Getting Started

Hello everyone, I'll start off by saying I've decided to go ahead and get my CDL simply to curb possible nightmares from law enforcement. Let me explain... I will be hauling personally owned heavy equipment on my personally owned dual tandem gooseneck with my personally owned F550 from my current home in Indiana to my homestead in Montana and will not be "for hire" or haul "commercially" in any sense of the word (ever).

The combined GVWR will be over 26,000 lbs and my load will be over 10,000 lbs. Every law enforcement official I've asked says I am not required to hold a CDL license because I simply don't meet the criteria due to not being "commercial" however, I've heard enough horror stories about people like me getting hassled, impounded, ticketed, etc. to make me feel like I need to get this license simply to be able to get to my destination unadulterated by the authorities.

I currently live and have my normal drivers license in Indiana, do I need to / should I go through a school? I'm not making this a career or anything, I just want to get my heavy equipment to my new homestead in Montana. Also, since my weight puts me into the class A category, will I be expected to take the driving test in an 18 wheeler (which I don't own) or will they allow me to take the test in my truck hauling my loaded trailer? Lastly, how do I use the permit to "practice with a licensed driver" when I don't know anyone locally with a CDL, do I have to hire someone or is that where the courses come into play? Gosh, I don't want to spend a ton of money just to get my CDL for a few trips to never use it again, that just seems silly, thoughts???

From everything you have said, you need a CDL. You can take the written tests to get your permit. That will be your first step. Then you can take the driving test in your own equipment without going to a school. You will be perfectly fine doing it that way. You aren't looking for a driving job, you just want to move your own equipment. You will also need to get yourself a D.O.T. physical. Don't worry about going to a driving school.

Find out what is required for your driving test and be prepared for that. Many of us have to parallel park our rigs to pass that test. Just make sure you can do whatever maneuvers your state requires before trying to attempt the test.

You need a CDL for 26,001 and over whether "Commercial For Hire" or privately owned. Plus, it doesn't matter at those weights if it is equipped with air brakes or not.

Thanks for replying. I was always under the impression that a Class "A" CDL was only for semi drivers and never imagined a guy in his pick-up hauling a gooseneck would need one. Am I correct in saying that I would need a full on Class "A" license or is there a lower one I should shoot for? I guess a different perspective on that is... if I'm required to get a Class "A" but then take the test in my pick-up/gooseneck combo, would that still make me legal to be driving 18 wheelers, that doesn't compute with me, oh wait... that's where the endorsements come in huh? I imagine I'll have some sort of endorsement that allows me to only drive the setup that I test in? Sorry guys/gals, still learning.

Good advice on the testing! I got the CDL manual from the BMV , I'm guessing that's where one would go for the written test yeah? But I'm also guessing I go somewhere else for the driving portion?

Thanks for answering what probably seems like silly questions to career drivers.

A CDL covers A LOT of territory - garbage trucks, fire trucks, school buses, greyhound buses, tow trucks, hot shots and semis to name a few. There is a Class B CDL, but it is only for towing cargo that weighs less than 10,000 pounds.

You won't be able to take a CDL road test in your pickup - you'll need a Class 8 truck. Endorsements are generally - HazMat , Doubles/Triples, Tanker and Bus. New York has one for load securement but no other state does.

You start to the path to your CDL with a permit - just like your driver's license. You take a written test at the DMV for that. The permit lets you operate a CMV with a licensed driver in the truck.

I know this won't be the case in every state, but a cautionary tale from here in PA.

When the Fed made the decision to allow local law enforcement to perform enforcement of D.O.T. regulations related to trucking, many municipalities here in PA saw an opportunity to make some much needed income. With a little training, and a minimum of equipment, local police began setting up check points and generating income from D.O.T. inspections. As part of this expanded enforcement, some departments began questioning the definitions of "commercial" trucks. As a result, the idea of what is and isn't commercial, and what does and doesn't require a CDL , has been broadly expanded here in the Keystone State.

