First post here. So I'll introduce myself. Name is Eric Robinson and I own a small car shop here in IL.

Just moved up to a 3500 Quad 4x4 Cummins with a 6spd. Also I bought a 14,000# rated trailer last weekend.

I understand I have to have a commercial plate on the trailer because of its size. So I am getting it inspected tomorrow. The DMV however told me with my truck I have to have a CDL in order to pull that trailer combo. The truck is 12,200 GVWR. They didn't say rather I needed a commercial plate on the truck or not. How many of you from IL, or other states with a 26,000# license cutoff, have a CDL?

I don't necessary want to avoid a CDL, but if its not necessary i'll get it later on.

 

Who ever you talked to at the DMV has to be wrong. You cant tell me every Dually owner in IL has a CDL
You might have to licence the truck/trailer Commercial But because of the size and weight of your Dually you shouldn't need it.
But getting your CDL isn't a bad thing to do.

 

Do a search in this forum as there are PAGES on this subject. My trailer has a 14K gross weight and my first gen. dually has a weight of 10400 but being a dually it has to have a comercial plate BUT the trailer doesn't and I don't tow for hire so I think I am OK but this is in Mass.

 

12,200 + 14,000= 26,200 You are into CDL rules.

I would get the trailer rerated to 13.500. That would put you into a chauffers license in Indiana, I am sure that IL has something similar.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Yeah its not that every dually owner has to have a CDL. Cause currently my truck is licensed with a B Truck plate. But you can't tell me there are that many people pulling thier trucks full cap. and have a CDL.

I'll get the CDL, I'm fine with that. Its just unneccary IMO to have a comercial plate for a trailer that small. I believe though the law is anything over 10,000# rated needs a comercial plate now. Oh well, I guess Jesse White gets some more of my money each year. $170 plate + $20 inspection.

 

I just put TE plates on my dump trailer they are rated at 12-14000 lbs. My DMV never said anything about what would be pulling it and its rating. Maybe they meant you need a D plate for your truck to make its plate rating high enough t opull it when loaded down. My trailer plates were also 170 $ a year. Were are you located and you can fill out your signature to help everyone out in the future. And welcome to the DTR.

 

Hi Eric and welcome !

Most states adopted Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines in both driver/operator and vehicle licensing.

Most say that if a combination's GVWR (gross vehicle weight RATING) -- not actual weight, but RATED WEIGHT -- is 26,001# AND (the operative word) the trailer is RATED for 10,000# or more, a Class A CDL is required.

Your ratings on your truck and trailer put you in this category.

Illinois should have a website for the state DMV and state DOT (Florida does).
Info should be available for you there. It will depend on how Illinois defines "commercial" - is it by use, is it by weight ? Florida defines a commercial vehicle three different ways in the three statutes (insurance, rules of road, and vehicle licensing).

Florida requires that for trucks weighing over 8,000# (my Dodge 3500 quad 4x4 weighs 8,200#), one declares the weight of the truck, trailer and load on the TAG of the TRUCK, and must have insurance to accommodate it. My use is private, my insurance is private, but my limits allow for the GVW I need.

 

That is a fast way to a ticket, this is from the IL website..

B-truck license plates are issued to Second Division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less. B-truck license plates have blue characters on a white background.

As soon as you put anything in the bed or add the tongue weight of a trailer to the truck you are over weight. Thats a ticket you do not want.

As far as the your combo is concerned you do need a cdl. I would contact the builder of the trailer and see if you can get a de-rated vin tag for 13,800 and stay non cdl, especially if you are going to be hauling out of state. As soon as you start crossing state lines and you are hauling for your business (commercially) and you are over 26k you now step into the land of IFTA (fuel tax), apportioned plates and all kinds of other fun stuff.

 

LOL, My ext cab 3/4 ton is close to being over without any cargo.....I would think a Dually and any type of people in it at all would blow right past the 8K.....

I thought that Illinois required you to tag for max GVW, not actual weight though?

Mind you, I am not about to complain, because I would have to run a D plate then.

 

I would put on a D plate, they have been cracking down on this. I got pulled over pulling an open car trailer with a jeep on it a while back when I had a SRW truck and got hassled about a B plate, so switched to a D plate and have run them ever since.

 

I agree with you. I was wondering how I managed to keep a B-truck plate. I traded in a 1500 Ram, they kept me with the same plate.

With a truck that heavy with a GVWR of 12,200# I would agree it needs a D plate. You can't tell me though that ever one with a dually in IL has a D plate on their truck. I don't see anyone really with them locally.

I'm not arguing having to plate everything commercial since I do use it partly for business. However it does open a huge can of worms for my business. Expenses that I'm not ready for. Its only a part time business. Winter time mostly. I do travel out of state regularly and sometimes would be picking up customer cars. I really don't want to have to up my insurance, get a MC # a DOT# and all that. It would bankrupt my at the moment.

 

Does your state offer a RV or farm equipment license? Here in NM it is called an E license (EXEMPT license). If you are not hauling for hire/commercially an E license might just be what you are looking for. Just a thought, something to look into. It is E-non-commercial. Exempt vehicles in excess of 26,001lb, single or combined. I pull an 18K flatbed with equipment on it, actually lots more than equipment, but the gross weight is what I am getting at. The license is good in all states, not limited like a farm plate can be, trailer has the correct commercial plate for it's weight class. Most all states DO offer the exempt license.

CD

 

I was issued a B plate when I registered my truck when I got it. There was never a mention of any other type of plate even when I got a title for my 7500 lb trailer I built. I had no clue there were CDL's for pick up truck/trailer combinations. I can't say for sure, but I suspect you only need that if you are using the combination commercially. Sure worth looking into.

A guy I worked for had a Ford F850 and pulled a 26000 lb. trailer. I dont remember what plate he had on them. He told us we didn't need a CDL to drive it and never to stop at a weigh station. The last trip out I didn't go becase I got laid off and I sure am glad. They went past a weigh station in MO. and got nailed. Something like 12 tickets. Talk about Karma .

 

Putting a D plate on has nothing to do with being commercial, its just registering for the correct weight. IL does not issue "commercial vs personal" plates, they are all just weight specific. Unless of course you get into apportioned plates for traveling across state lines over 26k for hire.

You got a B plate because most car dealers either do not care or do not have the knowledge to do things correctly.

 

WOW! a state that is actually WORSE than California! I didn't think that was possible.....You just gotta love the DMV, no matter which state you are from.