General CDL questions for those that have 'em

[RickB]

That is so true. I was working at a machine shop and let my cdl get away when they went to them back on day one. I had to go take the test due to a ticket I got (and paid one day too late) My license was suspended for less than 24 hours but it cost me my grandfather'd in clause. When the shop downsized I went to get my cdl and it took me almost a week to get everything figured out and scheduled before I could start applying for CDL jobs, a week that I could have been making money. It would have been worse if I didn't already have more than the five years experience the school required in order for them to allow me to bypass the classes and just take the road test in their truck (which cost me $250 to use their truck and pay for the test). That was more expensive than taking it with the state but I didn't have to provide a vehicle (which I could have) but it put the "condition of the truck" out of the equation since it was their truck.
"Having a CDL" in your pocket is turning out to be a different than most people think since they are making it a problem to get a job without a minimum amount of recent experience. I had been out of a truck for almost two years when I went to get back into one and had quite a bit of trouble. The general rule is currently one year experience within the last two years for "most" trucking companies to hire you, otherwise your headed back to truckdriving school for a "refresher course". I am reasonably sure this is being mandated by the insurance companies. Class B might be easier, don't know.
David from jax
David from jax

I'm certain the recent experience could be an issue. But it's not likely that I would work for a large trucking outfit (esp. with a CDL B, not an A) that would have rigid standards. I'd still rather have a CDL than not.

 

[Duffster]

I'm trying to understand all this about the logs, medical cards, hour restrictions. Do I have it correct that these requirements only come into play when you have a CDL? If I'm pulling a 14K trailer with a 10K pickup that has DOT numbers on it in interstate farm use and I have a regular non-CDL drivers license then none of the above requirements apply; do I have that right?

No.

All three of those come into play at 10k lbs when in interstate commerce.

 

[Duffster]

wow you hit a lot of grey area on that one.

some would say because its commercial use it has to have a CDL. Other would say its Farm use and has an exemption, but others point to rules in the exemption that say you must be within X miles of your "farm". Others say intERstate traffic with commercial load = CDL. Others say less than 26K lbs you dont need CDL.

Some would say DOT numbers = CDL others would say if your use the same DOT labeled truck to pull a 20K 5th wheel RV (on the weekend), you dont need a CDL (exemption for RV, BUT may need class B non-CDL due to GCWR over 26K)

Rules vary from state to state.

They may vary but nothing you just said is true.

 

[oandhsales]

You would have to supply more imfo to get a correct answer to your question. A trailer over 10,000 requires a cdl. When you are going down RT 81 in Roanoke Va. you will come to the scales. The sign will say vehicles over 5 ton must stop and weigh. This is because the FHWA states any vehicle over 5 tons is classified a cmv or a vehicle carring more thn 15 passangers or pulling a trailer with a weight rating of more than 10000 lbs.

 

[Duffster]

A trailer over 10,000 requires a cdl.

Only when the CGVWR is over 26k.

This is because the FHWA states any vehicle over 5 tons is classified a cmv or a vehicle carring more thn 15 passangers or pulling a trailer with a weight rating of more than 10000 lbs.

I think you are confusing different definitions of CMV not that it matters when it comes to weigh stations. Here trucks over 8k have to weigh.

 

[newbury]

A trailer over 10,000 requires a cdl.

In Virginia:

CLASS A
Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

and

What is a Commercial Motor Vehicle?
A commercial motor vehicle can be defined as:
A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
A combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds
A vehicle that carries 16 or more passengers, including the driver
Any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials and that requires federal placarding

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

I read that as in order to require a CDL BOTH a tow vehicle AND a towed vehicle have to have a GCWR > 26K AND the trailer GVWR is > 10K.

So my truck (GVWR 11,500) plus my trailer (GVWR 12,500) only add up to a GCWR of 24K, well less than 26K.

And with the regular exceptions for personal, non commercial hauling under the 26K GCWR.

 

[oandhsales]

I guess in my old age I am getting forgetful. After 30 years in trucking I quit 5 years ago. This is the title 49 cfr code.

ｧ 383.5Definitions
Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle
(1) 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;
or(2) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater; or
(3) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or (4) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in this section.

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total weight of the towed unit and any load thereon.
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle

 

[oandhsales]

Both your's and my statement have the less then >10000 lbs trailer. You could have a pickup with a 16000 lbs weight rating and a 9999 lbs trailer and be ok but when your trailer <10000 lbs you need a cld. > less than sign---
< greater than sign

 

[rsewill]

I suspect I am like many CDL holders in that we know a good amount about what the rules are for what we haul but little about hauling something quite different. Check:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

We were required to carry the FMCSA handbook. It was a bound book 4" x 3" x 1" in small print stuffed in the bottom of our permit book pouch. That way you have no excuse to not know the rules. These rules apply to all CDL drivers (except for the exceptions...)

Vehicle rules vary from state to state. Check out:

http://www.cdltruckleasing.com/downloads.php

 

[newbury]

Both your's and my statement have the less then >10000 lbs trailer. You could have a pickup with a 16000 lbs weight rating and a 9999 lbs trailer and be ok but when your trailer <10000 lbs you need a cld. > less than sign---
< greater than sign

Are you indicating ">" is the "less than sign"?

If the values in question are elements of an ordered set, such as the integers or the real numbers, they can be compared in size.

The notation a < b means that a is less than b.
The notation a > b means that a is greater than b.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inequality_(mathematics)

Perhaps it was to late.