CDL DOT Q's?????

[SEmerson]

I am starting a new business where I will be hauling motorcycles quads and watercraft. I live on the westcoast and have to pick up inventory on the east coast. I will be hauling them myself. I was planning on setting up a open goose neck 48 ' or so. Will I be hassled for not haveing a cdl? If so I will plan on getting a enclosed instead.



Thanks

Steve

 

[Oasis-3]

CDL

Steve

If your going to be over 26,000 Lbs. you will need a CDL.



Good Luck

Cliff

 

[cyborg]

Class A

Or Class B?

 

[SEmerson]

I have a class C



On edit: I put class A earlier but was half asleep and thinking backwards. Sorry

 

[BV]

Class B is only good for single vehicle of 26,001 pounds GVWR or more and a trailer not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

 

[lawdog]

If you are over 26,000 lbs IE: 26,001 or more Gross Combinew Weight Rating or actual gross weight, then you need a CDL "A" if the trailer has a GVWR over 10,000.



Also, since you WILL be over 10,000 lbs, you WILL fall into COmmercial Motor Vehicle Rules and Regs. You WILL nedd a DOT Medical Card, You will need to maintain an up to date log book and be in compliance to that log book. You also will need an Apportioned Plate on your truck, which means that you say which states you will be driving thru and it is then registered in those states all on your home state apportioned plate. You will also need an IFTA (international fuel tax agreement) sticker.



Since you are doing this for a business, there are just a ton of rules you must follow to be incompliance. CHeck out the federal motor carrier website and you local /state motor carier rules. .



I am Motor Carrier Officer where I work.

Good Luck



Federal Rules

 

[Sherman]

Feds

Originally posted by lawdog

If you are over 26,000 lbs IE: 26,001 or more Gross Combinew Weight Rating or actual gross weight, then you need a CDL "A" if the trailer has a GVWR over 10,000.



Also, since you WILL be over 10,000 lbs, you WILL fall into COmmercial Motor Vehicle Rules and Regs. You WILL nedd a DOT Medical Card, You will need to maintain an up to date log book and be in compliance to that log book. You also will need an Apportioned Plate on your truck, which means that you say which states you will be driving thru and it is then registered in those states all on your home state apportioned plate. You will also need an IFTA (international fuel tax agreement) sticker.



Since you are doing this for a business, there are just a ton of rules you must follow to be incompliance. CHeck out the federal motor carrier website and you local /state motor carier rules. .



I am Motor Carrier Officer where I work.

Good Luck



Federal Rules

Since you are in the game of chasing the bad guys how about you give us the short leymans version that affects us small truck users when pulling a tr, Dept of Trans site is a nightmare I spent some time there and didn't get any usefull info on the rules that affect the Dodge size users.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Originally posted by lawdog

If you are over 26,000 lbs IE: 26,001 or more Gross Combinew Weight Rating or actual gross weight, then you need a CDL "A" if the trailer has a GVWR over 10,000.



Also, since you WILL be over 10,000 lbs, you WILL fall into COmmercial Motor Vehicle Rules and Regs. You WILL nedd a DOT Medical Card, You will need to maintain an up to date log book and be in compliance to that log book. You also will need an Apportioned Plate on your truck, which means that you say which states you will be driving thru and it is then registered in those states all on your home state apportioned plate. You will also need an IFTA (international fuel tax agreement) sticker.



Since you are doing this for a business, there are just a ton of rules you must follow to be incompliance. CHeck out the federal motor carrier website and you local /state motor carier rules. .



I am Motor Carrier Officer where I work.

Good Luck



Federal Rules

IFTA is only for over 26K.



Apportioned is only for tractors, not pick up truck/trailer combo.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Also, you say "inventory" ... if it is YOUR inventory (not someone elses) then you don't need an MC #, just a US DOT # (free).



You also won't need cargo insurance if that is the case, but still 750K liability.

 

[SEmerson]

Yes my inventory. I only have a c. I put a earlyer but was half asleep. Sorry



I would like to haul a full load on a 48' flatbed. But it would be very clear that I am transporting them. Way to many to look like a weekend warrior. It would be motorcycles, watercraft and quads. I will be with a freind that has a class c also. It would be great to get a big load but not worth the effor of getting a class a and running logs and scales, sleeper and stuff. If I am forced to do all of that I might as well get a enclosed and look more personal.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Technically in some states you will probably need a CDL not for the 48' but for the weight. The basic law is you can have a 26K GCW truck/trailer and not have a CDL, but some states have more strict laws than the "standard" Federal Motor Carrier laws which would let you have a 26,000# GROSS combined weight TRUCK + TRAILER (e. g. 6000# truck and 20,000# trailer). 48' is the perfect length trailer (max length of trailer that you can run without registering as a TRACTOR which means removing your bed).



Basically what you have to do, is check every single state that you plan on running through, and check their laws regarding CDL requirements.



