Maybe I'm missing something, but those regulations that were posted appeared to refer to COMMERCIAL vehicles...or privately owned vehicles which are "commericially operated regularly...."

If you're hauling for hire, that's one thing and I might have missed that in one of the original posts. However, the average Joe Bag-o-donuts truck owner who is using the truck for purely private use shouldn't fall under these regs, right?

 

I think it depends on the state. Ford offers the "optional" 10,000 lb GVW package for F350's just for owners in states where the standard GVW opens issues about commerical vs. private usage/insurance.

 

Another interesting question. Now you have opened another bag of donuts. First, I am not using this vehicle for commercial purposes. However, in NC any vehicle in this weight range requires "commercial" plates, there is no other option (05 F350 DRW). I'm not sure if the 250 requires a commercial tag. That is only for purposes of registration. In NC insurance is based on stated usage, commercial vs. private, so my insurance rates are no different vs a lighter truck. It is my understanding that in NC any vehicle with commercial plates requires a registered weight limit. This may be any weight you wish from the vehicle weight up to the GCWR depending on intended usage. I don't think true commercial usage vs private applies here. In other words, I think once you hit the "commercial" plate requirement, which is a weight specified tag, that you need to pay for the intended weight reguardless of true commercial status. I know that I am required to run commercial plates which require a specified weight and that my insurance does not reflect this commercial plate status. However I did not directly ask if I get a break on how much weight I must declare because I am not hauling for hire. I somehow doubt the state would make this distinction. I will call to clarify this as the idea had not previously occured to me. For reference the registration fee in NC is about $11 per 1000 lbs.

Phil