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

[DavesTractor]

My question is on the trailer part. It's worded quote "A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is more than 26,000 pounds."

So does that mean IF I stay under 26,000 lbs of ACTUAL total combined weight on my 20k gooseneck trailer I'm legal in Oklahoma? Notice they didn't say combined weight RATING, just combined weight less then 26,000.

I think you are interpreting your state's laws correctly. They are not making you have a CDL just because of your rigs potential, but are actually just concerned if you go over the 26K.

I don't think the issue is all that cloudy, it is just inconsistent from state to state.

 

[firedog]

In response to the original question:
if the gross weight of the trailer is 20k, then legally it would require a CDL because the GCWR would be over 26,000. And yes, it is based on the weight rating not the actual weight of the vehicle.
This is why all the 1 tons will stay under the 26k CDL rule.

Confusing...somewhat, I agree. All states will have their own internal rules when it comes to farm equip. etc. However, the commercial motor vehicle safety act of 1986 required all states to adopt minimum standards regarding commercial licensing. As a CDL holder & driver, and having driven in enough of the states, I can assure you that the class A & B rules are very much the same.
Here is a link to the California DMV: Applying for a New California Commercial Drivers License - DMV.ORG
which looks just like the Texas regs.

In a nut shell:
class C CDL = taxis, limos, buses 16 - 23 passengers, & vehicles carrying hazmat
class B CDL = any single truck over 26,000 and/or towing a trailer not over 10,000
class A CDL = any combination over 26,000

Note: the new Sterling bullet is rated right at 26,000 GCWR but not over.

 

[xxxsandman]

In response to the original question:
if the gross weight of the trailer is 20k, then legally it would require a CDL because the GCWR would be over 26,000. And yes, it is based on the weight rating not the actual weight of the vehicle.
This is why all the 1 tons will stay under the 26k CDL rule.

So based on what you are saying ANY 1 ton can pull ANY trailer without a CDL, as long as the 1 tons GCWR is not exceeded (because all 1 tons have a GCWR of less then 26k).

That makes perfect sense to me.

So the easy answer would be, if your trucks GCWR is 26,000lbs or less, you can pull any trailer you want without a CDL, just don't load it over the GCWR of your truck.

 

[DavesTractor]

So based on what you are saying ANY 1 ton can pull ANY trailer without a CDL, as long as the 1 tons GCWR is not exceeded (because all 1 tons have a GCWR of less then 26k).

That makes perfect sense to me.

So the easy answer would be, if your trucks GCWR is 26,000lbs or less, you can pull any trailer you want without a CDL, just don't load it over the GCWR of your truck.

Not so in California. There is an "or" not just an "and", meaning if your trailer has a GVWR of 10,001 or more, a CDL is required, even if you just haul it around empty. I've been around this topic so many times, and some well meaning person from another state always clarifies California laws for us. States do have to comply with Federal CDL rules, but that doesn't mean they cannot be more strict, as is the case in California. Texas and California are different in how they deal with 10,001 and up trailers. I wish it wasn't so....., it would have saved me a ticket a few years back.

 

[jmfox]

IF I stay under 26,000 lbs of ACTUAL total combined weight on my 20k gooseneck trailer I'm legal in Oklahoma? Notice they didn't say combined weight RATING, just combined weight less then 26,000.

"R" is for rating. If your trailer's GVWR is 20k, your truck's GVWR would need to be no more than 6k. Remember, this only satisfies the license class requirements, then there is highway requirements. How much of a load could you put on the trailer before the truck's GVW (actual weight) would be greater than 6k? I have a hard time imagining a safe scenario with these numbers, not to mention exceeding the truck's GCWR.

jmf

 

[firedog]

I probably wasn't as clear as I could have been. My bad.
These are minimum requirements for commercial vehicles. Individual states can require stricter requirements on item other than the basic interstate regs.
In other words (as Dave said) all trailers over 10K could be included.

example of a class B would be a Dump Truck (>26K GVWR) hauling a utility trailer (<10K GVWR)
example of a class A would be Dump Truck or Semi (>26K GVWR) hauling a trailer (>10K GVWR)

The link I posted was from California and the way it reads to me is that you could haul a 14K trailer with your 1 ton, BUT I'm not in California AND the way I read the law, isn't always the way the man with the badge reads the law. Unfortunately, you are at their mercy.

