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

[jray]

Has anybody figured out how to get 16 people in a Yugo?

I have an idea. Send that Yugo down to Mexico, It'll come back across the border with 16 people in it. :-laf

 

[Kirwin]

I've been through this one

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?

Got 7K axles and brakes with LR G (3750 lbs ea) Goodyear 614 RST radials and 3750 lb wheels. Trailer frame is rated at 18K acording to the welded on frame tag. The ball coupler limit is 14K GTW though. Holiday Rambler limits the GVW to 11,500 lbs. I'm not even close to any limits at the axles or tires. By the way the 2008 31 FKD trailers have a 12K GVWR. My trailer weight was with all tanks full and everything onboard. I'm not worried about it. Ken Irwin

 

[DonTX]

Don... you were former DOT???

Well, that term is misused, specifically I was just a "Weights and Registration Officer" for the state of Kansas, at that time it was part of the Department of Revenue!

That certainly was some time ago (early eighties), and as has been pointed out to me here before, sometimes I am not up to date on everything everywhere. At that time, farmers, buses, and RV'ers were strictly off limits. In Texas now, RV's are off limits, the state has far too much revenue from them coming down here to allow any negative impressions to develop. Many Class C and Class A motorhomes are "overweight" when they are driven off the dealer lot. How about it all you overweight RV types, has anybody ever given you any grief?

Now you commercial types, I would not suggest a lot of "cheating".

 

[Kirwin]

Dept of Revenue

Don/TX speaking of Revenuers, I got stopped on a rural road last week while we were on vacation by the Illinois Dept or Revenue. They were stopping all diesel powered vehicles. They asked me what color fuel I had. I said "Flying J color?" They asked if I minded if they checked my fuel tank and handed me a piece of paper saying it was an automatic $1000 fine if I refused. I said go ahead. They stuck a plastic "straw" down my fuel filler pulled some out and said I had the right color fuel and to have a nice day. Kind of a "big brother" like experience.



They weren't interested in the 100 gallons I had in the Transfer Flow in the back of the truck. Ken Irwin

 

[CDonaldson]

They have yet to have 'interest' regarding the tank in your bed because many who have construction businesses carry 'off road' fuel for their equipment in them. We will ALL know when they have interest in those tanks when they start looking for the 'connection' to the pickup using it for pickup fuel. Then they will dip test that tank too.



On average I carry my fuel receipts for a couple weeks to a month in the cab, I take the time to sit down and enter them into my vehicle expense record book couple times a month. Now, I have started carrying that expense record book in the truck and keep the receipts in an envelope once they are entered. IF the DOT were to push it right on the spot, I have whatever years receipts in the vehicle at all times. If they want more, back to the day of purchase I can provide them. That accounts for ALL road miles from a given period to date AND to the second tank of fuel purchased as the dealer provided the first one.



I wonder how all the 'colored' fuel additives will affect the color testing? Stuff like MMO is red.



Our bureau of licensing here in New Mexico is under the DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE - hint must be in the REVENUE part, eh? I agree with the assumption that when they need revenue they will start looking closer at all the private use vehicles on the road. When that day arrives, there will be a lot of people crying about the costs of the tickets. It IS better to start getting a grip on all this right now, that day is coming closer and closer. Some places it has already arrived.



CD

 

[MMeier]

I wonder how all the 'colored' fuel additives will affect the color testing? Stuff like MMO is red.







CD

So is ATF (auto trans fluid), but , as has been covered here before, in order to get you on the red off road fuel , they have to perform a specific spectrometer test on the fuel in question in order to nab you on it. Not just look at it and say you are running untaxed fuel. The dye has special characteristcs all its own. And CD, I know enough about your states Dept. of Revenue, I have to send them a check every quarter for the joy of driving on your states highways. Its called my weight distance tax.

 

[DonTX]

So, did someone say you just need to make a small neck tank that holds taxed fuel for them to dip? On the big rigs in the old days, they were required to unscrew a filter and test what was actually being burned by the engine, but that was back in the days when ATF would suffice as a reason for the color.

Someone on this or another board stated once that they were checking the aux pickup tanks for DOT approval tags, many of the old ones were not approved that way. I have been shopping for an aux tank, anybody got comments on that? After a certain number of gallons, you got to have a hazmat indorsement and a placard too, right?

Jeez, see why I just bought a Chinese motorscooter, less rules!

 

[Cattletrkr]

A customer of mine got tagged for not having a CDL to pull his 9900# rated trailer with his standard rated 1 ton. It was for his business...commercial. In MN you need a CDL for a combo if it's commercial regarless of the 26,001 rule. Single units I dunno about.

I do know that the prosecutor in my dad's DOT-random-check-ticket case rolled his eyes and throw out most of the ticket, leaving the uncontested stuff (radar detector). He said, "sometimes this DOT stuff... . " as he rolled his eyes. Case didn't even get to a judge. MN is getting good at writing bogus tickets in the hopes that the person getting the ticket will just pay the fine w/o challenging it.

