Any downsides to getting a CDL?

[4570Man]

dump truck..gotta weight more than a simple 8' bed single cab. At some point i'll get it on a scale and see. But even at 7k empty..that's 3500 lb payload left over.

it's why folks that try to do 5th wheels with 1/2 ton trucks are fools - 20% of that trailer is payload on the truck and none are equipped to handle it.

the silverado was 5.5 bed, with tonneau cover and 4 doors - so more interior.

When the calculate towing capacity they figure base stripped version, 150lb driver and 1/2 tank of gas. Few trucks are really equipped that way, and the only 150lb men I know are teens or over 80. LOL

Maybe if yours was a 2wd gas. If it’s a diesel I’d bet money it’s over 5500. And the 10000 gvw pounds was more of a suggestion. At least around here.

 

[AKfish]

You won稚 go un-noticed, all we do is notice things, it is the job.

Best thing to do is just do it legally and safely, you do not want to put other people at danger.

I agree completely... As well with your earlier comment 斗ife not fair regarding all the 澱lue hair men and women driving those 30,000lb diesel land-yachts across North America! Political BS.

I have a small, hay and vegetable farm in Alaska. I致e made the round-trip to the lower 48 states probably a dozen times in the past 15 years hauling farm supplies and equipment. Have never hauled for money, trade, expenses, etc. Or for anyone else besides our farm. No CDL.

I sell hay. The Canadian Border police (Montana officer agreed) decreed that I知 a Commercial Operator. I disagreed... he said take it up with the judge. (I致e used that line before when issuing citations, too.). 3,000 miles from home and 2 weeks from a court date (likely longer).

Background - New 3500 SRW and new 30 gooseneck. GCVWR - 24.5K Truck -GVWR-11.6K Trailer -GVWR-25K

Scale weight - just over 22K.

I bought the tandem dual axle trailer for the extra margin of safety; better brakes and handling stability. I could have saved myself a lot of time and aggravation with a 26 - 14K gooseneck.

The round baler would have fit just fine along with the 80 bushel manure spreader. But, that baler was TALL and would give those 7K axles a reason to sway.

My point is this - the personal use - BS is just that... BS. The cops have the latitude to call it as they choose. Go get a hotel for a couple weeks and take your chances with the judge.

Using the combined GVWR痴 as the determining basis for requiring a CDL is also bunk! The tow vehicle痴 GVCWR is a more relevant indicator of safety. That痴 what the manufacturer has determined to be a safe operational towing weight given the tires, brakes, suspension and engine power.

Why have a scale weight and a GCVWR if all your concerned about is the combined GVWR? The overarching concern is 都afety and anyone driving an empty, 1-ton pulling an empty, 21-25K gooseneck can be pulled over and cited?? BS!

And those 澱lue-hairs jumping the curb at Walmart痴 are safe....? BS!

Livestock haulers and farmers (like me...) have some real issues with the new regs being promulgated. My $0.02.

 

[prof fate]

Maybe if yours was a 2wd gas. If it’s a diesel I’d bet money it’s over 5500. And the 10000 gvw pounds was more of a suggestion. At least around here.

4x4 gas.
and 10,500 is the rating ford put on it (sticker on door). In PA you can register more or less weight, plate fee is based on registered weight class.
Car is $36/year (van as a car (aka station wagon) is same)
1500 class truck or van is $94 I think.
10,500 is $300/year and is emmissions exempt.
9500 is $250 and requires emmissions which runs $60/year for the test.

AFAIK it's illegal to be overweight - based on registration, perhaps on vehicle rating..but don't know of any 'consumer' being busted for it.

of course if you have an accident and are found to be overweight, well, good luck to you legally and financially.

 

[t320pilot]

4570man, I can give you some good advice from experience. First of all, will you be working 5 days a week? Probably not. It would be nice to stay that busy but...
Now, all you have to do is go give your estimate at the jobsite with your personal truck, then call a local rollback truck / driver and let him use his truck, cdl, insurance, dot numbers and they only charge about $4 per mile. He can haul your backhoe each way. It will save you thousands in the long run.
Around here they only charge for loaded miles, not both ways.
Hope this helps.

 

[prof fate]

Not all states offer a non commercial Class A/B. Texas does I think but not all states do. They make you get a CDL. Not sure about TN.

Not sure about texas..just the federal rules (gotta know them for the test to get a CDL)

Drivers | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

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).

 

[t320pilot]

From 1983 - 1989 I had a chauffeurs license then they went to cdl in 1990 and I was grandfathered in. Been driving different types of heavy loads for years.

 

[newbury]

The question was:

So if I've a truck with a tow rating GVWR of 7,000 lbs is it illegal to tow an empty trailer weighing only 2,000 but it has a GVWR of 10,000?

Well then your trailer can稚 weigh over 7,000 pounds, easy as that.

Does that mean it is legal for me to tow an EMPTY trailer that has a rating of 12K but only weighs 2,000 lbs EMPTY ?

 

[4570Man]

4570man, I can give you some good advice from experience. First of all, will you be working 5 days a week? Probably not. It would be nice to stay that busy but...
Now, all you have to do is go give your estimate at the jobsite with your personal truck, then call a local rollback truck / driver and let him use his truck, cdl, insurance, dot numbers and they only charge about $4 per mile. He can haul your backhoe each way. It will save you thousands in the long run.
Around here they only charge for loaded miles, not both ways.
Hope this helps.

There’s not very many roll backs capable of hauling the backhoe and I don’t know of any towing company that has one. And they won’t make a short distance haul for $4 a mile. All the towing company rollbacks around here are single axle. A few of the dealers have tandems.

 

[t320pilot]

If you pay $100 for a ten mile haul you still come out way ahead. Just think about it for awhile and you will understand.
Down here in FL the highway patrol and dot cops have merged and they love to shut down a dually truck pulling equipment as small business owners. Been pulled over at random when driving right at the speed limit several times. They check everything just hoping to find something wrong. The stress ain't worth it.

 

[4570Man]

Or just drive the backhoe. I don’t think you could pay $100 for very long and come out ahead. What’s the cost of doing it legal? Maybe $1000 a year? I haven’t done my homework yet.