Do I need a CDL?

[Duffster]

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

Anybody operating in interstate commerce over 10k needs a med card. As well many states require one for intrastate commerce at 10k. PA requires DOT registration at 17k IIRC which usually entails a Med card as well.

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.

PA's has the same requirements as NY. It shows in the link you posted that a class A is needed for over 10k trailer IF the GCWR is over 26k. That is the same the federal standard. So the OP can tow his rig with a B, C or whatever the standard license is.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I left PA three years ago so I am probably not up to date but I believe that in PA you can derate the trailer GVW for licensing purposes if you so desire? Or did that change?

 

[Storm56]

I left PA three years ago so I am probably not up to date but I believe that in PA you can derate the trailer GVW for licensing purposes if you so desire? Or did that change?

As per my previous post, I believe this is still the case and I am a PA resident.

 

[motorhed]

federal regs require a CDL if gross weight of vehicle is 0ver 26,000# , carries passengers(busses,etc) or hazmat(per weight of hazmat class or any amt. of certain classes)...for a PU/trailer rig you are good to go with car license...just be sure to properly secure your load or tarp(sand,dirtetc.) as you can be ticketed for failure to do so..any doubt get CDL guide from your state`s DMV...federal regs supercede state and local regs...used 2 B a trucker

 

[flusher]

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

Correctomundo.

Changing the GVWR for a truck can be done but is not inexpensive. I understand that it's a hassle to try to do a GVWR change through a dealer. Upfitters, by the nature of their business, have to change GVWR routinely usually raising it to accommodate new beds/boxes installed on a cab/chassis vehicle. Sometimes GVWR is lowered to reduce registration and/or insurance costs--more paperwork.

 

[QRTRHRS]

As per my previous post, I believe this is still the case and I am a PA resident.

I know in some local's, you must register for the manufacturer's rating. I thought that PA was still at whatever you want to set it at.

I have told this story before. A former hay supplier of mine got stopped in Berk's county a few years back by locals endorsed to do DOT inspections. He had one of his grain trucks loaded up with hay and a tandem trailer with hay behind. He did have a CDL but for whatever reason, his trailer was licensed at 10k but was a 14k trailer. They made him drop the trailer which was then over 10k. With the trailer tongue resting on the truck he was fine.

He had to go re-register the trailer before the "baggers" would let him go plus the fines were some 850 bucks. And Berks's claims to be "farmer friendly".

FWIW, I have been through plenty of level one's but never had the pleasure of dealing with a local doing a DOT inspectioin. I cannot say that any state DOT cop has ever been other than professional. I wonder what it's like with a local?

 

[tommu56]

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.

I didn't read the whole thread but

Here it is in black and white except were do you get a non commercial license? I haven't got that answer. pa non commercial lisense

What Class of Driver's License Do You Need?

In Pennsylvania, driver痴 licenses are issued specifically for the class and type of vehicle you operate. Therefore, the class of driver痴 license you should have depends specifically upon the type of vehicle you operate. Generally speaking, the majority of applicants for a Pennsylvania driver痴 license will be operators of regular passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks or vans.
Classes of Driver's Licenses

Non-commercial Driver's Licenses

• CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds).
• CLASS B (minimum age 18): Required to operate any single vehicle rated in excess of 26,000 pounds. Example: Motor homes rated at 26,001 pounds or more.
• CLASS C (minimum age 16): A Class C driver痴 license will be issued to persons 16 years of age or older, who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any vehicles, except those requiring a Class M qualification, and who do not meet the definitions of Class A or Class B. Any firefighter or member of a rescue or emergency squad who is the holder of a Class C driver痴 license and who has a certificate of authorization from a fire chief or head of the rescue or emergency squad will be authorized to operate any fire or emergency vehicle registered to that fire department, rescue or emergency squad or municipality(emergency use only). The holder of a Class C license is authorized to drive a motor-driven cycle with an automatic transmission and cylinder capacity of 50 CCs or less or a 3-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab.
• CLASS M (minimum age 16): A Class M driver痴 license will be issued to those persons 16 years of age or older who have demonstrated their ability to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. If a person is qualified to operate only a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, he/she will be issued a Class M driver痴 license. If you test on a motor-driven cycle, an "8" restriction will appear on your driver痴 license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a motorcycle. If you test on a 3-wheeled motorcycle, a "9" restriction will appear on your driver痴 license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a 2-wheeled motorcycle. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator痴 Manual (PUB 147) or the Mopeds, Motor-Driver Cycles and Motorcycles Fact Sheet located on PennDOT痴 Driver and Vehicle Services website in the Motorcycle Information Center.

PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services - Classes of Licenses

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Correctomundo.

Changing the GVWR for a truck can be done but is not inexpensive. I understand that it's a hassle to try to do a GVWR change through a dealer. Upfitters, by the nature of their business, have to change GVWR routinely usually raising it to accommodate new beds/boxes installed on a cab/chassis vehicle. Sometimes GVWR is lowered to reduce registration and/or insurance costs--more paperwork.

I've always heard that also but.........that isn't what a company certified vehicle alterer/modifier for LDT/MDT upfitter for utility bodies company told me. I asked him what it would take to uprate a '05 2500 Dodge/Cummins 9000 GVWR to a 3500 SRW 10100 GVWR. He said NHTSA rules won't allow raising the trucks GVWR but he can lower GVWR. My question to him was if I add all of the upgrades that Dodge uses on the 3500 SRW truck could he issue a higher GVWR.
This from NHTSA:

Frequently Asked Questions
on the Exemptions to the
Make Inoperative Prohibition
(snip)

.. the weight of all equipment that will go into or on the vehicle,
.. the size of the client and his or her mobility aid(s), family, and
.. whether additional objects/cargo will be added to the vehicle for recreational or other activities.
To determine whether a vehicle exceeds its GVWR, NHTSA's rules specify that only 150 pounds must be allowed for each designated seating position regardless of the weight of the intended users. However, consideration of the items described in the bullets above will help you deliver a vehicle that is not likely to be routinely overloaded by the user.

This information should then be used to calculate whether the modification would cause the vehicle to exceed the manufacturers Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) when in normal use. If it would, the vehicle should not be modified. Note: The "make inoperative" regulation requires modifiers to notify consumers of a vehicle's new load carrying capacity, if the load carrying capacity has been reduced by 220 pounds or more."

I ran into the same issue with a 18k tripple axle trailer just this summer. I upgraded the axles from 6k to 7k and asked the manufacture if he could resticker the trailers GVWR from 18k to 21k even tho the trailer uses the same frame according to the manufacture. He also said no but he can issue a lower GVWR sticker. He says once the trailers GVWR has been issued to the state for registration he cannot issue a higher GVWR tag.

Your state can give you the skinny on their altering rules.

 

[Eagle Nest]

It would be better to have the cdl and not need it,to not having a cdl and needing it. the cost of getting the cdl is way less than the fines when you get busted and you will sooner or later.

 

[Duffster]

It would be better to have the cdl and not need it,to not having a cdl and needing it. the cost of getting the cdl is way less than the fines when you get busted and you will sooner or later.

It would be better to figure out if you need one or not.:thumbsup: