Do I need a CDL?

[Duffster]

Attached is the NY State rules for whether you need a CDL or not. If you read the class D (regular drivers license) info you will see you may operate any truck and trailer combination up to 26,000 without a CDL or need for a DOT card.
Your state may vary and most have similar info to this on their sites.

Can you show us where it says that.

 

[brokenknee]

Can you show us where it says that.

The snip is from the class D license.

I think were most people are getting confused is the need for the correct class license and the need to follow the federal regulations that govern commercial carriers.

One still needs to get the correct class license to drive your vehicle, however if not used in commerce you would not need to follow all of the other regulations that apply to commercial vehicles.

 

[brokenknee]

But a DOT card may be required to drive a Vehicle or Combination over 10,000 lbs...

If you are referring to a health card, only if it is used in commerce.

 

[brokenknee]

I like the flowchart you provided. It does state that recreational vehicles for personal use are exempted. Were you meaning something else when you said "The CDL requirement does not matter if it is for personal use or business." I believe the OP said his equipment was for personal use, but it certainly is not a recreational vehicle. How does that come in to play?

Also, I like how the top of the document cleary states that Class A, B and C licenses ARE CDLs. Of all the reading I have done, I kind of figured this was the case, but this is the first time I saw it explicitly written. So saying you don't need a CDL but you do need a Class A makes no sense to me. Am I missing something here? (I see/hear that statement too often in discussions.)

Sorry poor wording on the CDL statement, what I should have said instead of CDL requirement is that you still need the correct class license to operate your vehicle. It is just personal use you are not required to follow all the other rules as I previously stated.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Sorry poor wording on the CDL statement, what I should have said instead of CDL requirement is that you still need the correct class license to operate your vehicle. It is just personal use you are not required to follow all the other rules as I previously stated.

Gotcha, thanks.

 

[brokenknee]

I hear you on this one. I too have a 9200 GVW truck and a 13,900 GVW tilt bed trailer. I have heard people state that when you go over 10,000 GVW on a trailer you need a CDL license. Of course no one has ever been able to show me the documentation. I even called the state police and could not get a straight answer. My license states on the class: CM -Single/Comb less than 26,001.

The dealer where I bought the trailer was not even sure. He did state that I would be in more hot water and the fine would be potentially larger if I derated the trailer to 9,990 GVW and got caught over weight.

So if the answer is that hard to find that even the state police could not give me a straight up answer, I figure my odds would be pretty good at a DJ if I ever got a fine for this setup. It seems it would be pretty hard for a DJ to find me guilty when right on my license it states Single/Comb less than 26,001.

Only the dealer can set the GVW.

There are usually two sections to the State Patrol, one that deals with most of the general public and those that specialize in commercial vehicles. You should make sure you check with the correct department.

Your state my be one that is more strict than the federal regs, being it states single/comb right on your license. I would check again since the regulations changed about 4 to 6 years ago on this and most states have adopted the federal regulations.

 

[George2615]

Can you show us where it says that.

In NY State, a person with a regular class D license does not require a DOT medical card.
The Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires a medical card for CDL licenses. See attached form section 1.3.4

Quote from Storm56 ""I hear you on this one. I too have a 9200 GVW truck and a 13,900 GVW tilt bed trailer. I have heard people state that when you go over 10,000 GVW on a trailer you need a CDL license. Of course no one has ever been able to show me the documentation. I even called the state police and could not get a straight answer. My license states on the class: CM -Single/Comb less than 26,001.""

For Storm56, see the attached CDL 101. The Class D (regular drivers license) licensed operator can tow any combination including a trailer over 10K if the GCWR is under 26,000 lb. Please note this is in NY State, your state may be different. Your 9200 GVW truck and 13,900 GVW trailer total 23,100 which is legal in NY with a regular drivers license, NO CDL.

I've also attached chapter 15 of the PA DMV. Apparently they haven't caught up with other states like NY (or updated their site) to allow towing a trailer over 10K with a class C or B but would require a class A to do so.

 

[Storm56]

Only the dealer can set the GVW.

In PA You can go to any Notary and file forms to lower the GVW of a trailer. The dealer did offer to lower the GVW when I bought the trailer but as I stated he felt I was better off with the higher rated GVW just in case I had a heavy load on and got checked.

 

[Duffster]

View attachment 191372 The snip is from the class D license.

I think were most people are getting confused is the need for the correct class license and the need to follow the federal regulations that govern commercial carriers.

One still needs to get the correct class license to drive your vehicle, however if not used in commerce you would not need to follow all of the other regulations that apply to commercial vehicles.

Your 'snip' says nothing about who does or does not need a Med card.

 

[Duffster]

Only the dealer can set the GVW.

There is no such thing as a set GVW. It is GVWR. and many truck upfitters can redo GVWR.