Can I legally tow a 20,000 lb. trailer with my F-450?

[MrJimi]

I knew I had heard that before ( for personal use ) Thats all I intend to do with it. Thanks

 

[xxxsandman]

I'm not sure the "for personal use" is correct. At least not in my state.

I guess if it was, I could go get in a 60,000lb semi tractor/trailer and drive it around without a CDL as long as it was for "personal use". NOT!!!!!

The only way that a person can operate a vehicle with a GVWR more then 26,000 in Oklahoma is with a CDL or if the vehicle is farm tagged and meets the farm use rules.

Lucky for me my Dodge 1 ton diesel is farm tagged and I pull a 20k gooseneck trailer (well over 30k GVWR) frequently with it, no worries. I'm always in range of my farm and I'm usually hauling something farm related or empty. I usually use a 14k trailer as it's better sized to my truck's capacity, but sometimes I need to the bigger trailer, mainly because it's longer.

This has been an education thread for me. But with so much already discussed I see it's still a "muddy" subject. I think this is because the rules and requirements vary state by state. What I tell you about my state, may not be at all right in yours.

Good luck!

 

[Builder]

We will enforce according to the GVWR of the vehicle(s), not the registered weight.

*Also, as I stated in my previous post; you would be exempt a CDL if you are operating a vehicle for personal use, fire truck, military vehicle, or farm truck (if the farm truck is being operated within 150 miles of the farm)
**But also, like others have said; the best thing to do is check with your state and have them "show you the law", not "tell you the law" If you are risking a ticket or being placed out of service, you want to know what you're dealing with.

You'd be up a creek with cops in my state trying to use the "personal use" excuse (probably laughed at, too). If you got pulled over driving a semi for "personal use", you'd better produce a CDL, med card, log book, fuel stickers and all the other junk or you're in deep doo-doo.

 

[MrJimi]

I am going to our Florida DOT and ask a live person and ask him/her to print me a copy on paper and I think DOT is a USA thing not just a State dept or would they call that ICC, Interstate Commerce Commission.
I may have a truck and trailer for sale if this gets crazy about I can't drive and tow my trailer for non CDL uses if I am under the 26,000 weight. I can't find on paper or internet a definition of GVWR ? actual or registered weight. I read the replies and I'm still learning and if I have to, I will get my Chevy S-10 and my boat trailer and get my CDL or my S-10 and my 25 foot trailer
They should make laws that we can understand.
I would understand this lots better if I had a business name on my truck or something or I was over this 26,000 pounds that I am licensed for but I'm not

 

[Beavis]

I'm not sure the "for personal use" is correct. At least not in my state.

I guess if it was, I could go get in a 60,000lb semi tractor/trailer and drive it around without a CDL as long as it was for "personal use". NOT!!!!!

The only way that a person can operate a vehicle with a GVWR more then 26,000 in Oklahoma is with a CDL or if the vehicle is farm tagged and meets the farm use rules.

Lucky for me my Dodge 1 ton diesel is farm tagged and I pull a 20k gooseneck trailer (well over 30k GVWR) frequently with it, no worries. I'm always in range of my farm and I'm usually hauling something farm related or empty. I usually use a 14k trailer as it's better sized to my truck's capacity, but sometimes I need to the bigger trailer, mainly because it's longer.

This has been an education thread for me. But with so much already discussed I see it's still a "muddy" subject. I think this is because the rules and requirements vary state by state. What I tell you about my state, may not be at all right in yours.

Good luck!

You are correct, you could not drive a 60,000 lb tractor/trailer registered for farm use on a regular license; in Kansas you would need a non-commercial class A. but not a CDL. ( and yes, I know some have pointed out that their states do not offer a non-commercial class A ) Some examples were given in my post #125. As someone who has done "DOT" inspections for approximately 10 years, I've tried to provide some information that may be helpful. But as everyone has figured out by now, once you mix Federal Regulations with State Laws, things get muddy very quick.

 

[Beavis]

I am going to our Florida DOT and ask a live person and ask him/her to print me a copy on paper and I think DOT is a USA thing not just a State dept or would they call that ICC, Interstate Commerce Commission.
I may have a truck and trailer for sale if this gets crazy about I can't drive and tow my trailer for non CDL uses if I am under the 26,000 weight. I can't find on paper or internet a definition of GVWR ? actual or registered weight. I read the replies and I'm still learning and if I have to, I will get my Chevy S-10 and my boat trailer and get my CDL or my S-10 and my 25 foot trailer
They should make laws that we can understand.
I would understand this lots better if I had a business name on my truck or something or I was over this 26,000 pounds that I am licensed for but I'm not

The following came right off of the Florida DMV website:
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/dlclass.html#non

CDL Exemptions
The following persons are exempt from the requirements to obtain a commercial driver license:

Drivers of authorized emergency vehicles that are equipped with extraordinary audible warning devices that display red or blue lights and are on call to respond to emergencies;or
Military personnel driving military vehicles; or
Farmers transporting farm supplies or farm machinery, or transporting agricultural products to or from the first place of storage or processing or directly to or from market, within 150 miles of their farm; or
Drivers of recreational vehicles used for recreational purposes; or
Drivers who operate straight trucks (single units) that are exclusively transporting their own tangible personal property which is not for sale.
An employee of a publicly owned transit system who is limited to moving vehicles for maintenance or parking purposes exclusively within the restricted-access confines of a transit system's property.

Also: please note that Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 383.3(d) states that a State may exempt, at its discretion, CDL requirements for farmers, fire-fighters, etc. ( non-commercial use vehicles even though they weigh over the 26,000 pound limit ) And the above information show that Florida has chosen to exempt those people.

Hope this helps ?

 

[xxxsandman]

Drivers who operate straight trucks (single units) that are exclusively transporting their own tangible personal property which is not for sale.

So truck with trailers are not included in the Florida "personal use" rule. Only (single units). So the personal use rule above wouldn't do MrJimi any good based off the information you posted.

 

[xxxsandman]

You are correct, you could not drive a 60,000 lb tractor/trailer registered for farm use on a regular license; in Kansas you would need a non-commercial class A. but not a CDL. ( and yes, I know some have pointed out that their states do not offer a non-commercial class A ) Some examples were given in my post #125. As someone who has done "DOT" inspections for approximately 10 years, I've tried to provide some information that may be helpful. But as everyone has figured out by now, once you mix Federal Regulations with State Laws, things get muddy very quick.

Well actually that is incorrect in Oklahoma. You CAN drive a FARM Tagged SEMI truck as long as you meet the farm rules (150 miles of farm, being used to haul farm products or machinery, etc) WITHOUT a CDL or Class A! A regular Class D drivers license is all that is needed in this situation.

I just called and verified this just to "clear the mud up"

You can ask all these questions and more for yourself by calling the Oklahoma DPS office at 1-405-425-2424. Of course this is for Oklahoma only, wouldn't do you any good in any other state, as there laws and rules may be different.

 

[sandman2234]

One thing for certain, and that is clear! This subject is about as muddy as a pigs favorite wallering hole!
David from jax

 

[Builder]

One thing for certain, and that is clear! This subject is about as muddy as a pigs favorite wallering hole!
David from jax

Not to beat a dead horse, but if people who are in the "muddy" zone just spend a few hours and get a class A CDL, they would have nothing to worry about.

The reason the rules are muddy is obvious. It's so the regulators of that very system can make lots of money in fines on people who don't have CDL's and don't understand the rules.