So this morning I woke up to go and attend a 8 hr Department of Transportation class to become a certified inspector. Learned a lot of things ( ie you CAN run recaps on steer axles, i always thought you couldn't)

But the thing we really got was is a trucks GVWR,

If you want to know on your CDL and if you need to be inspected the GVWR is measured this way

A whatever is on the door, or B What the actually weight is of the truck, trailer, and load is. So if your door says 20000 but your truck weights 8000 and you have a 20000 trailer you are now in CDL territory (over 26001 lbs)

but your REGISTERED weight does not matter in this situation. So if your registered for 30k you dont need one.


As far as how much can you tow legally?
A you can not over load any suspension component, ( tire, rim, axle ect)
B you must not exceed your registered weight,
C You can register for whatever road tax you wanna pay

however you take the liability for going over what the truck builder says its capable of doing. IE you need to show enhanced brakes ect



Ill get try and get the book photocopied

Well there you go!

 

Is that for your State, or all 50?

 

Wondering about that myself.......

 

Who will you be inspecting for?

You lost me on that last sentence. Don't need what, a CDL or an inspection? I'm taking it to mean you don't need a CDL *just* for a vehicle that states it's registered for 30,000 pounds until you physically go over the magic 26,001 pounds. Am I correct in my thinking?

 

In the state of Ohio, if its registered over 26,001 lbs then your required to have a CDL.. If the truck has air brakes then your are required to have a CDL. If the vehicle is DOT registered then the driver must carry a medical card.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing that in print. I've never heard that before. What state was this for?

 

Actually, that has been federally approved for quite some time now except on passenger carrying vehicles like busses. Individual states DO have the right to supersede almost any federal regulation tho, as long as the supersedence is MORE stringent in nature.

 

Well I live in CA and they tend to supersede.....every state.....in laws and stupidity.

 

Nope. Not true at all. Air brakes alone do not require a CDL.

 

A few of the OP's points will not apply in different places, states and/or provinces.
As for the air brakes and requiring a CDL...not that I know of either.
Motorhome's come with air brakes and only the air brake endorsement is required...here.
Then again, if we are talking commercial regulations specifically, then the rules/laws could and would be different...and probably different in each state or province.



Sure would be nice if this all was national or even international law.

 

known to cause cancer in the state of california.




what crap

 

Maybe overly high taxation is a leading cause.

 

Air over hydraulic, you do not need a CDL for. Full air brakes you need the air brake endorsement on your license. Most air brake vehicles up to 26,000 gvw have some type of air over hydraulic system.

Also, not every state has the same laws concerning a CDL and an RV. While most states allow you to drive one due to recreational use only, other states, such as PA you must have a non commercial Class B to move anything over 26,000. Regardless, you would have to have the air brake restriction lifted if your motor home has only air brakes, that is a Federal mandate, and doesn't translate between commercial or RV.

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml

Has some good state by state info.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLic..._classes.shtml

This has the PA state specific guidelines for RV drivers. I have a friend who was over the 26,000 total gross weight, and had a 14,000 camper, and he is facing quite a few fines because he doesnt have the proper license.

 

It MAY be true in Ohio, I don't know. I DO know there is a federal mandate for an air brake endorsement onto a non-commercial license for those operating a vehicle that is not of the 26,001 variety and has air brakes.

That's what the CDL re-write was supposed to do... until some braintrust decided to give the states latitude to change whatever they saw fit. Which put us right back to where we were BEFORE the CDL stuff.

 

There is no such thing as an air brake endorsement on a CDL, in the states. Therefore no CDL is, or can be, required for air brakes.