Needed CDL?

[George2615]

If you have cancer, do you go onto a webMD type website and ask for advice, or do you go to an oncologist and get the right answers?

I'm a Class A CDL license holder for over 20 years. I've driven a lot of different trucks over the road. Take it from me, there is far too much bad information being given, bad advice and downright dangerous tips for breaking towing laws and safety limits of their trucks.

For the safety of others who share the road, get the answers from the people who make/enforce the laws, not from guys who tow recreationally or like to talk macho truck talk on websites.

Best place to start is your state dept of motor vehicles.

Be safe.

Exactly why some of us posted a link to our state DMV dept. Most people here are not going to require a CDL but they need to check with their own state DMV. I'm sure most if not all state DMV's are online now for someone to look up requirements needed in their respective state. NY revised requirements a few years ago and have differences between here and the PA link posted. I also have my CDL but don't require it in my state for any GCWR below 26,000 lb due to the changes in NYSDMV.

 

[Builder]

Exactly why some of us posted a link to our state DMV dept. Most people here are not going to require a CDL but they need to check with their own state DMV. I'm sure most if not all state DMV's are online now for someone to look up requirements needed in their respective state. NY revised requirements a few years ago and have differences between here and the PA link posted. I also have my CDL but don't require it in my state for any GCWR below 26,000 lb due to the changes in NYSDMV.

That's smart. I think anytime someone requests any information on what's safe, towing heavy loads, CDL's etc., they should go to their DMV, not a website.

 

[tommu56]

Bilder
I totaly agree about checking state the dmv thing that is why I posted it as a link it took me a couple of minuets to find it and I thought it might save some one in pa some time.
Mabe I'm thick I dont under stand why the states cant follow the same class as the feds.

tom

 

[newbury]

I agree about checking your state DMV.
However dmv.com links to all the state DMV's.
BUT

I totaly agree about checking state the dmv thing that is why I posted it as a link it took me a couple of minuets to find it and I thought it might save some one in pa some time.

is often the problem, and after trying to find it the actual written CDL LAW in about 10 states I gave up. Most of the websites I saw "interpreted" the actual written CDL rules for the states, and I suspect were written by someone who never drove anything bigger than a Prius.
For instance on the Virginia website (Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles) you need a CDL for:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds. Vehicles in this class include:

* Tractor-trailer
* Truck and trailer combinations
* Tractor-trailer buses

If you hold a class A license and you have the correct endorsements, you may also operate vehicles listed in classes B and C

That's some dweebs interpretation. Note the word "include", that's like saying "my right leg is real", it doesn't say anything about your left leg etc.

However if you go to the CDL manual you find exceptions for personal use etc.

 

[sandman2234]

The whole thing could be avoided if EVERYBODY went out and got a CDL. Then the states would have a lot more money to play with (Mine is about 4 times the cost of my wifes license, except the next renewal which will require a HAZMAT renewal, yikes!!) Then it will renew every two years...
After everyone has a CDL, they run into a whole 'nother set of problems, like lowered BAC for you drinkers; Life changing tickets if you get written up on a rail grade crossing, etc. If I didn't HAVE TO have one, I would give them the durn thing back, in a second!
David from jax

 

[KeithInSpace]

Very much varies state-to-state. I went through all this when I purchased my 10k trailer to tow behind my Expedition which is rated for 9k towing capacity. The CGVWR is 15.4k.

I am perfectly safe and legal with everything about my setup (in the wonderful state of Virginia) UNTIL the weight of my trailer exceeds 9k OR if the total weight of my rig is scaled over 15.4k. As I doubt anyone would force me to detatch my trailer for individual weighing, I figure the 15.4k is my target number...that's better, actually, since it accounts for whatever I am carrying in my truck as well. What's funny is that the last time I visited the quarry to get crusher-run stone, I weighed out at 15,300#. Pretty good guess, huh? Actually towed really nice.

I would figure that my model would cover 97.3% of the folks in this forum...just replace "Expedition" with "Excursion", "Suburban", "F350", or whatever vehicle you may own.