 

[JHardwick]

We will ALL know when they have interest in those tanks when they start looking for the 'connection' to the pickup using it for pickup fuel. Then they will dip test that tank too. CD

Why? The only tank that matters is the tank feeding the motor.

 

[CDonaldson]

JHardwick.



That was my point, if they find your in-bed aux tank is 'T-d' or connected into your fuel system/engine supply, they WILL then test both tanks.



MMeier.



Thanks for supporting our highways here in NM (just kidding u know). They hit us pretty hard in the fuel tax stuff for the same purpose. Funny thing, I just don't see all those big $$$'s going into the roads, they just keep getting worse and worse in some places. I have the checkbook grimaces and flinches every time I have to pay my registrations on stuff.



CD

 

[CNeubauer]

I have been shopping for an aux tank, anybody got comments on that? After a certain number of gallons, you got to have a hazmat indorsement and a placard too, right?

I'm pretty sure the limit is 1,000lbs of fuel which comes out to almost 120 gallons, that's why all the pickup tanks are 110-115 gallons.

 

[DonTX]

Sounds reasonable, but would that not include the factory fuel tank? My Kenworth had two 150 gal tanks, and I did not to have a placard when hauling around 300 gal though.

I'm pretty sure the limit is 1,000lbs of fuel which comes out to almost 120 gallons, that's why all the pickup tanks are 110-115 gallons.

 

[Pavemen]

picked up my restriction 41 (endorsement) for my Class C today. I can now legally pull trailers 10k-15k as long as they are 5th's or gooseneck.

 

[steved]

Sounds reasonable, but would that not include the factory fuel tank? My Kenworth had two 150 gal tanks, and I did not to have a placard when hauling around 300 gal though.

I think it has everything to do with your fuel tanks being "part of the fuel system" and not designed to solely transport fuel for delivery (like a tanker truck)...



Jason: Did they require it because your truck is a "business"??



steved

 

[JHardwick]

I think it has everything to do with your fuel tanks being "part of the fuel system" and not designed to solely transport fuel for delivery (like a tanker truck)...



steved

This is the way that I understand it as well.



Even a 55 gallon drum inside of a trailer *can* cause you trouble.



I heard the other day that car tranporters are being looked at because of the fuel in the towed vehicles.

 

[Pavemen]

Jason: Did they require it because your truck is a "business"??

steved

Steve,

Nope, its just a requirement for anyone wanting to tow a trailer over 10k with a Class C. The Class C limits you to 10k be it a 5th or tag along. This endorsement lets me do 10-15k 5th wheels (their definition is anything that attaches at or forward of the rear axle) as long as I'm under 26,001lb combined.

If I did it as a business then I'd need to go commercial Class A or B

 

[AKaiser]

A customer of mine got tagged for not having a CDL to pull his 9900# rated trailer with his standard rated 1 ton. It was for his business...commercial. In MN you need a CDL for a combo if it's commercial regarless of the 26,001 rule. Single units I dunno about.



I do know that the prosecutor in my dad's DOT-random-check-ticket case rolled his eyes and throw out most of the ticket, leaving the uncontested stuff (radar detector). He said, "sometimes this DOT stuff... . " as he rolled his eyes. Case didn't even get to a judge. MN is getting good at writing bogus tickets in the hopes that the person getting the ticket will just pay the fine w/o challenging it.

I think it's the same in IN.



Federal Standards from Commercial Driver's License Program (CDL/CDLIS) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration



The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:



Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.



Class B -- 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.



Class C -- 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.

 

[bmoeller]

They weren't interested in the 100 gallons I had in the Transfer Flow in the back of the truck. Ken Irwin

That is probably why they checked. Most guys with tanks in the back around here are farmers or construction crews. Usually have red in them. Those guys were setup at one of the kill plants I haul to, and live near. They only dipped the pickup trucks, not the big trucks.



I used to have a transfer tank in my truck, but was never stopped. I did have to put some red in a couple of times, and only a few gallons, because the fuel gauge in the Ford was junk and ran out of fuel. Only put in enough to get to the truck stop.

 

[steved]

That is probably why they checked. Most guys with tanks in the back around here are farmers or construction crews.

That's the same DOT mentality here... and the reason my auxiliary is also "hidden"... although I have been dipped several times, always "voluntary". I got a full tank of red in my 99 by accident once, as the pump wasn't clearly labeled as "refer fuel"...



Jason: probably the reason for the endorsement on a regular license is to keep you from being "commercial" and claiming everything on taxes as a loss! This way you are "private" and probably pay for the endorsement I assume??



steved

 

[Pavemen]

Jason: probably the reason for the endorsement on a regular license is to keep you from being "commercial" and claiming everything on taxes as a loss! This way you are "private" and probably pay for the endorsement I assume??

steved

I didn't have to pay for anything, not even the processing. First for me, no fees at the DMV!

I think its just them making sure that I understand the laws and issues with larger trailers. A simple health questionnaire and a driving test (with trailer) would have got me a non-comm class A with over 26,000 allowed, same written test.