30k is well over any F-350's GCVWR. Your "approved" by your DMV. Not the DOT, who usually enforces the Federal regulations.
My Dodge is rated for 23K total combined weight. That is the legal weight as per the manufacture. That is the weight amount that most states go by. You can have 80K plates, that dosen't mean for one second the truck was ever meant to run that heavy or that it is "legal" to do so". Meaning the police can issue a ticket if they want to.
Any owners manual has a very clear towing guide.
At 30K (26,001 actually) you are required by Federal Law to have a CDL with a few exceptions including: Farm trucks driven within 150 miles of the farm, service men in millitary service, RVs or non-commercial activity. The truck still needs to be within the weight limits of the manufacture to be "legal".
With that said, most rual police will not enforce DOT requirements on local farmers. RV's are exempt in most states for some reason. Commercial trailers are limited to 10K, after that you need a Class A CDL. In GA we have a non-commercial Class B and Class A for farmers.
There is very little enforcement for non-commercial trucks though. You probably will never have a problem if the DMV let you have 30K plates. Do you have a CDL?
For those interested in hauling over 26,001 in a non-RV or non-farm truck:
Federal Law:
Classes of License:
The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
Class C -- Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.
Commercial Driver's License Exemptions:
(1) Active duty military personnel, members of the reserves and national guard on active
duty (including personnel on full time national guard duty), personnel on part-time training, and
national guard military technicians (civilians who are required to wear military uniforms and are
subject to the code of military justice).
(2) Firefighters and operators of emergency equipment are exempt from having a
commercial driver's license provided their vehicles are equipped with audible and visual signals
and are operated by a person in the employ of a volunteer or paid firefighting organization.
Emergency equipment such as a fire truck, hook and ladder truck, foam or water transporter, or
other vehicles used only in response to emergencies are included.
(3) Farm vehicle operators are exempt from having a commercial driver's license provided:
(a) The vehicle is controlled and operated by a farmer;
(b) Used to transport either agricultural products, farm machinery, farm supplies, or both, to
or from a farm;
(c) Not used in the operations of a common or contract motor carrier; and
(d) Used within 150 miles of a person's farm.
(4) Operators of recreational vehicles are exempt from having a commercial driver's license.
(5) Drivers who are exempted from having a commercial driver's license must comply with
examinations and be licensed in the appropriate Class A, B or C non-commercial drivers
Adopted September 19, 2003 Page 2
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSING REQUIREMENTS CHAPTER 1
license. Applicants for Class A and B noncommercial must furnish an affidavit in lieu of a road
test showing a minimum of 3 months or 3,000 miles driving experience in a vehicle which
represents that class.
(6) If members of the national guard, military personnel, firefighters and other operators of
emergency equipment, farmers and operators of recreational vehicles apply for a commercial
driver's license, they will be required to pay the application, driving skills test, and license fees
unless:
(a) They hold a veteran's driver's license.
(b) Attach a DPS-516 to the commercial driver's license application.
(c) Employed as a school bus driver with a city, county, state or federal school system.
