I've been dragging my 14,000 GVW trailer through almost every state lately and have seen a lot on here people spitting out laws about how you need a CDL in many states if your trailer's GVW is over 10,000 GVW.

I don't want to get in trouble so I did a lot of investigating.

I went to the web sites of about 20 different states to try to find some discrepency and I could not.

The commercial motor vehicle act of 1986 set uniform standards for all states and these are the minimum standards.

This same phrase was worded differently every time but all had the same answer...

A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.

A vehicle [power unit] towing a unit [trailer] with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. only when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.

Unless I am interperetting this incorrectly, this does not say anything about towing a > 10,000 GVW trailer when the GCWR is 26,000 or under.

Could anyone tell me the states that are known to be especially strict... I'd like to check their websites.

 

Add the GVWR of the truck to the GVWR of the trailer and if under 26,000 you should be OK in any state that I know of. The federal standard is a minimum standard, the states can make it more stringent.

 

Know of any of those strict states off hand? I'd like to check out their DMV web sites...

 

Well see the federal rules call for the GVWR of the truck plus the weight of the trailer and any load thereon. Alabama and Georgia are two that have the GVWR plus GVWR. Several years ago I let mine go and then started running the Dodge truck, got a summonds in Georgia for driving a CMV with no CDL. Managed to squirm out of it and got relicensed. Paid a minor fine of $129.00 for a mirrors violation in a agreement with the local DA. I just decided that it was easier to get it and keep it than worry about it. Once all that happened I had no reason to look into other states regs as I was covered. Best to check though as I have heard that some require it with a commercial registered truck and a trailer over 10,000 pounds, but cannot vouch for that.

 

I just had my MD license renewed the other day. And other than the motorcycle endorsement on it, it says I'm a Class C: Noncommercial vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less GVW.

a. It says nothing about "Commercial" vehicles LESS than 26K.

b. Nor does it say anything about Noncommercial vehicles weighing MORE than 26k pounds GVW.

I'd be willing to take a WAG that I'd need a commercial license (CDL) to do at least a and possibly b.

I do know that when I worked at UPS in college and drove a truck I needed a CDL. Don't know what the difference is between driving a PU and pulling a trailer for profit and driving a delivery truck for a large corporation.

There is one difference, and that its probably easier for the PU truck to stay under the radar screen of revenue checkers.

I'd check Merryland if I was you.

 

Ah, so that is it. The GCWR = GVW + GVW versus GCWR = GVW + load theron is where I could get in trouble. Not with my current setup but in the future. Very interesting. Maybe I should get that CDL!

 

I'll give you a good reason to check on it. The fine "may" run to $5000 for the driver and $5000 for the carrier. Latest info says that they have doubled this fine from there. Most of those that I have heard of the fine has been over $500. It is also a "Serious safety violation" like if you were going 20 over the limit. Read big marks on your license and higher insurance. Tip, spend the time and a little money, get the darn license, then you have no worries. Not worth it to chance it.

 

I belive vechile wieghing 26000 or less one does not need a CDL. For vechiles weighing 26001 a DCL is need altough and Class B or C i. Vechiles weighing 80000 + requires Class A + endorsements: Doudles/triples, Tank, HazMat etc.

 

Single vehicles- Having gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more.

Combination vehicles-

Towing a trailer or other vehicle with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds.

Having a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more towing trailers or other vehicles not more than 10,000 GVWR.

 

Redleg, isn t the 10000 lb rule only apply to commercial vehicles?

I ve always read and been told , that if your NON comercial, you are fine as long as your under 26001.

If your comercial and tow a trailer at more then 10000 then you need a cdl.

The quetion I have is all the large moterhomes.......Im guessing they weigh 30000+ all the time then put a towed on the back? As far as I know I ve never met one of those owners that did have a cdl.

 

This is one of those bad subjects, like oil, transmissions, chevvy's, and politics, or religon. You put the law out there and then come a dozen different ideas of what it says. There are not two ways. Obviously from what is posted here and in previous threads Michigan is one of the states where over a 10,000 pound trailer needs a CDL. With the CDL an RV is exempt. An RV is determined as a vehicle with a bathroom and sometimes a kitchen and usually plated as such. Read it as you have paid the advelorem taxes on the RV. Private or Commercial makes no difference on the CDL. Generally if you are towing freight and are going in several of the states, you need the CDL to tow safe from citations in all the states.

Besides, safety is used for the reasons, but actually it is about keeping the four wheelers happy that the government is coming down on the trucks, and collecting taxes, very little is about safety. Unless someone can tell me how a five minute written test and a 10 minute drive with someone that probably never drove a truck makes you a safe driver. The one that always gets me is feeling of the lug nuts of all the wheels and calling out in a loud voice, "lug nuts tight" Children know that there are lug nuts, but can't drive one. Every state has the sources for the cheat sheets that teach you the answers to the multiple choice questions, but use that information to find a problem with a truck

Here a 99 pound little skinny blonde waitress at Waffle House is taking the tests to become a test officer for CDL. I guess you will get your license and a cup of burned coffee on a test day... But leave a buck tip...

 

In Va if your trailer has a GVW of 10,000 or more you need a CDL Class A.

They don't mess with private trucks so much especially if you have the proper truck pulling the trailer but if the DOT man is having a bad day then look out...

 

Ok, double checked, if the tow vehicle is 26,000 and less your ok for private use.
If the tow vehicle is 26,001 and more, A if trailer is over 10,000
B if under 10,000.
This was to help landscape contractors.

I didn't read that as anybody asking about campers.....yes, RV's are exempt, until you run tandem. Then you need an RV endorsement and can only tow behind a fifth wheel. Here, your limited to 60' front to back.

 

When I lived out west and needed to rent a backhoe, I needed a CDL, just to drive down the road. When I wanted to tow a trailer of more than 10000#, I needed a CDL. When I got paid for hauling anything, I needed a CDL. I got my CDL and haven't worried about it since.

 

Most states have an RV exemption, and reciprocity between states is the salvation for RVers - if I'm legal in my home state, I can travel anywhere in the U.S. I know California is one state that requires special licensing for larger 5th wheels and motorhomes for California residents.

Many times the individuals who get blindsided by this are racers pulling trailers. Some states get very sticky - if you're running for prize money, you're towing commercial!

Rusty