You need a CDL if your trailer if over 10,000# !!

[Pavemen]

They key word here is "and", it doesn't say "or".

i realize this, but since we are originally discussing requirements for CDL, I didnt think it was an issue.

 

[JHardwick]

LOL, I am getting confused in this thread.

• I can, and do operate commercially legal without a CDL, being under 26,001#.

• I could operate legally without a CDL over 26,001#, as long as I meet the RV requirements or one of these exemptions... ...

The law exempts these categories from the CDL:



A "Farm Truck"; ("Farm Truck" means a truck controlled and operated by a farmer for use in the transportation to or from a farm, for a distance of no more than one hundred fifty miles, of products of the farm, supplies for the farm, or other purposes connected with the operation of the farm. The truck must be operated in accordance with Ohio Revised Code, Section 4506. 02(B2) and is not used in the operation of a motor transportation company or private motor carrier. )



Fire equipment for a fire department, volunteer or non-volunteer fire company, fire district, or joint fire district;



A public safety vehicle used to provide transportation or emergency medical service for ill or injured persons; ("Public safety vehicle" has the same meaning as in divisions (E)(1) and (3) of Ohio Revised Code, Section 4511. 01 ORC)



A recreational vehicle; ("Recreational vehicle" includes every vehicle that is defined as a recreational vehicle in Ohio Revised Code, Section 4501. 01, and is used exclusively for purposes other than engaging in business or profit)



A commercial motor vehicle within the boundaries of an eligible unit of local government*, if the person is employed by the eligible unit of local government and is operating the commercial motor vehicle for the purpose of removing snow or ice from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting, but only if either the employee who holds a commercial driver's license and ordinarily operates a commercial vehicle for these purposes is unable to operate the vehicle, or the employing eligible unit of local government determines that a snow or ice emergency exists that requires additional assistance.



A vehicle operated for military purpose by any member or uniformed employee of the armed forces of the United States or their reserve components, including the Ohio National Guard. This exception does not apply to United States reserve technicians.



A commercial motor vehicle that is operated for nonbusiness purposes. "Operated for nonbusiness purposes" means that the commercial motor vehicle is not used in commerce as "commerce" is defined in 48 C. F. R. 383. 5 as amended, and is not regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to Chapter 4919. , 4821. , or 4923. ,of the Ohio Revised Code.



A motor vehicle that is designed primarily for the transportation of goods and not persons while that motor vehicle is being used for the occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation and not in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise.

• The trailer I am working on buying, gets me over 26,001# GCWR and therefore I will need a Class A CDL in the near future to operate commercially.
  

 

[DonTX]

You may or may not have missed something. Unless the rules have changed, the only Gross combined weight rating that effects a CDL is that of the truck or tractor you are driving. Only the original manufacturer can change that rating. And don't forget, it is the RATING not the actual that is considered. When you get into commercial stuff, the tag on the truck that the rest of us ignore daily, becomes an issue as well as the weight classification you have tagged it for.

 

[GAmes]

You may or may not have missed something. Unless the rules have changed, the only Gross combined weight rating that effects a CDL is that of the truck or tractor you are driving.

Here is the problem in a nutshell. A former DOT guy gets it wrong.



From Texas CDL - Commercial Drivers License - FAQs.



When do I need a Texas CDL instead of my regular Texas Drivers License?

A Texas CDL is required if you operate any of the following CMV's . . .

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

2. A vehicle towing a unit with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.



But don't pay any attention to the state. The requirements to obtain a CDL are uniform nation wide if operating commercially.



California, and possibly other states, require it's residents to have a CDL if they tow a trailer rated over 10,000 lbs (not RVs), or doubles as in RV/boat even if they are not commercial.



from Driver License and Identification (ID) Card Information



A commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle or combination used for hire to transport passengers or property or which



Tows a vehicle or trailer, which has a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more



Tows any combination of two trailers or vehicle and trailer





They also have a non-commercial Class A license for larger RV trailers.



from Driver License and Identification (ID) Card Information



A Noncommercial Class A license is required if you tow:



a travel trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) which is not used for hire.

a fifth-wheel travel trailer weighting over 15,000 lbs. GVWR which is not used for hire.

a livestock trailer that is not for hire, weight over 10,000 lbs. GVWR but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, and is operated within 150 miles of the farm by a farmer to transport livestock.



Am I the only one who knows how to search?

 

[DonTX]

Ya sure got me there, that is what happens when you get old and don't do any research. Give me a break, I DID say "Unlesss the rules have changed". I now can understand the whole thread concerns better as well. Used to not have that stuff to contend with.

Sure opens up the world to homemade trailers and older ones that did not have a GCWR stickers though. I can see headaches with the RV Toyhauler class as well.

 

[steved]

OK, it might vary state to state, but in PA you can "drop" a GVW on a registration to the next lower one, but they are a PITA to get increased (or reinstate to the full GVW of one that was register lighter)...

A friend of mine has a 10k trailer that is registered at 7k... makes a difference in registration fees. You can also do it with trucks... I bought a 74 3/4 ton dodge that was rated at 9k... had it dropped to 7k GVW because that was the "titled" weight.

steved

 

[GAmes]

OK, it might vary state to state, but in PA you can "drop" a GVW on a registration to the next lower one, but they are a PITA to get increased (or reinstate to the full GVW of one that was register lighter)...