I wouldn't try to disguise as a weekend warrier with a 48' trailer. Since it is your inventory (i. e. you are not hauling FOR HIRE), you don't have quite as much to worry about (but still quite a bit).



The FMCSA announced that as of January 1, 2003 new motor carriers domiciled in the U. S. or Canada must complete the following new entrant registration process. All new entrant motor carriers must complete the Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150) and Safety Certification Application for USDOT Number (MCS-150A). In addition, for-hire motor carriers must complete an OP-1 or OP-1(P) form, the BOC-3 form, and pay a $300. 00 filing fee. Private motor carriers are not required to file an OP-1 or BOC-3 form, or pay any fee.

 

[lawdog]

Patrick Campbell,

IFTA is for over 26,000, RATED or actual, so that includes GVWR of both truck and trailer COMBINED, or actual combined weight. IFTA only applies to diesel powerd vehicles



as far as Approtioned plates, here is a link... .



IRP plates (Apportioned)









IFTA







Even if hauling your own products, if it is for business, IE: money making venture, you ARE a commercial hauler.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

I understand IFTA is for over 26,000... rated or actual. If he never plans on grossing morer than 26K, he will want to make sure that the GVW + GVW of truck+trailer is < 26K. Unless he wants to get a CDL ?



As for the IRP...



Do I need an IRP (apportioned) vehicle registration?



"Apportioned Vehicle" means any vehicle, except recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, buses used in transportation of chartered parties, and Government-owned vehicles, used or intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles and is used for the transportation of persons for hire or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and:



Is a power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds; or

Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or

Is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.



And hauling your own products is a commercial hauler, understood, I was stating that he will not need CARGO insurance (as far as I can remember) and will not need an MC # ($300).

 

[lawdog]

If he keeps everthing under 26000 lbs then yess he avoids some mess. Last I heard, ICC MC numbers are no longer required, just US DOT numbers... I was told that by a State Motor Carrier officer.....



Good Luck in whatever he gets...

 

[SEmerson]

With the trailer I curently have I will be under 26K combined. But I was hopeing to get bigger. So at this point what would I need if I haul my own cargo and am under 26k?

 

[LeeNH]

Keep in mind, the Gross Combined Weight is the total of both the gross rating of the truck and the gross rating of the trailer. IE: you cant register them for less weight to keep it under the CDL, they can run the vin# on the trailer to get the actual GVW. Plus most have weight rating tags on them, and DOT will check them sometimes to make sure.

 

[Detroitiron]

If you get an enclosed trailer, you won't have weather or flying debris damage to your inventory. It will be much less accessible to would-be thieves seeking targets of opportunity, may even reduce insurance costs for theft/damage to inventory. It might even be more aerodynamic and tow easier with less wind resistance, ergo, better fuel mileage. As to CDL and DOT requirements, some of the regs are about as clear as mud. I drive for a living, my truck is DOT inspected, I have a class B , and so far it has been all I need. I also stay under 26k. I try to stay in compliance, and I keep my logbook up to date. Also, I'm leased to a DOT carrier and they help keep me updated on changes, etc. Best of luck, and if something doesn't make sense to you, by all means, get a DOT officer to explain it to you before you get pulled over. DOT has a website, as was mentioned earlier in this thread. Most of it isn't very clear or helpful. Which is why I recommend getting real world advice from a DOT officer, instead of listening to a bunch of opinions from people who have nothing to lose if they are wrong about YOUR license and YOUR business.

cover yer a$$

Dave

 

[dberry]

Even if your combined is under 26k and your trailer is over 10k you still have to have a class A CDL. You could register your trailer for under 10k but this will not matter if you are in an accident. What weight the manufacture puts on the trailer is what the man goes by. This all comes from a weight station operator in Ohio. He also said that pick-up trucks are getting to be easy money. Even if you are not overweight they will still pull you around because chances are good you are not 100% legal(I know its BS). In Ohio you can take your CDL A test in your pick-up (with trailer). If you are hauling for yourself, the crap you have to go through to be legal, pales in comparision to what they can do if they catch you! And it is a great idea to talk to a DOT officer (not state highway patrol) to explain everything and get his name! Good Luck!

 

[OTRPU]

However, I find if I ask 2 DOT Officers the same question I frequently get 2 different answers. As stated earlier, check with DOT in every state you intend to enter/cross. Good Luck to you. Actually most DOT are easy to live with, they are there to enforce the rules and make things safer. A few are exceptions to this.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[rob10858]

more trailer means more gvw, due to the axles. that seems to be what the dot guys in the states we travel look at. even though the load that you haul remains the same, the added axle weight rating can make a big difference in your combined ratings. my advice would be to bite the bullet and get a cdl. with a large trailer and the business that you are in, you have to log, med card, , etc. anyway, so why not spend a little more and protect yourself in case of an accident?