For example:

Around here many landscapers have taken to using large enclosed trailers for mowers and equipment. Keeps everything together, secure, and out of the weather. Unfortunately many of the larger trailers have GVWs over 10,000lbs. So all of a sudden guys driving F350-550's need a CDL.

Hobby racers got it even worse. Those nice roomy car trailers with toolboxes and work space along with a car are almost always over 10,000lbs. To make matters worse, many hobby racers buy racing fuel at the track, and store it in the trailer. According to the interpretation of the commercial laws in PA, hobby racing is a for profit commercial enterprise. How? Well, if you win you get a check don't you? That's income derived from the activity, making it a commercial enterprise. There have been many cases of guys having trucks, trailers, and race cars impounded for not only not having a CDL, but not having a HazMat endorsement for hauling the fuel . . .

At one point I had a 22,000lb gooseneck equipment trailer I towed with an F350. After about a dozen phone calls and emails to a variety of people at PennDOT, it was determined that I needed a combination registration for the F350.

And there are others. My point is that with the capabilities of today's "light duty" trucks its very easy to surpass the weight requirements for CDL licencing. And depending on your location, the local law enforcement may be well aware of that fact, and more than happy to remind you of it.

Gregg

Yeah, the horror stories of greedy local government are what led me to the decision to obtain a CDL , it's a damn shame. I've been driving this setup locally for years under farm plate regs but now that I want to drive outside of the allowable distance under those regs I must now have special permission... sad.

If I can't take the CDL driving test in the setup requiring me to obtain the license in the first place (more ridiculousness), do the testing sites provide this class 8 vehicle? It feels like a setup, there's very little chance of passing a driving test in a vehicle I've never even seen before the test, especially since I've never really driven a truck like that before. It's not that I can't learn and learn quickly but when you don't own the vehicle you're required to test in, or I should say, if they won't let you take the test in your own vehicle (the very one requiring you to take the test in the first place) they are very much setting you up for failure. This quote is from this website under the Indiana section "It's important that you test in the type of vehicle you intend on driving, otherwise there might be restrictions on your CDL"... Well, I'd love to BUT apparently I can't.

I imagine this is one reason why all the schools started in the first place.

For me, this is infuriating, I can understand being tolerant of the process and all the meaningless hoops that one has to jump through if you're making this a career but not for people like me, it does nothing but **** me off. Unfortunately, being ****ed off won't get me any closer to getting my equipment home... I recon I will just study my butt off, take the written test and ask them all my driving test questions.

So this will no doubt be a silly question to the veteran driver but if each different state has their own rules/regs/requirements for CDLs, how do you guys manage interstate travel without having a CDL in every state you drive through? Is there some sort of carte blanche part of the licensing? Are there stipulations or states that won't recognize an Indiana CDL? It only seems logical to me that a CDL would need to allow one to drive in all states or it would be kinda pointless but that's another naive question/comment.

I appreciate you all letting me vent and answering all the newbie questions.

I'm not sure if this an option for you, but worth looking into.

You may qualify for a non commercial A class license. I'm not 100% sure about this, but worth looking into at your local dmv.

I'm not sure if this an option for you, but worth looking into.

You may qualify for a non commercial A class license. I'm not 100% sure about this, but worth looking into at your local dmv.

Thanks, didn't know that even existed, will definitely look into it!

If I can't take the CDL driving test in the setup requiring me to obtain the license in the first place (more ridiculousness), do the testing sites provide this class 8 vehicle?

No.

...if each different state has their own rules/regs/requirements for CDLs, how do you guys manage interstate travel without having a CDL in every state you drive through?

The miracle of reciprocity. Once you have a CDL issued in any US state (or Canada or Mexico) you can legally operate a CMV in ANY US state.

Thanks, didn't know that even existed

That's probably because it doesn't exist in Indiana. Not all states offer a non-commercial CDL. Indiana doesn't.