commercial driver's license requirements

[crazyal]

The DMV will weigh any truck with a DOT tag or commercial lettering on the side if it's pulling a trailer. They get the guys heading to the race track with their trailers all the time. I'm not sure if they care about what the door says but if your registration is less than what you're towing you are getting a fine and depending on what mood they are in you could be leaving your trailer behind.

 

[gemstarfarm]

You quoted my comment about driving out of class, did you not? I responded to a comment about "targeting licenses" , not DOT numbers.

Yes I did quote not to argue or disagree just to help illustrate my opinion. CDL commercial drivers license (commerce)

I am thinking about commerce vs. non commerce and weight classes and ticketing.

Is a CDL required if not enterng into commerce?

Geez.

 

[Dr Dave]

Six years ago, when I was racing, in S.D. the DOT came to the track and told us if we received price money for racing, then we were in commerce. All diesels p.u. or trucks required IFTA stickers, log books and DOT numbers. And must stop a the scale 3 miles away.

If you had a semi tractor converted to a RV, pulled a double decker enclosed car trailer, you were exempt!

Many drivers went to the semi RVs to get around the bs.

Dave

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Dr Dave. I have even been told if you are doing a favor for a case of beer or win a ribbon at the county fair for your prized pig that is considered "for profit" and subject to regulation.


We have a few horses and have been stopped on more than one occasion and grilled about where we were going, what were hauling and our weights. To save the BS we got our cdl's and I'mstill not 100% sure we dont need DOT numbers although im strongly trying to avoid them.

 

[Harold_J]

Yes I did quote not to argue or disagree just to help illustrate my opinion. CDL commercial drivers license (commerce)

I am thinking about commerce vs. non commerce and weight classes and ticketing.

Is a CDL required if not enterng into commerce?

Geez.

You're both probably correct in the points you make, but the thing is throwing all this information around haphazardly is what helps cause all the confusion like sam5570 says. One guy says something about CDL then others start chiming in about DOT numbers. Then they start piling on about medical cards, logs, insuance, inspections, fuel tax, weigh stations, etc. and what one state regulates vs another. CDL and DOT registration really have nothing to do with one another other than they both relate to commercial vehicles.

DOT regs start at 10K weight, CDL generally starts at 26K. CDL is for all driving, DOT is only for insterstate commerce except in those states that require it for intraste as well. There are a lot of trucks that have DOT numbers but you don't need a CDL to drive them. The opposite is rarely true unless you are operating within one of the states that doesn't require DOT numbers. All I'm saying is that it's confusing, can vary by state, and you can't just lump all the regs together.

I'd like to see it clearly spelled out somewhere about what are the requirements and regs you have to meet when driving a vehicle needing a CDL versus what you have to do when you're just in your diesel pickup with DOT number on it.

 

[gemstarfarm]

Thanks Harold_J . It would be nice if every state followed a "National Standard" not that I would ever invite more regulation. I think it might cut down on some of the ticketing of weekend warriors. Thats kind of the people I am referring to NOT PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS. Professionals are required to know the rules and regulations weekend warriors probably should be aware of the regs. But many dont as in the case of the guys at the race tracks. My 2 cents and I am done! Haha.

 

[RickB]

All I said was it is not unheard of "here" for tickets to be issued for driving out of class. That's in NY, specifically in the Hudson Valley in case somebody missed the mapdot I use for an avatar. That really shouldn't be confusing unless somebody confuses my state for their own. I learned a long time ago not to engage in discussions about DOT regs because if the cops can't interpret them in a consistent manner even within one state, it is pointless for a bunch of people from different states to try to argue about what is and isn't correct, legal or applicable to a given situation.

 

[Case485Guy]

You're both probably correct in the points you make, but the thing is throwing all this information around haphazardly is what helps cause all the confusion like sam5570 says. One guy says something about CDL then others start chiming in about DOT numbers. Then they start piling on about medical cards, logs, insuance, inspections, fuel tax, weigh stations, etc. and what one state regulates vs another. CDL and DOT registration really have nothing to do with one another other than they both relate to commercial vehicles.

DOT regs start at 10K weight, CDL generally starts at 26K. CDL is for all driving, DOT is only for insterstate commerce except in those states that require it for intraste as well. There are a lot of trucks that have DOT numbers but you don't need a CDL to drive them. The opposite is rarely true unless you are operating within one of the states that doesn't require DOT numbers. All I'm saying is that it's confusing, can vary by state, and you can't just lump all the regs together.

I'd like to see it clearly spelled out somewhere about what are the requirements and regs you have to meet when driving a vehicle needing a CDL versus what you have to do when you're just in your diesel pickup with DOT number on it.

Its spelled out clearly in your home states requirements. The states are required to meet the FCR's required by USDOT. If you are in a diesel pickup that requires DOT#s on the door...pretty much explained I think.

 

[gemstarfarm]

Its spelled out clearly in your home states requirements. The states are required to meet the FCR's required by USDOT. If you are in a diesel pickup that requires DOT#s on the door...pretty much explained I think.

The states meet the standards of the code of federal regulations and then have some of their own standards. Thats where the interstate confusion comes from . Yes if you are driving a vehicle that falls under dot regulation you have to have a
cdl. Oops more than 2 cents.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The "FED" dangles a carrot in front of the states, ie; follow the regs for highway money. If you are legal in your home state and operating on federal highways, then the regs are more or less the same state to state.

The states are free to hold their residents to a higher standard. The states are also free to designate weight and length limits on state roads. When it comes to non commercial activity, states cannot impose on someone legal in their home state. Let's say you have a dually pulling a travel trailer registered in a state that does not require DOT numbers. You enter a state that requires DOT numbers for a dually registered over say 10k commercial or not. That state cannot hit on you for not having DOT numbers because you are not commercial.

The rules are murky but beyond doing a little online research, call your respective state's pertinent highway department. When I moved here to KY, that's what I did prior to plating my dually. I found the DOT rep to be quite knowlegable and very cordial to converse with. If your state has a farm bureau, check with them as well if your activities involve agrculture.

Though I am not currently driving for a living nor have I for the last five years, I am keeping my CDL for now though I did drop the hazmat. Keeping it does somewhat hold one to a higher standard, definately on the BAC. Anyway, I would look at my needs to see if I could work around it before I went for a CDL if only needed on a casual basis but still keep things legal.