Who has their Class A CDL?

FredH · Jan 2, 2016

Oregon has been the same on renewing Any license for several years now . Not Original Birth Certificate but a " Certified " birth certificate . WTF is That ? State issued piece of flippin' paper that has your birth info on it . Looks almost like a Form Letter with fill in the blank area's . Can't remember what is cost , $8 , $10 or $12 , then wait 2 to 3 weeks , then back to DMV . My wife had been married before and also had to get a copy of her First marriage license from over 30 years ago . That was a Real Cluster F*** !!!

Fred H.

Tomtint · Jan 2, 2016

So with a CDL, is the restriction 26k GVW a restriction for a single vehicle or a combo truck / trailer ? In other words, if you are driving a 17K GVW ( under CDL ) then towing a 12k GVW trailer, .. Your at 29k combined.

dieselcrawler · Jan 2, 2016

My understanding is the combined weight rating is what they will go by if unloaded, if loaded, total weight better be less than your combined weight rating, and load spread out so no one axle is overloaded.

Example: hotshot truck at work is licensed for 30k. GVW of just the truck going by the door jamb sticker is 18k. Gooseneck trailer (dual tandem, 30', with hydraulic dove ramp) is rated for 20k, but trailer license in our state does not quote weight. That truck and trailer combo requires CDL to drive, even when empty, and loaded should not exceed 30k , and when loaded, no more than 18k of that can be on the truck's axles. I forget what the trailer data plate says it's weight total and per axle is...

Being able to fill in for our hotshot driver is my main reason for getting my CDL, but I'm not going to limit myself to that combo, going all out and getting legal for air brakes, tankers, and Haz-mat.

Mitkof · Jan 2, 2016

I dropped my HazMat because it is a pain to maintain. It was 2yr renewal, without it I have 6yr renewal.

terryknight · Jan 2, 2016

Want to correct a few things here for Federal standards.

Copperhead said:
Right. The Federal regulations regarding CDL, which must be applied to all state licensing agencies, is that if the towed vehicle or trailer has a RATED rating of 10,001 lb or moreAND the combination is more than 26001 lbs, then that requires a Class A. Doesn't matter what the actual weight at the time is. If the towed vehicle or trailer has a rated weight of 10,000 or less,AND the combination is more than 26001 lbs OR the single vehicle is over 26001 GVWR by itself even if the total gross of the power unit and the trailer exceed 26,001 lb, then a Class B is the one. If towed vehicle or trailer has a gross rating of less then 10K, and the combination is less than 26K, then a Class C is the required CDL. WRONG Class C is for vehicles that meets neither A or B groups AND is designed to haul 16 or more passengers (including driver) OR used to transport hazmat This all does not necessarily apply to private users pulling their own stuff, like a 1 ton dually pulling a 13K RV trailer on vacation. But if it is for commercial use, even private commercial use, then this all applies.

Sound clear as mud? It is to a lot of folks.

All of the CDL info can be found at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

for groups of vehicles mentioned above is https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/383.91

bdog · Jan 3, 2016

Tomtint said:
So with a CDL, is the restriction 26k GVW a restriction for a single vehicle or a combo truck / trailer ? In other words, if you are driving a 17K GVW ( under CDL ) then towing a 12k GVW trailer, .. Your at 29k combined.

Not sure what you are asking. If a single vehicle is over 26k you need a CDL(farm/Rv/military etc exemptions aside). If a combo is over 26k and the trailer is over 10k you need a CDL. You can drive a 25k truck with a 9k trailer with a ordinary license.

On the CDLs a class A means you can drive a single vehicle over 26k or a combo over 26k with a trailer over 10k. A class B allows you to drive a single vehicle over 26k like a dump truck but you can't pull a trailer over 10k unless the combo is under 26k.

Copperhead · Jan 3, 2016

^^^^ that is right. Ok, we will get right to the crux of it. this is direct from the FMCSA website so there shouldn't be any confusion (but probably someone will have a brain cramp) on what is required and what class.

Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)

Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.

Class B: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.

- See more at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers#sthash.HYybeQUy.dpuf

Tomtint · Jan 3, 2016

....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

bdog · Jan 4, 2016

Tomtint said:
....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

If the trailer is 9995 you can pull it with no special license. Even if it is exactly 10k I think you are ok but if it is 10,001 or more then you will need a Class A CDL, DOT number, log books, med card, drug testing, commercial insurance, IFTA/IRP if crossing state lines, commercial inspections on truck and trailer, etc.

wcampbell47 · Jan 4, 2016

Tomtint said:
....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

I concur with bdog from what I have read. My F350 is a 1 ton and the ladies at the county registration office "registered" it to carry 2,000 lbs. However, the door post indicates I can carry something like 3,400 lbs. I am not sure how this would play out if I were stopped and ticketed. Would the troopers cite the 2,000 lbs the truck is registered for or the 3,400 lbs on the door sticker.

Does your "registration" match the door post gvw or is it registered for a "ton and a half" carrying capacity?