Here I am

Do I need a CDL????

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Any "Carriage"owners out there?

I ask because it seems I get nothing but conflicting answers. Even when I read the Federal Motor Carrier's website.

Here is my set up:
2008 Ram 4500: GVWR = 16,500 LBS. (truck weighs 10,500 lbs empty)
2003 Cam Superliner trailer: GVWR = 9,998 LBS. (trailer weighs 2,200 lbs empty)

I do NOT drive commercially, this truck and trailer are for personal use only (need the trailer to move my Kubota BX23 Backhoe (about 2,500 lbs) around once in a while and to the shop for service).

I have "Not For Hire" on the sides as per the NH Highway enforcement officer I spoke with when I bought the truck since I use it for personal use only.

When I move to Florida I will be hauling my backhoe and other stuff (total trailer weight with cargo will be under 6,000 lbs ... total truck weight with cargo will be under 14,000 lbs). My biggest concern is going through all the different states (MA, CT, NY, PA, MD, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL).

The main question I have is not the actual GCVWR (20,000+-) but the combination of the GVWR's which is 26,497 lbs. Does this require me to have a CDL-C at the very least?

From the FMC website I see this:
  1. A Class A CDL License is required when the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings (GCVWR) of the truck and trailer totals 26,001 or more provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  2. A Class B CDL License is required for any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
  3. A Class C CDL License is required for any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.
From what I read, since my trailer does not exceed 10,000 lbs I do NOT need a CDL.

I really need a definitive answer on this. Does anyone know exactly.
 
If not doing so already you need a DOT approved fire extinguisher and a set of triangle flares.
Regardless of CDL as you are over 6,000 lbs. Had that pointed out to me in the past by guys with uniforms and cars with blue lights on the roof...

And stop at the scales if they are open, better to be waved through than chased down. That puts those guys in a mood.....
 
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If not doing so already you need a DOT approved fire extinguisher and a set of triangle flares.
Regardless of CDL as you are over 6,000 lbs. Had that pointed out to me in the past by guys with uniforms and cars with blue lights on the roof...

And stop at the scales if they are open, better to be waved through than chased down. That puts those guys in a mood.....
Personally, I blow by the scales as a POV, unless sign says pick-ups with trailers must weigh. If they want to chase down, I figure they didn't need that last donut!:D
I figure they owe me as they habitually stopped me in company trucks "just because".
 
Personally, I blow by the scales as a POV, unless sign says pick-ups with trailers must weigh. If they want to chase down, I figure they didn't need that last donut!:D
I figure they owe me as they habitually stopped me in company trucks "just because".

The reason I recommend he stop is that he will appear to be commercial at a glance....you can drive by them in an overloaded camper combo and they could care less but with that little backhoe and some other stuff on there it might be in question....he will have many opportunities to test either theory during his trip....:D
 
The reason I recommend he stop is that he will appear to be commercial at a glance....you can drive by them in an overloaded camper combo and they could care less but with that little backhoe and some other stuff on there it might be in question....he will have many opportunities to test either theory during his trip....:D
You are correct my friend. Sugar high from donuts makes eyes see lots of strange things when they wants to write tickets. :(
 
If not doing so already you need a DOT approved fire extinguisher and a set of triangle flares.
Regardless of CDL as you are over 6,000 lbs. Had that pointed out to me in the past by guys with uniforms and cars with blue lights on the roof...

And stop at the scales if they are open, better to be waved through than chased down. That puts those guys in a mood.....
Yes, I do keep a fire extinguisher and triangles in the cargo box. That was some of the things the NH Trooper told me to get when I talked to them before buying the truck.
And yes I do pull into the weigh stations whenever they are open. Mainly just wave me through but in NY one time they gave me a hard time because I do not have any numbers on the truck (going to NJ to clean out my parents old house at the time).
 
Yes, I do keep a fire extinguisher and triangles in the cargo box. That was some of the things the NH Trooper told me to get when I talked to them before buying the truck.
And yes I do pull into the weigh stations whenever they are open. Mainly just wave me through but in NY one time they gave me a hard time because I do not have any numbers on the truck (going to NJ to clean out my parents old house at the time).
Why does it not surprise anyone that you should get heat in NY? I'd have replied two words, non-commercial. But, I can be somewhat confrontational when I know I am right.....until they can show me the particular law that they deem I am violating.:rolleyes:o_O:)
 
The reason I recommend he stop is that he will appear to be commercial at a glance....you can drive by them in an overloaded camper combo and they could care less but with that little backhoe and some other stuff on there it might be in question....he will have many opportunities to test either theory during his trip....:D
I'm sure I'm going to like waiting in the looooooong line I always see when entering Florida at the Ag Station. I know I had better make sure my Kubota and the mower deck are nice and clean of all dirt and grass before going in there.

We still have a few years till I make that final trip down (10+ acres in Okeechobee we are planning to build on). One big "Jedd Clampett" trip in my truck and trailer on down, then fly back to NH and do one last trip in the cars down to FL.

Had enough of endless winters and want to be somewhere where I can grow my own food year round and raise some animals.
 
Why does it not surprise anyone that you should get heat in NY? I'd have replied two words, non-commercial. But, I can be somewhat confrontational when I know I am right.....until they can show me the particular law that they deem I am violating.:rolleyes:o_O:)
It wasn't too much of a hassle, I just told them I use it for my small farm in NH and was going to move furniture from my parents old home before my mother had to go into a nursing home.
I did get a medical card when I got the truck just in case any of them asked. Then the medical exam changes and they said since I had a 17" neck I needed to do some type of sleep test at a hospital which would have cost thousands for me to get a new medical card. At that point I said forget it, I'm not driving commercially. What a scam that is.
 
I hardly ever had trouble with NY, now CT is a whole other story....

Ohio can also be a handful...but most other states are pretty good if you have your act together...
What is with CT?? I will have gone through there twice with the truck with no problem. I travel 84 from Mass to 684 in NY.
 
Maybe they have calmed down some over the years, but that weigh station in Wellington on I-84 Westbound was a PITA back then. They also used to pull you right off of I-84 in the Danbury area...
 
Right with you on the “Endless Winter” aspect of our area, the fun has gone right out of it....
we live in Texas.jpg
 
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