How can this be? Common sense hauling... Fed approved??? DOT Exemption!

[Jcoon]

My F350 and my Chevy 1500 do not require a CDL. However, if I hook a trailer to either one of them that has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pound (rated, not weighs) then I am required to have a CDL. My F350 is rated to haul GCVWR of 20,000 but only 11,200 on the truck. It hauls it very well. If I wanted to haul more, I just pay more for the tag on the truck and most likely will get by with it, right up to when the right DOT officer stops me. At that point, they will check the rating on the sticker in the door, or check the VIN rating and nail me for anything over 20,000 pounds. (or 11,200 on the truck).
I teach people to get their CDL, and have seen all types of drivers. Some I don't want to be in the same state with!
David from jax

It actually can go by actual weight too.

And it’s CDL class A for anything over 26,001 in combination.unless the trailer is under 10,000. Then it might be a class B if truck is over 26,001.

 

[Wolfy]

Actually you can tow a trailer bigger than 10,000 lbs with a class D license, if the trailer and truck together are under 26,000 lbs. So a 10,000 lb truck can tow a 16,000 lb trailer. for example. Not many people know this.

 

[Jcoon]

I didn’t say you couldn’t.. and a 6,000lb truck can tow a 20,000lb trailer as far as licensing goes.

But you can’t tow a 10,002 lb trailer with a 26,002 lb truck with a class B.

There are many ifs ands or buts, and exemptions and exceptions to the laws and rules.

 

[bdog]

Actually you can tow a trailer bigger than 10,000 lbs with a class D license, if the trailer and truck together are under 26,000 lbs. So a 10,000 lb truck can tow a 16,000 lb trailer. for example. Not many people know this.

Federally and in most states yes but a few states do require a different class for trailer over 10k even if combo under 26k. What a lot of people don’t know is you can drive a 36k gross rig with a regular license in most states and federally. If the truck is 26k (not over) and the trailer is 10k (not over) you do not meet the definition for class A or B.

 

[bdog]

Trust me guys, we all (commercial motor vehicle inspectors) don’t agree with every regulation and exemption/exception.

I feel every farmer should have to do the same as every truck driver.

I feel grandpa should have to have the same license and qualifications as a truck driver.

But it’s the government and not everything I enforce makes sense!

Oh and believe me, I see a LOT of drivers every week with CDL’s that I ask them what fool gave them their license!

I agree. Why do you think this is the case? Politicians who have RVs themselves and farming buddies? It seems no one cares about burdening motor carriers with the HOS laws the way they are, the ELD mandate, etc. but they sure make it a point to not inconvenience farmers or RV people.

Another thing that makes no sense to me is the 10k CMV threshold for interstate commerce. Why? A single rear wheel F-350 has a GVWR of 11k. If you drive one completely empty across state lines for work you need essentially everything a semi does except a CDL & IFTA / IRP.

Logs, UCR, DOT number, med card, commercial inspection all required. Now you take a F-250 which has a GVWR of 10k and is a virtually identical truck except for maybe one less leaf spring and you need nothing.

 

[Jcoon]

Federally and in most states yes but a few states do require a different class for trailer over 10k even if combo under 26k. What a lot of people don’t know is you can drive a 36k gross rig with a regular license in most states and federally. If the truck is 26k (not over) and the trailer is 10k (not over) you do not meet the definition for class A or B.

This is wrong according to the federal regs, 49CFR. We go by rated or actual weight. If you weigh over 26,001lbs you need a class B, if the trailer weighs over 10.001lbs you will also need a class A.

There is NOTHING about a 36,000 gross weight.

 

[ultrarunner]

A lot of Super Duty F250 and F350 are sold with the de-rate option here... comes in just under 10k as in 9980 for the Super we bought in 2016

Same for trailers... my PJ is a 12k rated under 10k

 

[Jcoon]

I agree. Why do you think this is the case? Politicians who have RVs themselves and farming buddies? It seems no one cares about burdening motor carriers with the HOS laws the way they are, the ELD mandate, etc. but they sure make it a point to not inconvenience farmers or RV people.

Another thing that makes no sense to me is the 10k CMV threshold for interstate commerce. Why? A single rear wheel F-350 has a GVWR of 11k. If you drive one completely empty across state lines for work you need essentially everything a semi does except a CDL & IFTA / IRP.

Logs, UCR, DOT number, med card, commercial inspection all required. Now you take a F-250 which has a GVWR of 10k and is a virtually identical truck except for maybe one less leaf spring and you need nothing.

I know.. as far as the weight threshold, all I can say is, it had to be some magical number and 10,000 is what they picked.

We are hammering everyone up here in the northeast for HOS, especially the new ELD mandate, it is the biggest pain in the butt though!!

Someone had to lobby for something with the RVers and farmers, trust us, if we could enforce the regs to them we would, it is by far not our choice to let them go.

 

[Oaktree]

I see people with a CDL that cant drive or backup I watched a guy try to back in to a loading for 20 minutes when he got out of the truck we was wearing flip flops and shorts what a joke .

Reminds me of the joke about what you call the person who graduated last in his class at medical school. "Doctor"

There is no practical way to ensure 100% competence in any field, but having the piece of paper shows that at least he showed proficiency at least once. I'm not sure what his attire has to do with anything.

 

[Jcoon]

Lol idk about his attire either making a different, most of the truck drivers I inspect dress very casual! No shoes, pants unbuckled and and undone! It’s their home away from home.