Who has their Class A CDL?

farmer2009 · Dec 17, 2015

QRTRHRS said:
Then there is the BAC limit even if in your personal vehilcle.

Or boat, atv ect. The reduced BAC follows you everywhere.

bdog · Dec 22, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Correct, but many people on this site are looking to do so with their 3/4 or 1 Ton Truck. It then gets into DOT inspection, ect.

Just something to think about.

Chris

My pickup has dot numbers and a commercial inspection but it only falls under the regulations when I have a trailer otherwise it is too light to be regulated. I can and do transport unopened alcohol in it when I don't have a trailer because I am not regulated at that time. I am not required to keep a log book or anything else when driving around without a trailer. All those rules only kick in when you meet the definition of a commercial vehicle by reaching a certain weight.

bdog · Dec 22, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Correct, but many people on this site are looking to do so with their 3/4 or 1 Ton Truck. It then gets into DOT inspection, ect.

Just something to think about.

Chris

My pickup has dot numbers and a commercial inspection but it only falls under the regulations when I have a trailer otherwise it is too light to be regulated. I can and do transport unopened alcohol in it when I don't have a trailer because I am not regulated at that time. I am not required to keep a log book or anything else when driving around without a trailer. All those rules only kick in when you meet the definition of a commercial vehicle by reaching a certain weight.

wcampbell47 · Dec 22, 2015

For us good ol' boys in Texas as long as we keep our gross combination weight under 26001 lbs we can skate on the CDL and DOT stuff. So if your one ton grosses out at 10k and your trailer grosses out at 15680 you are a few hundred pounds under the requirement for both CDL and DOT. I am ok with that as I don't haul heavy loads. Another bit of info I read is that you can cross state lines without DOT registration if your towed vehicle is 10,000 lbs or under. The Feds do not consider you commercial. Again I don't haul heavy loads and so far have not crossed the state line.

dieselcrawler · Dec 22, 2015

Been studying... aced online practice tests... If all goes well, I hope to take the written test/permit test on January 8, 2016.

Lots of feedback here... thanks to all who have contributed.

Diamondpilot · Dec 22, 2015

bdog said:
My pickup has dot numbers and a commercial inspection but it only falls under the regulations when I have a trailer otherwise it is too light to be regulated. I can and do transport unopened alcohol in it when I don't have a trailer because I am not regulated at that time. I am not required to keep a log book or anything else when driving around without a trailer. All those rules only kick in when you meet the definition of a commercial vehicle by reaching a certain weight.

That's not the way they enforce it around here. When my neighbor mowed commercially this was a issue for him.

Chris

bdog · Dec 22, 2015

I have had my dot numbers on my trucks since 2008 or 2009 and never had any issues. If I am running in Texas with no trailer and under 26k I don't meet the definition of a commercial vehicle regardless of what stickers are on the door.

Now when I go out of state and become involved in interstate commerce 10k is the limit to be considered commercial and I have to be a lot more careful.

farmer2009 · Dec 22, 2015

bdog said:
I have had my dot numbers on my trucks since 2008 or 2009 and never had any issues. If I am running in Texas with no trailer and under 26k I don't meet the definition of a commercial vehicle regardless of what stickers are on the door. Now when I go out of state and become involved in interstate commerce 10k is the limit to be considered commercial and I have to be a lot more careful.

Around here guys have their info printed onto magnets. When they hook up and become a commercial vehicle they put the magnets on the doors. When they unhook they take them off and put them in the toolbox or behind the seat. Now it's just a Sunday go to meeting truck.

Copperhead · Dec 23, 2015

bdog said:
My pickup has dot numbers and a commercial inspection but it only falls under the regulations when I have a trailer otherwise it is too light to be regulated. I can and do transport unopened alcohol in it when I don't have a trailer because I am not regulated at that time. I am not required to keep a log book or anything else when driving around without a trailer. All those rules only kick in when you meet the definition of a commercial vehicle by reaching a certain weight.

Depends on state and whether one is doing anything related to commercial activity and crossing state lines if one is regulated. Weight is only one aspect of regulation. There is the 100 air mile radius exemption for logs. For example, one can drive a serious sized motor home, for personal use, without a CDL. If one is driving the motorhome from the factory to a dealer, then one has to have CDL and logbook. Classification is not based on weight alone, but the purpose. The same thing for towing a camper. If for personal use, no CDL required. If towing one commercially, again say from factory to dealer or dealer to dealer, the CDL and log book applies.

I know this my sound quaint, but that is why they call it a "commercial" driver's license.