A friend of mine has a 10k trailer that is registered at 7k... makes a difference in registration fees. You can also do it with trucks... I bought a 74 3/4 ton dodge that was rated at 9k... had it dropped to 7k GVW because that was the "titled" weight.



steved

You are talking apples and oranges. Registration is revenue. It has nothing to do with the type of drivers license you are required to carry. In Oregon 3500 duellies are registered as passenger vehicles with no weights what-so-ever listed on the registration. If you had been caught with your loaded 74 in excess of 7k in PA you would have been fined for being over weight, but not for having an improper drivers license.

 

[JHardwick]

Am I the only one who knows how to search?

hmmmm, I thought I was doing a good job :-laf

 

[DonTX]

Yep, the GVWR that controls all this is what is stamped on a tag on the vehicle, you cannot change it. In Kansas, you could buy a pickup tag for a semi, but when you get caught on the road, different story.

You are talking apples and oranges. Registration is revenue. It has nothing to do with the type of drivers license you are required to carry. In Oregon 3500 duellies are registered as passenger vehicles with no weights what-so-ever listed on the registration. If you had been caught with your loaded 74 in excess of 7k in PA you would have been fined for being over weight, but not for having an improper drivers license.

 

[GAmes]

hmmmm, I thought I was doing a good job :-laf

You are, but there are at least four people who have posted on this thread who are in error.

 

[Kirwin]

Travel trailer GVWR

SO what happens when I tow my 11,500 GVWR travel trailer from my home state of Virginia to California for a visit? Will I get a ticket? My truck has a GVWR of 12,000 lbs and a GCWR of 21,000 lbs. My loaded trailer weighs right at 12,000 as weiged by the RV Saftey foundation guys. Ken Irwin

 

[Ragain]

KIRWIN... ... . you are under 26,001 lbs. , you aren't exceeding 65' over-all length, you are driving your own privately tagged vehicle, and not under contract for any licensed carrier.

Hop in that rig of yours and have an enjoyable, safe trip!!!

 

[Pavemen]

If the 15K trailer is a 5th wheel with a GVWR of 10K-15K you need a RV Trailer endorsment in California. The RV trailer endorsement is a written only test that the DMV people won't know about and will have to look it up.

Brian

I looked it up and I found this as well. I actually will be taking the RV Trailer law test next Thursday, no driving test. Have to retake the regular Class C test law test as well since its been over 12 months since my last one (its been 20 years actually... . )

 

[MMeier]

SO what happens when I tow my 11,500 GVWR travel trailer from my home state of Virginia to California for a visit? Will I get a ticket? My truck has a GVWR of 12,000 lbs and a GCWR of 21,000 lbs. My loaded trailer weighs right at 12,000 as weiged by the RV Saftey foundation guys. Ken Irwin

Lets see here... trailer has a GVWR of 11,500... . trailer weighs in at 12,000... . you sir are overweight, best hope nothing happens. How many tires(6, I hope) do you have and what is the max capacity as printed on the sidewall?

 

[DonTX]

I am having trouble with your fears. I have had a lot of fun down here in Snow Bird country, challenging RV fifth wheel people that they were overweight. It is VERY rare to find a rig that is not overloaded, exceeds the GCWR usually at least, most are surprised when I show them the tags. NEVER have I heard of anyone getting "caught" or fined or even warned about this, EXCEPT for the Canada people, who maintain that in Canada they DO check.

Since your private RV pulled by yourself has nothing to do with the commercial laws, DOT, or scale people, just who is it that is supposed to be dragging these RV people off?

For instance, my one ton dually has a GCWR of 16,000, my 35 fifth wheel trailer empty weight is supposed to be 11,400 as I recall, my truck is supposed to weigh about 6000 lbs, so before I put the wife and cat in, I am overloaded already, forget about the LP, water, TV, cat food, etc. I am off for a multi state tour in a few days, will let you know how many times I get ticketed, I am really shaking in my boots from fear!.

Oh yeah, I have only four tires on the trailer, each tire is hauling less than its rated weight.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's only a matter of time...



States and local municipalities are strapped for cash, and eventually, the RVers will make excellent "cash cows" to be milked for local revenue - LOTS of RVers towing heavy will make great targets to help bolster sagging local economies.



It's just a matter of time... :-laf

 

[MMeier]

Don... you were former DOT???

 

[GAmes]

SO what happens when I tow my 11,500 GVWR travel trailer from my home state of Virginia to California for a visit?

Nothing. You are not a CA resident, the wierd drivers license requirements only apply to them.

 

[GAmes]

I looked it up and I found this as well. I actually will be taking the RV Trailer law test next Thursday, no driving test. Have to retake the regular Class C test law test as well since its been over 12 months since my last one (its been 20 years actually... . )

So you are saying the Class A non-commercial license in CA is only a written test? I'm wondering, what is the point, since CA scale signs are very emphatic NO PICKUPS!

 

[Pavemen]

So you are saying the Class A non-commercial license in CA is only a written test? I'm wondering, what is the point, since CA scale signs are very emphatic NO PICKUPS!

the written test is for non-comm trailers over 10k, same as non-comm class A, but without the skills test. i would still be limited to under 26k combined. if i want the 26k or more, i need to do the skills test, get the medical card and the non-comm class A.

its just a heavy trailer endorsement to my class C