CDL??

[Diamondpilot]

OK, I stopped in the AZ MVD today and figured it out. I am getting farm plates and I'm downgrading it from 27,500 to 25,500. I won't have to get my CDL immediately although I still want to pursue that route. I do still have to get a medical, also not immediately. She said all I need is the medical and a DOT # and I'm good to go. For particulars, the truck is currently rated 27,500 GVWR, has air brakes, and is a single rear axle.
When I was at my ranch, I met a neighbor who has a dual rear axle dump truck and has been using it in the area for 4 years and has never even registered it. So even though I'm going through the correct process, I could probably get away with doing nothing.

I have no clue on these matters but in the trailer world and airplane world for that matter if you upgrade or down grade the load capacity you can never go back. Its a catch 22. For example a very popular airplane for guys who just put around is the Ercoupe and the Aronca. These airplanes had the ability from a aftermarket kit to slightly increase the payload. It was a great thing that many people did 25 years ago to these old birds.

Fast forward to about 5 years ago and the FAA started issuing a new licenses to pilots. Its called a sport pilots license and allows you to get a pilots license much easier but the stipulations are 2 seats, 100HP, Fixed Gear, 1,320# max takeoff.

Here is the kicker, many of these good old airplanes now exceed the 1,320# takeoff weight because of the mods and can now never come back. The value of the modified airplanes is 1/3 to 1/2 of the value of the unmodified airplanes.

I know this is a extreme example and we are talking a simple old dump truck here but make sure what you are doing will not devalue the truck.

Chris

 

[tcartwri]

OK, I stopped in the AZ MVD today and figured it out. I am getting farm plates and I'm downgrading it from 27,500 to 25,500.

This is exactly how Budget/Hertz/etc... can rent joe shmoe a five ton straight truck with a standard license. Found this out the hard way, when I loaded one to manufacturers gvwr and rolled across a scale.

 

[BoFuller]

I plan on keeping the truck for awhile, and I don't plan on maxing out the load. And when I do sell, I will make sure the new owner knows it is only rated for 25,500.
I would think the market for resale would be better with it rated below the 26,000 limit. But anyway, I'm not too concerned with resale. It only cost me $3900, so I'll probably just give it to my son when I'm done with it.
I'm not sure what the truck weighs empty, but suppose it weighs 15,000. I could still pull a trailer with my tractor (combination of trailer and tractor probably less than 10,000) and still be under the 26,000. Does that sound right?

 

[flusher]

I plan on keeping the truck for awhile, and I don't plan on maxing out the load. And when I do sell, I will make sure the new owner knows it is only rated for 25,500.
I would think the market for resale would be better with it rated below the 26,000 limit. But anyway, I'm not too concerned with resale. It only cost me $3900, so I'll probably just give it to my son when I'm done with it.
I'm not sure what the truck weighs empty, but suppose it weighs 15,000. I could still pull a trailer with my tractor (combination of trailer and tractor probably less than 10,000) and still be under the 26,000. Does that sound right?

I'd go ahead and weigh the truck with no load, 3/4 tank of gas, your tools and yourself just to be sure of your numbers.

For example, my 2004 Isuzu NPR stakebed has GVWR = 12000 lb, GCWR=18000 lb, empty weight=7100 lb. The GCWR is not on any of the stickers attached to the vehicle, but you can find it in the NPR upfitters guide.

Isuzu advertizes the NPR towing capacity at 6000 lb (=GCWR-GVRW), which assumes you're going to load the stakebed to GVWR.

 

[Duffster]

I'm not sure what the truck weighs empty, but suppose it weighs 15,000. I could still pull a trailer with my tractor (combination of trailer and tractor probably less than 10,000) and still be under the 26,000. Does that sound right?

IDK but it won't matter if you are under 26k or not.

 

[MD09]

Registration and Licensing - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Need to also check with your state DMV....

 

[MD09]

Motor Vehicle Division
State DMV requirements.

 

[BoFuller]

Motor Vehicle Division
State DMV requirements.

State Requirements seem to vary from county to county. I registered my truck in county A and the MVD said I could downgrade from 27,500 to 25,700 and get farm plates and I would not need a CDL. I would need a DOT #, a physical, and an airbrake license/endorsement.
I got the DOT # and the physical while in county B and went in the MVD this morning to take the airbrake test. THe guy there said it was illegal to downgrade, and that I needed a class B CDL and I couldn't take the airbrake test.
Go figure. :laughing:

 

[Reg]

State Requirements seem to vary from county to county. I registered my truck in county A and the MVD said I could downgrade from 27,500 to 25,700 and get farm plates and I would not need a CDL. I would need a DOT #, a physical, and an airbrake license/endorsement.
I got the DOT # and the physical while in county B and went in the MVD this morning to take the airbrake test. THe guy there said it was illegal to downgrade, and that I needed a class B CDL and I couldn't take the airbrake test.
Go figure. :laughing:

I'm in Massachusetts (not a brag, barely an excuse).
We have a saying that if you either don't like or don't agree with what they tell you at the RMV go to the back of the line and try again.
You might get the same person, you will almost certainly get a different answer.
Keep going around until you DO get the answer you want - pay, get whatever you need stamped & leave.

I have heard that to get a vehicle down-graded you need a new VIN plate.
Supposedly a Registry officer can go by what is on the door pillar, regardless of what is on the registration.
If you EVER get weighed and are over your down-graded weight - - guess what ?