Which or course brings us back to that still same unanswerable question.

Here are some options for you:
1) You could contact the Attorney General of your State and ask for an opinion on this reg. then carry that with you.
2) Some states, atleast Texas, may allow for a non-commercial class A or B license. It doesn't cost as much as the Commercial license but still qualifies you in that weight class.

 

[civesnedfield]

Man what a clowdy issue. No one seems to be certain on this. With laws varying state to state, it clowds the issue even more.

I found this on a CDL website for Oklahoma.

---------------------------------------------------------------
What is a commercial driver's license? What vehicles are considered commercial vehicles?

A commercial driver's license (CDL) is a special license issued by the State of Oklahoma that will allow you to drive certain types of vehicles. You must have a CDL in order to drive:

* A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds.
* A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is more than 26,000 pounds.
* Any size vehicle that is required to show Hazardous Materials placards.
----------------------------------------------------------------

My question is on the trailer part. It's worded quote "A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is more than 26,000 pounds."

So does that mean IF I stay under 26,000 lbs of ACTUAL total combined weight on my 20k gooseneck trailer I'm legal in Oklahoma? Notice they didn't say combined weight RATING, just combined weight less then 26,000.

You can try it. But if you are pulled into a scale house or stopped, and the GVWR of truck and trailer are over 26,000, better plan on getting a ticket. Maybe two if they want to push the fuel sticker issue too. By the way that trailer would require a Class A CDL

 

[xxxsandman]

Like, I said, what a clowdy issue..... Seems no one knows for sure. Every thread I've ever read on this issue has pages and pages of people with different opinions.

From the research I've done, it seems Oklahoma is based off the TRUCKS GCWR. If it's less then 26,000 no CDL required. All 1 tons have a GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of less then 26,000, so they should be able to pull what ever trailer they want, as long as they keep the actual weight under the trucks GCWR.

The TRUCKS GCWR (Gross COMBINED Weight Rating) takes the trailer into account. It's the weight of the entire rig. Trailer size and rating doesn't matter, so long as the ENTIRE rig is under the trucks GCWR no matter if it's loaded or empty.

As someone else mentioned I beleive their are 2 different issues at hand.
1. If the TRUCKS GCWR is under 26K, then NO CDL REQUIRED.
2. If the truck AND trailer are at or below the trucks GCWR is a whole different issue, with a different ticket for being over if you are. On this issue you must also look at the trailers capacity and make sure to be under it's GVWR also. For instance a 10k rated trailer with 12k of cargo would be illegal, but not because you didn't have a CDL, your overweight on your trailer!

If what I'm saying is true, pulling a 20k rated trailer with a 1 ton (or any truck with a GCWR of less then 26,000) would be legal, BUT you would never be able to load the trailer to it's full capacity, as it would put you over the trucks GCWR. 10k in cargo on a 20k rated trailer would probably max you out, legally.

I guess I'll find a DOT cop or OHP officer to ask and see if they can clear this matter up for me once and for all.

 

[jmfox]

If what I'm saying is true, pulling a 20k rated trailer with a 1 ton (or any truck with a GCWR of less then 26,000) would be legal...

You don't need a ticket to understand this. Your GCWR is the sum of your truck's GVWR and your trailer's GVWR. If your trailer is 20k your truck GVWR needs to be 6k or less. If your one ton truck's GVWR is over 6k you need a CDL to tow the trailer empty.

jmf

 

[firedog]

Right you are.

If the GVWR of the tow vehicle is 12K, then your max trailer GVWR could only be (26,000 - 12,000 = 14,000) 14K.
Licensing is based on the weight ratings not actual weight.

If that same tow vehicle pulled a 18K rated trailer with an empty (curb) weight of 5K you have the following.
there is no overweight problem with either the tow vehicle or the trailer. The tow vehicle is pulling only 5K of weight and the trailer is empty, however, the combination weight rating is over 26K and class A license is required.

I think this is what bogs most folks down. It the weight ratings or capacity that you must be licensed for. Or else I could hop in a new aluminum frame Kenworth rig with a curb weight of 15K and latch onto a new aluminum semi-trailer with a curb of 10K and roll down the road with only a class C license. NOT!

Overloading is a whole nother issue.