And even if you have an F550 capable of a CGVWR of greater than 26k lbs, check to make sure the CDL requirements are based on the CAPABILITY of that high of rating or SCALING over 26k lbs. You need to put a great deal of effort to actually scale a "normal" truck/trailer rig that heavy.

State by state, though. I found the information in the Virginia code...easy to find. I'd trust research of state code over speaking to a counter worker at DMV...you run the risk of getting a very misinformed person there.

 

[Skyco]

This requirement in NC for a Class A Non CDL to tow trailers rated in excess of 10,000 lbs for personal use changed on 9/1/08 to allow "Class C drivers license holders over the age of 18 to tow non-commercial combined loads (truck-and-trailer) of up to 26,000 pounds. Previously, a Class A license had been required if the trailer was rated in excess of 10,000 pounds"

See the link below for more info

North Carolina Sportsman - Towing regs revisited: Where do we stand?

Well there is the rub for anyone trying to find out the truth, the link I posted to an official state of NC site makes no mention of it being changed. Maybe they haven't updated their website for what, 5 months?
That kind of bureaucratic laziness makes it very hard to know what is true and legal

 

[KeithInSpace]

...bureaucratic laziness...

The problem with government. If you didn't "bother" do do your job in the private sector, not only would it be detrimental to you and/or your business, you'd be liable for any issues that arise from your incompetence. In the government, it's a matter of course with no consequence.

To the government's benefit, though, the new law makes INFINITELY more sense than the old. In the old law, an 18 year old could not legally tow an EMPTY trailer if the RATED weight rating crested 26k. In the new law, the COMBINED LOAD (I read as "scaled load") is the litmus test. Far more sensible.

 

[intel]

So, the first post is correct??? according to the feds, but everyone should check their state regs??

 

[KeithInSpace]

My thoughts on the OP:

I have read many threads about truck and trailer options where people warn of going over 26k truck and 10K trailer would require getting a CDL license.

This is true. Many a thread.

But you only need a CDL if you use your truck for comercial reasons.

There's no way this is true 100% of the time, but most casual homeowners don't have rigs capable of a GCWR of over 26k lbs.

At Ford, for example, only a:
---2WD Diesel F350 with 4.30 gears and TowBoss package
---2WD Diesel F450 with 4.30 gears
---or 4WD Diesel F450 with 4.30 gears and TowBoss package
and are capable of cresting 26,000# GCWR. These types of combinations are probably not anything any dealer would stock, so we're talking about special order vehicles that someone would wait 2 months to have delivered. We're not talking about your neighbor's F250 here.

Given that you need to REALLY TRY to get a truck rated to a GCWR of over 26k lbs, this is not a problem that all but a very select few of us would have a problem with, if even that.

If this was not true you would need to carry a DOT medical certificate every time your combined truck trailer weight was over 10K.

Not quite right. 10k isn't the number up for discussion, 26k is.

Nobody would disagree that a Honda Highlander pulling a single axle 5k trailer and 2CY of mulch should not be at risk being pulled over for a CDL violation.

However a guy in an F450 with a 14,000# rated deck-over dovetail with a skidsteer, a mini-ex, and a bunch of attachments should have his ducks in a row before taking to the Interstate system.

All the private owner needs to do is not overload your truck/trailer and legally you should be fine.

This is probably a 100% true statement. If the above F450 example is a private guy taking his personal equipment in for service, the equipment is properly lashed with chain, and all is within the capacities of both truck and trailer, I see it as a perfectly legal example no matter where you are.

However, I'd say the wandering po-po would pull this guy over looking for a CDL violation before he'd pull me over in my "pedestrian" vehicle with a clearly under-loaded trailer.

These are federal regs so they should not vary from state to state.

This is NOT true. The regulations vary from state to state and what works in VA may not work in NC. I'd take the 2 hours to research each state you plan on visiting if towing a long distance and make sure I'm compliant in each. I'd probably go so far as to print the relevent code sections and have them available in case I'm pulled over. Even if I'm wrong (because of the above example of the poorly updated codes), I've done my homework...that'd buy a great deal of favor with an officer, I'd think.