Understanding Curb Weight, GVWR, Towing and CDL requirements

[Peter 315]

In NH I can drive at class B straight truck (tri axle , ect) 76,000 gvw . But when hooked to the tag trailer I need a class A ..

 

[Fixastuff]

I’ll just leave you with this thought…

what would the point of having a class A and class B if there was that overlap? Class B was created for bus drivers. Period. Easy to get and very limited to people looking for that low wage job, but needing more than a regular DL. The trailer limit is < 10k, so bus drivers can pull trailers for athletic equipment for schools.

I fully agree that you can only do what “experts” are telling you. That is the trouble with this garbage, seems like a straight story is hard to get.

The way it was explained to me is that they changed it when the new requirement started in 2022 so the class A was for Mac truck drivers and class B now for people with duallies and trailers and any manual or flowchart printed before 2022 is out of date and no longer applicable.

 

[two_bit_score]

The way it was explained to me is that they changed it when the new requirement started in 2022 so the class A was for Mac truck drivers and class B now for people with duallies and trailers and any manual or flowchart printed before 2022 is out of date and no longer applicable.

Sounds perfectly logical in bureaucrat lingo.

 

[LD1]

I’ll just leave you with this thought…

what would the point of having a class A and class B if there was that overlap? Class B was created for bus drivers. Period. Easy to get and very limited to people looking for that low wage job, but needing more than a regular DL. The trailer limit is < 10k, so bus drivers can pull trailers for athletic equipment for schools.

I fully agree that you can only do what “experts” are telling you. That is the trouble with this garbage, seems like a straight story is hard to get.

I think there are as many....if not more people driving dump trucks and cement trucks and box trucks over 26k than there are bus drivers

 

[LD1]

Been calling around trying to get answers. I talked to a state trooper and the people who give the class. The A vs B confusion is because none of the online flow charts have been updated since the rules changed on Feb 7 2022. The two online ones I found for VA are from 2014 and 2005 and the DMV hasn't update the info yet either. For VA and I think federally you can run up to 56k lbs on a class B according the the people running the class and to a VA state trooper in the Motor Carrier Safety Unit(that's who does the weighing and writes the tickets)

This is who I am going to listen to but yall should do what you think is best for yourself.

All I can say is get it in writing.

Gotta ask though....the guy ticketed for no CDL.....was it obvious commercial? Like a company name and logo on truck and equipment? Or did he admit he was hauling commercial?

Because the easy way out if in a personal truck hauling personal equipment....(even if you are going to/from a paying job).....you can simply say you are moving your own equipment for non-commercial purposes

 

[Fixastuff]

All I can say is get it in writing.

Gotta ask though....the guy ticketed for no CDL.....was it obvious commercial? Like a company name and logo on truck and equipment? Or did he admit he was hauling commercial?

Because the easy way out if in a personal truck hauling personal equipment....(even if you are going to/from a paying job).....you can simply say you are moving your own equipment for non-commercial purposes

I'm not sure about company logos, but he had a directional drill on the trailer.

 

[stumblinhorse]

All I can say is get it in writing.

Gotta ask though....the guy ticketed for no CDL.....was it obvious commercial? Like a company name and logo on truck and equipment? Or did he admit he was hauling commercial?

Because the easy way out if in a personal truck hauling personal equipment....(even if you are going to/from a paying job).....you can simply say you are moving your own equipment for non-commercial purposes

That doesn’t matter at all. Only thing is the 150 air mile farmer’s exclusion.

I will never haul anybody’s anything. It is my stuff for my place. Always. Doesn’t matter to dot…. CDL for 26,001+

 

[LD1]

That doesn’t matter at all. Only thing is the 150 air mile farmer’s exclusion.

I will never haul anybody’s anything. It is my stuff for my place. Always. Doesn’t matter to dot…. CDL for 26,001+

It does matter.

Different states vary.....some states "may" require a CDL for personal. Or may have non-commercial class A license.

Read the very last "exemption" in Ohio's CDL rules

Ohio BMV

www.bmv.ohio.gov

 

[Fixastuff]

Even though the classes I've called about this are in Virginia they are fmcsa approved nationally. They have all told me since the changes in 2022 56k lbs is the new threshold for needing a class A.

 

[stumblinhorse]

It does matter.

Different states vary.....some states "may" require a CDL for personal. Or may have non-commercial class A license.

Read the very last "exemption" in Ohio's CDL rules

Ohio BMV

www.bmv.ohio.gov

Ok, I officially give up. There is honestly no way to have any idea what is required where. Completely ridiculous.