Virginia DMV rules and How do you verify GVWR?

[thatguy]

Stoneyfork - What was your decision? IF you can live within the Farm Use restrictions that is the easiest way to go.. BUT depending on that attitude of the LEO that may stop you, they may harass you if they think you are not eligible for this tag..

I dont think you will have as much trouble with a 'farm use' trailer as you would a farm use motor vehicle.. But that is depending on how often you will use the trailer and how far you are going.. Its funny, but i dont thing the Code of VA defines what a farm is..

good luck

Brian

 

[stoneyfork]

I have tags on my trailers so that I have the flexibility to haul what I want, where I want without having to worry about LE implications. Here in SW VA Farm Use vehicles are very common and LEOs don't take much notice, but I would imagine in more urban areas they may look a bit closer. I have Farm Use on my 2ton Dodge truck which is only used for farm activities.

Not sure if they define what a farm is but DMV does state that in order to get actual Farm Vehicle license plates(these are actual tags so they don't have the mileage restrictions of Farm Use, but still may only be used for Ag purposes) the following must apply:"Farm vehicle license plates issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles may be used on a vehicle used for farming purposes by anyone who owns, rents, or operates a farm of a size that reasonably requires the use of such a vehicle to transport agricultural products."

Also "You will be asked to provide: location and acreage of the farm or farms;
type of commodity farmed and the approximate amounts produced annually;
a signed statement that the vehicle will be used only for authorized purposes."

 

[Working]

What nice dea

 

[newbury]

What nice dea

Another zombie thread resurrected by a newbie!!

However, for those reading it seems things have changed. In several states now registering a trailer for OVER 10,000 lbs may AUTOMATICALLY put it in the CDL category. And LEO's are looking for them.

So in the future think carefully if you really need it registered for more.

 

[Duffster]

Another zombie thread resurrected by a newbie!!

However, for those reading it seems things have changed. In several states now registering a trailer for OVER 10,000 lbs may AUTOMATICALLY put it in the CDL category. And LEO's are looking for them.

So in the future think carefully if you really need it registered for more.

Really? Where would those be?

CA is the only state that I am aware of the requires a CDL for trailer over 10k alone but this is based on GVWR not registered weight.

 

[timster2]

Here are the federal requirements:

Commercial Drivers License--Commercial Motor Vehicle Traffic Enforcement--DOT HS 809 422, July 2002

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986 (The Act) was designed to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers of heavy trucks and buses from the nation痴 highways. The Act required the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue regulations establishing guidelines and standards for the testing and licensing of CMV drivers. These guidelines and standards were established in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Chapter 49, Part 383. All states adopted these licensing guidelines and standards in April 1992. The commercial driver痴 license requirements are applicable to drivers transporting persons or property in both interstate or intrastate commerce. The commercial driver痴 license has three classes covering the following vehicle classification groups:

Class A -- Required for a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Required for a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 lbs. GVWR.

Class C -- Any vehicle, regardless of weight rating, transporting hazardous material in any amount requiring the display of placards by 49 CFR, part 172, subpart F, or designed to transport 16 passengers or more, including the driver.

Individual states may, at their discretion, issue restricted, specific use CDLs to allow operation of specific vehicles, or exempt specific occupational fields, such as farmers and emergency response vehicles, from the CDL requirements. Refer to your State code for State-specific requirements.

 

[tlbuser]

Really? Where would those be?

CA is the only state that I am aware of the requires a CDL for trailer over 10k alone but this is based on GVWR not registered weight.

Technically Md. does also. The kicker here being, look at the license chart and see if you find it a tad ironic.
Driver's License Class Codes

 

[Duffster]

Technically Md. does also. The kicker here being, look at the license chart and see if you find it a tad ironic.
Driver's License Class Codes

Technically MD doesn't.

You can pull any non commercial trailer, if under 26k combined, with a NonCDL class C.

That chart contradicts itself somewhat. You should refer to the CDL manual and written law.

 

[frischtr]

Technically MD doesn't.

You can pull any non commercial trailer, if under 26k combined, with a NonCDL class C.

That chart contradicts itself somewhat. You should refer to the CDL manual and written law.

Correct, that top chart should have a CDL heading, it doesn't. The 3rd chart is the one that most people in MD would be concerned with, as most don't drive commercially...

 

[tlbuser]

Technically MD doesn't.

You can pull any non commercial trailer, if under 26k combined, with a NonCDL class C.

That chart contradicts itself somewhat. You should refer to the CDL manual and written law.

This is from the COMAR, why I pointed to it being a tad ironic. For any commercial license, only a class A is good for any trailer over 10K. A non-commercial license holder can tow any non-commercial trailer. Md. goes on to define a non-commercial trailer as being 10K or less.