And what weight was your truck registered for? What weight was the trailer registered for? I actually don't know anything about the weight laws in Canada but do know they don't mean anything down here in the US.

 

I asked a few such questions of a CA CHP district manager for commercial enforcement. Cars & pickups are for the most part ignored by his people - they are watching the big trucks. The regular officers also largely ignore us towers, so long as we are not speeding, weaving, or obviously a hazard. I tried to talk to a commercial CHP guy at a rest stop about number of tie-downs required for my 20-foot boat and he literally told me that I did not come under his field of interest and sent me on my way.

What has already been stated is also my experience that you need to have tires that can hack the load, and to a certain extent, axles. A homebuilt is actually on safer ground than a factory trailer with a weight capacity plate, so long as it does not have obvious short-comings. True story: A CA resident with an EMPTY three-axle that was rated at 10,500 pounds (GVWR) (3 times the 3,500-pound axles) was cited for not having a class B license and fined $300. The district mgr. told me that his people would make no such citation on a non-factory trailer with no GVWR plate, and would leave me alone so long as my tires were up to the actual load.

I was also firmly informed that F-350-type flat-beds were being moved over the line into what would be considered commercial in CA. Last I heard (I have several CA friends with F-350's) they were still getting by, but by the letter of the law, they are supposed to have CA DOT AND federal DOT numbers displayed, weigh even when empty at all weigh stations, and carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance. Box-bed F-350's would NOT be held to these requirements. My F-350 still has never been over road-side scales and it has some 500,000 miles on it. (Keeping my fingers crossed. Here in MD everything over 10,000 pounds is supposed to weigh.)

 

After spending some good quality time with a NC State Trooper (Former DMV Motor Carrier since they are now the same) the other day, I learned that you could plate an Nissan truck to #80,000 if you want, they dont care.

If you are towing a trailer over GVWR of #10,000, you must have a Class "A" Classified (Non CDL). Under #10,000, class B. If your combined total GVW is over that 26,001- Class A CDL.

They don't care what the truck is rated to tow, as long as it can do it and it appears to be safe.

So make SURE your truck is plated heavy enough to cover the weight of both the truck and the load, (Which in NC if you are over #6000, you must have weighted tags. Used to be #7000) and you have the proper class of Drivers License.

If a normal HP guy or Deputy Sherrif stops you, you will probablly know more than they do about this, so don't open your big mouth. If they happen to be former motor carrier enforcement, I can tell you they are not happy about being a "Trooper" now.................

 

I forgot to say that many states have exceptions for motor homes and travel-trailers that let these drivers get by with class C licenses.

I just checked and in MD a class C license will let you go up to 10,000 for the trailer weight and 26,000 for the combined weight. Also the 10,000 limit only applies to commercial trailers.

 

Yes RV are exempt from these rules. In Indiana anyways that I know of.

 

In Michigan - we don't need a special license unless you pull a double hookup. All is needed is a private license. But i sure wish that some of the drivers had been to driving school with there 40' trailer.

 

...and I've seen some driver's of the real long Class A's do some crazy stunts too....Some of those guys are so old that they knew Moses!

 

Hey I resemble that one!