Trailer GVW is more than Tow Vehicle Ratings

[crazyal]

I pull my tri-axle trailer empty all the time with my Tundra. It's rated for 22k, just a tad above the tow rating on my Tundra :laughing:. Actually the trailer's weight alone is close to the limit of the Tundra.

 

[7mmrum]

Hey guys thanks for all the replies, looks like I'll be okay.

This will be for personal use, just hauling a horse here or their maybe a cow down the road. Primarily for farm/hobby use. The combined max weight of truck and trailer could not reach that magical 26k number VA has documented.

DiamondPilot - I do agree, making sure the trailer has all lights working and in good or better condition tends to allow you in the category of the police to let you pass on by. I rarely see any nice/good trailers pulled over. Its all the ones that look like they are death traps or visually apparent uneven loads, I see the law inspecting.

 

[sandman2234]

You can exceed the sticker rating, as long as you pay for the tag giving the state the higher tax rate. The only time you get into problems is if you go over 26,000 pounds total truck, trailer + load. That's the rule when the TRAILER and load is 10,001 pounds or more actual or tag weight.

Now, you can go up to 35,999 pounds total IF the truck is 25,999 1/2 pounds and the trailer +load is 9999 1/2 pounds. That's Federal, states may be more restrictive.

Whew! I would sure like to see that one in print!!! Any idea where I can find it?
David from jax

Class A Exam Requirements – To operate trucks or truck combinations weighing 26,001 lbs or more, and towing a vehicle/unit over 10,000 lbs, then a Class A license is needed. The following tests are required:

 

[Duffster]

Whew! I would sure like to see that one in print!!! Any idea where I can find it?

It's actually 36,000.

Question 6: A driver operates a tractor of exactly 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), towing a trailer of exactly 10,000 pounds GVWR, for a GCWR of 36,000 pounds. HM and passengers are not involved. Is it a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s and does the driver need a CDL?

Guidance: No to both questions. Although the vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 36,000 pounds, it is not a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) under any part of the definition of that term in ｧ383.5, and a CDL is not federally required.

Interpretation for 383.5: - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 

[sandman2234]

I need to read more, and type less....
David from jax

 

[davygp38]

7mmrum,
Welcome to my world. I try and make a living as a commercial driver, and every day they change the rules, or enforce ones that I have never heard of. One now retired (good riddance) officer in Ga (and there are some really good one there also) wrote me for 3 things and only one was even close to being accurate, which was one of my two hoses was touching the deck between the truck and trailer, which is illegal because it is subjected to chafing and rubbing, which over time will rub a hole in it. Shouldn't be a big deal because after all, checking those hoses for condition is part of my pretrip inspection requirements. The officer thought I had falsified my logbook because he found a receipt on the dash saying I was somewhere I wasn't according to my logbook.
All I am saying, is no matter what you do, there are way too many ways of looking at the rules, (especially when they start making up there own versions) and if start doing stuff that borders on the edge of the law, you are going to have problems with the officer that decides to pull you over. Keep everything as legal as possible, ask some of the local law enforcement officers their view on it, and maybe anywhere you are plan on pulling the trailer. Keeping everything else in line, makes it just a little easier for the officer to overlook the single infraction (if it actually is an infraction). Run the trailer on the edge, with broken lights, poor tires, dirty, in semi disrepair and your more likely to run into problems with it.
Good luck with it, David from jax. Rant over, lol!!

I have to agree with this statement. I have attempted to get all the information I need for compliance in the three states I haul my trailer in. I have searched the web looking for a complete set of regulations. I have called the DMV looking for a book, that has the regulations. I've asked truckers what they do, and what I have found, is that there is no one complete,all encompassing, codified, "Bible of rules, and regulations for trailers. You have to put it together from all kinds of different sources. When you finally get what you think is the information, It has changed. Like David said, you have to rely on interpretation of the police even if you have done everything right. Even if the ticket that is issued to you has the wrong date, place, and road on it, you still have to take time out to fight it. The very scary part for me, is I am not an anti government anti regulation nut case. I worked in Port Newark, and E-Rail for years, and some of the trucks I saw would make you cry. there is a need for reasonable safety regulations. There is also a need for a more professional pro trucking enforcement department. Not the army of Barny Fifes, that make up there own interpretations as they go.

 

[TheTrailerGuy]

No CDL required.

The following situations exempt operators of certain
vehicles from the CDL requirements.
1. Operation of a vehicle for personal use only, such as
a recreational vehicle or truck to move your personal
belongings.
2. Operation of a fire truck

Ditto.. personal use trumps most laws. Remember, it's America and you are an American, UNLESS you try to make some money while doing anything... then you are ticket fodder.

 

[ovrszd]

If you are a farmer you can pull the space shuttle on an ox cart as far as I can tell.

Now that's funny!!!! True. But funny!!! Around here farmers haul big round bales of hay with no lights or license plate on their trailer with no worries. WAYYYYY overloaded and totally illegal.

On the other hand when I load my Jeeps and head down the road every cop gives me the once over as I go by...... I even got stopped once by a cop that met me on the hiway because when he looked in his rearview mirror he didn't see my trailer plate.