CDL for 33K# Cabover?

[RickB]

And the CDL applying to personal vehicle use is another thing most don't realize.

Laws on this topic vary from state to state.

 

[Duffster]

Not so fast. I suggest that the OP read the regs. Recreational, farm and non-commercial completely private use is exempt from CDL requirements in many states

Can you show where it say that "personal use" of a non RV is exempt?

Farm use is exempt only up to 150 mile though and not across statelines.

 

[Duffster]

I would first see about registering it at 25,999 lbs. If you can, do it and avoid the hassles that come with a CDL. I don't know if it is because im young, but I get the book thrown at me with no leeway if i get pulled over in my personal vehicle compared to when i didn't have a CDL. Also the judges gave me no leeway aswell even with legal representation. So I'm at 2 strikes already. And they were honest mistakes. I get made fun of all the time cuz I drive the speed limit everywhere.

I have yet to be pulled over in a truck tho. And yeah any tickets in your personal vehicle count against the CDL, 3 violations and it gets suspended. I think the count resets after 3yrs.
If you do get a CDL (or others that have them) I highly recommend getting a membership with Drivers Legal.

You can't dodge CDL by registering it lower as CDL requirements are based off of GVWR. You could possibly have the truck rerated to dodge CDL.

 

[Duffster]

Actually, probably not. This used to be a common dodge, but the rules have been tightened in many if not all states, and trucks must now be licensed for at least as much as their name-tag GVW.

If and how rental companies rent >26K lbs trucks, I do not know. From past experience, I know that the rental fleets have large amounts of voluminous box trucks rated at 25,999 lbs.

But getting back to the initial premise, here are the Federal regulations:
Definitions. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
which clearly define a commercial vehicle as one based on the manufacturers GVW and one working in commerce. There used to be a huge variation in chauffeur license requirements throughout the states, but the US Federal Motor Carrier Administration and the DOT, using interstate commerce as their leve, have made these much more uniform. This effort started during the Reagan administration.

We don't have to register for GVWR. I only have to reggy to cover my actual weight.