smaller truck to pull a larger trailer, to stay under the 26,000?
Does a 26,000 pound limit apply to a private citizen that is not conducting commerce?
I am confused. Let me ask this hypothetical question.
A private person purchases a truck. The truck has a GVW of 16,000 pounds. The driver is not employed and uses the truck to travel and move personal items and or tow a flatbed trailer and or a 5th wheel RV. Let's assume the truck has a CGVW of 36,000 pounds. If a driver tows a 20,000 GVW trailer with his 16,000 pound truck (36,000lb capability) with nothing more than personal property that the driver/owner owns, do they need a CDL?
Must the person purchase a trailer that is 10,000 GVW or less, or purchase a smaller truck to pull a larger trailer, to stay under the 26,000?
Does a 26,000 pound limit apply to a private citizen that is not conducting commerce?
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,496
Likes: 2,810
RV is exempt.
Flatbed with "personal" items. What are you hauling and why?
Call these folks:
https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Licenses/L...ehicles-Exempt
Flatbed with "personal" items. What are you hauling and why?
Call these folks:
https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Licenses/L...ehicles-Exempt
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 105
Likes: 14
RV is exempt.
Flatbed with "personal" items. What are you hauling and why?
Call these folks:
https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Licenses/L...ehicles-Exempt
Flatbed with "personal" items. What are you hauling and why?
Call these folks:
https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Licenses/L...ehicles-Exempt
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
The answer you seek is location specific. some states require a non commercial class a license for class a vehicles, others have no such thing.
I could probably answer your question as it applies to South Dakota law, but that may not be much help where you live.
seek out and contact your local motor carrier enforcement department, and ask them these specific questions.
.
I could probably answer your question as it applies to South Dakota law, but that may not be much help where you live.
seek out and contact your local motor carrier enforcement department, and ask them these specific questions.
.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 105
Likes: 14
I wonder what happens with homemade trailers at those weigh stations. I recently completely rebuilt my BigTex 70DM auto trailer. I contemplated putting heavier duty axles on it. I guess if I had, it would make no difference at weigh stations because they would only go by the sticker.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 105
Likes: 14
The answer you seek is location specific. some states require a non commercial class a license for class a vehicles, others have no such thing.
I could probably answer your question as it applies to South Dakota law, but that may not be much help where you live.
seek out and contact your local motor carrier enforcement department, and ask them these specific questions.
.
I could probably answer your question as it applies to South Dakota law, but that may not be much help where you live.
seek out and contact your local motor carrier enforcement department, and ask them these specific questions.
.
From what I have gathered, I think the total rig needs to be under 26,001 and I can justifiably not worry about CDL. 26,002 and need CDL regardless of commerce or not. That is according to a SC safety officer. I have spent hours this weekend looking online and some say you could win the lottery and buy a Peterbuilt with a trailer and if you use if for private, you do not need CDL. That is not what I am gathering.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
As I said, it is a local answer.
here, you can drive a semi to work so long as it is not commercial and you wouldn’t need a CDL.
we pull a 24,000 gvw trailer with a 8,800 gvw pickup and do not need a CDL.
but that is here, and the same might not be true where you live. And I’m not sure that we could legally take our truck/trailer everywhere without having a CDL. Same as hauling doubles. It is legal here, but not everywhere.
you should check the places you intend to go and make sure of the laws there to be sure you are legal.
here, you can drive a semi to work so long as it is not commercial and you wouldn’t need a CDL.
we pull a 24,000 gvw trailer with a 8,800 gvw pickup and do not need a CDL.
but that is here, and the same might not be true where you live. And I’m not sure that we could legally take our truck/trailer everywhere without having a CDL. Same as hauling doubles. It is legal here, but not everywhere.
you should check the places you intend to go and make sure of the laws there to be sure you are legal.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Pittsburgh
I may be wrong about this but if he is going interstate he would need to meet the Federal requirements . Re : The Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 mandated new requirements for the testing and licensing of commercial motor vehicle operators. While detailed information on these requirements may be found in the Commercial Driver’s Manual (PUB 223), these Frequently Asked Questions will provide you with a brief overview of the CDL program as a whole.
1. Who must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle. The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is:
Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
1. Who must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle. The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is:
- a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
- a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds;
- a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver;
- a school bus; or
- any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
- implements of husbandry;
- any motor home or recreational trailer operated solely for personal use; or
- motorized construction equipment, including, but not limited to, motorscrapers, backhoes, motorgraders, compactors, excavators, tractors, trenchers and bulldozers.
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Laughing Gas
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I may be wrong about this but if he is going interstate he would need to meet the Federal requirements . Re : The Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 mandated new requirements for the testing and licensing of commercial motor vehicle operators. While detailed information on these requirements may be found in the Commercial Driver’s Manual (PUB 223), these Frequently Asked Questions will provide you with a brief overview of the CDL program as a whole.
1. Who must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle. The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is:
Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
1. Who must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
Anyone who drives a commercial motor vehicle. The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is:
- a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
- a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds;
- a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver;
- a school bus; or
- any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
- implements of husbandry;
- any motor home or recreational trailer operated solely for personal use; or
- motorized construction equipment, including, but not limited to, motorscrapers, backhoes, motorgraders, compactors, excavators, tractors, trenchers and bulldozers.
I let my CDL go about 15 years ago but the basics can’t have changed that much.
OP, go to a truck stop and buy the printed copy of the FMCSR. What you are looking for is at the beginning of the laws where it defines who and what commerce is regulated by the FMCSR. You are never going to find what you want on the inter-webz.
Bob
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,739
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The internet will answer this question any way possible with enough research, and all the answers could be wrong. You should look at the same-ish book that the badges look at in order to know for sure.
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