CDL Requirements - Need Help
Topic 20246 | Page 1
Welcome David.
The law is written based on the combined vehicle's gross weight "rating" as specified by the manufacturer and possibly how both vehicles are registered. They're not so much concerned with the planned weight of your load, but the potential for carrying the maximum weight rating in a Commercially Registered Vehicle(s). Is 26,001GCWR conspicuously marked on the side of the truck anywhere?
For instance if your p/u is rated at 10,000GVWR by Ford and the Trailer is rated at 16,500GVWR by the manufacturer, then you will need a Class A CDL. The only possible exception is if you have the vehicles registered with a GCWR less than 26,001 pounds. Here is another scenario; an empty 6-wheeled dump tuck can have tare weight of 15,000 pounds, and a tag-along trailer tare (empty) weight of 10,000 pounds is less than 26,001. Based on that scenario they fall below the threshold requiring a CDL A. However if the dump truck is rated and tagged (registered) with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds and the trailer is rated and tagged for a GVWR of 20,000 pounds, then based on that, a CDL A is definitely required. Hope that helps clear up the intention and basis for the definition of GCWR.
The other question to consider, is the truck actually a commercial vehicle or for personal/recreational use only? If not commercial (involved with commerce), then you will NOT need a CDL. So, knowing what you are hauling might clear this up very quickly. Unless there is someone in the forum (like Ricki-Wiki) able to offer additional guidance, you might want to call your state's DMV/DOT for further clarification.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
GVWR:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.
GCWR:
Gross Combined Weight Rating
The GCWR refers to the total weight of a vehicle, including all trailers.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thanks for the reply. Still as clear as mud. The truck is primarily used personally however once every couple of weeks it is used for commercial purposes to transport a mobile office unit. So it is used commercially in those instances but again total weight of the truck, trailer, and unit being towed is less than 26k lbs
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
To help clarify actual weight is irrelevant. The MAXIMUM rated weight is what matters. So to break this down Barney style.
What is the MAXIMUM rated weight for your pickup? GVWR
What is the MAXIMUM carrying capacity of your trailer?
If the MAXIMUM combined rated weight put together exceeds 26,001 lbs, you WILL need a CDL. Not to mention registering the vehicle as a commercial vehicle, applying for DOT registration and Motor Carriers authority.
I imagine intrastate or interstate will also have a bearing on things as well. Hopefully our personal rules guru will show up and help clarify. Then again I could be off base, so...
Oh Rick(ipedia)......
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
GVWR:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Intrastate:
The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.
Patrick wrote:
To help clarify actual weight is irrelevant. The MAXIMUM rated weight is what matters. So to break this down Barney style.
What is the MAXIMUM rated weight for your pickup? GVWR
What is the MAXIMUM carrying capacity of your trailer?
If the MAXIMUM combined rated weight put together exceeds 26,001 lbs, you WILL need a CDL. Not to mention registering the vehicle as a commercial vehicle, applying for DOT registration and Motor Carriers authority.
I imagine intrastate or interstate will also have a bearing on things as well. Hopefully our personal rules guru will show up and help clarify. Then again I could be off base, so...
Oh Rick(ipedia)......
Looks familiar
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
GVWR:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Intrastate:
The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.
I figured we needed to upgrade to a bigger club, lol
Next up will be the lead filled baseball bat lined with barbed wire.
F-250 7,000lbs Trailer 7,250lbs Load 8,750lbs
Total 23,000lbs
You describe "trailer & load". Is the load ON THE TRAILER - or split between the trailer and pickup?
Commercial: Class A: Combination vehicles, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) over 26,000 lbs., towing trailer over 10,000 lbs. Class B: Single or Combination vehicles, GVWR over 26,000 lbs., towing trailer under 10,000 lbs. Class C: Vehicle under 26,000 lbs., transporting hazardous materials or carrying 16+ passengers.
Now - if you go by THE LAW - a Class C - doesn't allow you to tow a trailer. A Class B doesn't allow OVER 10K on the trailer.
If you normally tow UNDER 10K lbs COMMERCIALLY - and that is the KEY - if you are towing YOUR HOUSE/RV/TRAILER - NO CDL REQUIRED. If your BUSINESS is towing a mobile office trailer for BUSINESS PURPOSES, then "technically" - is IS A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, and will require some class of CDL (B at the LEAST).
If you are towing OVER the GCWR of the truck (GVWR + Tow Capacity) you are OVERWEIGHT for that class (and could get an overweight ticket). If the GROSS WEIGHT of the truck, trailer and load exceeds weight classification of your CDL - then you are driving with the WRONG CLASS OF CDL.
The SAFEST BET - is to just get a Class A - which will keep you from EVER having an issue (at least with LICENSE CLASSIFICATION).
I have a buddy that transports motorcycles for a shop he works for down here (Harleys & Indians). 20' Trailer, name of the shop on the side of the truck. NO CDL in-hand.
He got pulled by a trooper in MD, doing Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. He let him slide THAT TIME - but told him if he ever saw him again, he'd better have DOT NUMBERS on the side of his truck, a CDL-A in his pocket, and a log book (or logging device after 12/19/17) in his truck. By the weight of his truck and on his trailer - HE IS A CLASS A RIG. His employer SWEARS they aren't - but that won't keep him from HANDCUFFS for numerous violations, if he's not in compliance and gets pulled.
You can get away with this WITHOUT the proper numbers and license classes 99 times - and that 100th time will leave teeth marks on your butt.
Sadly - you will have to test for a Class A - in a full tractor/trailer rig.
Rick
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
GVWR:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer, minus any trailers.
GCWR:
Gross Combined Weight Rating
The GCWR refers to the total weight of a vehicle, including all trailers.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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Can someone please tell us if we need a CDL license for the following scenario:
F-250 7,000lbs Trailer 7,250lbs Load 8,750lbs
Total 23,000lbs
Our GCWR is less than 26,000lbs but our trailer and load is 16,000lbs. I don't think we need a CDL because we are less than 26,000lbs. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
GCWR:
Gross Combined Weight Rating
The GCWR refers to the total weight of a vehicle, including all trailers.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated