Who has their Class A CDL?

FredH · Jan 2, 2016

Oregon has been the same on renewing Any license for several years now . Not Original Birth Certificate but a " Certified " birth certificate . WTF is That ? State issued piece of flippin' paper that has your birth info on it . Looks almost like a Form Letter with fill in the blank area's . Can't remember what is cost , $8 , $10 or $12 , then wait 2 to 3 weeks , then back to DMV . My wife had been married before and also had to get a copy of her First marriage license from over 30 years ago . That was a Real Cluster F*** !!!

Fred H.

Tomtint · Jan 2, 2016

So with a CDL, is the restriction 26k GVW a restriction for a single vehicle or a combo truck / trailer ? In other words, if you are driving a 17K GVW ( under CDL ) then towing a 12k GVW trailer, .. Your at 29k combined.

dieselcrawler · Jan 2, 2016

My understanding is the combined weight rating is what they will go by if unloaded, if loaded, total weight better be less than your combined weight rating, and load spread out so no one axle is overloaded.

Example: hotshot truck at work is licensed for 30k. GVW of just the truck going by the door jamb sticker is 18k. Gooseneck trailer (dual tandem, 30', with hydraulic dove ramp) is rated for 20k, but trailer license in our state does not quote weight. That truck and trailer combo requires CDL to drive, even when empty, and loaded should not exceed 30k , and when loaded, no more than 18k of that can be on the truck's axles. I forget what the trailer data plate says it's weight total and per axle is...

Being able to fill in for our hotshot driver is my main reason for getting my CDL, but I'm not going to limit myself to that combo, going all out and getting legal for air brakes, tankers, and Haz-mat.

Mitkof · Jan 2, 2016

I dropped my HazMat because it is a pain to maintain. It was 2yr renewal, without it I have 6yr renewal.

terryknight · Jan 2, 2016

Want to correct a few things here for Federal standards.

Copperhead said:
Right. The Federal regulations regarding CDL, which must be applied to all state licensing agencies, is that if the towed vehicle or trailer has a RATED rating of 10,001 lb or moreAND the combination is more than 26001 lbs, then that requires a Class A. Doesn't matter what the actual weight at the time is. If the towed vehicle or trailer has a rated weight of 10,000 or less,AND the combination is more than 26001 lbs OR the single vehicle is over 26001 GVWR by itself even if the total gross of the power unit and the trailer exceed 26,001 lb, then a Class B is the one. If towed vehicle or trailer has a gross rating of less then 10K, and the combination is less than 26K, then a Class C is the required CDL. WRONG Class C is for vehicles that meets neither A or B groups AND is designed to haul 16 or more passengers (including driver) OR used to transport hazmat This all does not necessarily apply to private users pulling their own stuff, like a 1 ton dually pulling a 13K RV trailer on vacation. But if it is for commercial use, even private commercial use, then this all applies.

Sound clear as mud? It is to a lot of folks.

All of the CDL info can be found at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

for groups of vehicles mentioned above is https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/383.91

bdog · Jan 3, 2016

Tomtint said:
So with a CDL, is the restriction 26k GVW a restriction for a single vehicle or a combo truck / trailer ? In other words, if you are driving a 17K GVW ( under CDL ) then towing a 12k GVW trailer, .. Your at 29k combined.

Not sure what you are asking. If a single vehicle is over 26k you need a CDL(farm/Rv/military etc exemptions aside). If a combo is over 26k and the trailer is over 10k you need a CDL. You can drive a 25k truck with a 9k trailer with a ordinary license.

On the CDLs a class A means you can drive a single vehicle over 26k or a combo over 26k with a trailer over 10k. A class B allows you to drive a single vehicle over 26k like a dump truck but you can't pull a trailer over 10k unless the combo is under 26k.

Copperhead · Jan 3, 2016

^^^^ that is right. Ok, we will get right to the crux of it. this is direct from the FMCSA website so there shouldn't be any confusion (but probably someone will have a brain cramp) on what is required and what class.

Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)

Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A: Any combination of vehicles which 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.

Class B: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

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 transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.

- See more at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers#sthash.HYybeQUy.dpuf

Tomtint · Jan 3, 2016

....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

bdog · Jan 4, 2016

Tomtint said:
....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

If the trailer is 9995 you can pull it with no special license. Even if it is exactly 10k I think you are ok but if it is 10,001 or more then you will need a Class A CDL, DOT number, log books, med card, drug testing, commercial insurance, IFTA/IRP if crossing state lines, commercial inspections on truck and trailer, etc.

wcampbell47 · Jan 4, 2016

Tomtint said:
....OK here is what I have.. I just traded my F350 DRW dump. (15k GVW) .for a F450 16500 GVW, quite often I pull a 10K GVW equipment trailer. This puts me at 26500. I actually think the trailer may be 9995.

I concur with bdog from what I have read. My F350 is a 1 ton and the ladies at the county registration office "registered" it to carry 2,000 lbs. However, the door post indicates I can carry something like 3,400 lbs. I am not sure how this would play out if I were stopped and ticketed. Would the troopers cite the 2,000 lbs the truck is registered for or the 3,400 lbs on the door sticker.

Does your "registration" match the door post gvw or is it registered for a "ton and a half" carrying capacity?

joefromga · Jan 4, 2016

bdog said:
Not sure what you are asking. If a single vehicle is over 26k you need a CDL(farm/Rv/military etc exemptions aside). If a combo is over 26k and the trailer is over 10k you need a CDL. You can drive a 25k truck with a 9k trailer with a ordinary license.

On the CDLs a class A means you can drive a single vehicle over 26k or a combo over 26k with a trailer over 10k. A class B allows you to drive a single vehicle over 26k like a dump truck but you can't pull a trailer over 10k unless the combo is under 26k.

As bdog said.

Why is this so hard to understand?

In my state (not sure of others) there is a farm exemption. You can easily get a 26k+ license by self certifying but it's for farm use only and within 150 miles and absolutely non commercial, no for hire. This is a class F. If you want to pull a trailer with a 26k+ truck (like a dump truck) you can with the F designation but if it's over 10k gvwr you need an E class license that you can also self certify to get.

I like self certification. We are adults. We can determine what we can and cannot do without govt permission. Self certification makes that possible with a simple form but they ask that you have 3 months or 3000 miles experience in the vehicle type. I'm supposing that you can get an F or E permit then drive with a higher certification driver for those 3 months. Or you can fib or you can use it farm only non road and do it that way.

TL: DR- If you wanna drive a vehicle over 26k you need something special. If you want to pull a trailer over 10k gvwr you need something special and your smile ain't gonna cut it.

aczlan · Jan 4, 2016

joefromga said:
TL: DR- If you wanna drive a vehicle over 26k you need something special. If you want to pull a trailer over 10k gvwr you need something special and your smile ain't gonna cut it.

IF the truck has a GVWR below 16k (ie: a 12k GVWR truck) you can haul a larger trailer (a 12k GVW truck can tow a 14k trailer).

Aaron Z

joefromga · Jan 4, 2016

aczlan said:
IF the truck has a GVWR below 16k (ie: a 12k GVWR truck) you can haul a larger trailer (a 12k GVW truck can tow a 14k trailer).

Aaron Z

Exactly.

bdog · Jan 7, 2016

Just for clarity some states(very few) have stricter requirements. California I believe requires some kind of special license for a trailer over 10k even if you are pulling it with a ford ranger. This is just a state law and not federal. I am not really up on California's laws I can't even take my truck there because it is a pre Dpf truck and it is an evil polluter. Somehow it hurts the ozone if I drive it in California but it is ok to drive here.

bdog · Jan 7, 2016

Here is the California regs. What a train wreck.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/dl648/dl648pt2

joefromga · Jan 7, 2016

It's amazing how "safety" becomes a huge issue to the govt as soon as you start to make a penny off of anything you do.

Btown · Jan 7, 2016

joefromga said:
If you wanna drive a vehicle over 26k you need something special. If you want to pull a trailer over 10k gvwr you need something special and your smile ain't gonna cut it.

In Massachusetts. You can tow a trailer over 10k with a class D license. You can tow a 20k trailer too. You can do this for personal use only. One can easily go over 26K combined weight and be fine, if it's for personal use. If it is for commercial use you will need a CDL. I regularly tow my gooseneck trailer rated at 16k ( never loaded that high) with my truck gvw of 8800 lbs. Class D license is all I need

aczlan · Jan 7, 2016

Btown said:
In Massachusetts. You can tow a trailer over 10k with a class D license. You can tow a 20k trailer too. You can do this for personal use only. One can easily go over 26K combined weight and be fine, if it's for personal use. If it is for commercial use you will need a CDL. I regularly tow my gooseneck trailer rated at 16k ( never loaded that high) with my truck gvw of 8800 lbs. Class D license is all I need

Not so. From the Mass website:

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. (Holders of a Class A license may, with any appropriate endorsements, operate all vehicles within Classes B, C, and D).

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. (Holders of a Class B license may, with any appropriate endorsements, operate all vehicles within Classes B, C, and D).

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. (Holders of a Class C license may, with any appropriate endorsements, operate all vehicles within Classes C and D).

Class D- Any single passenger vehicle or combination, except a semi-trailer unit, truck-trailer combination, tractor, or truck with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 26,000 lbs., bus or school bus.

So, you are legal because you are under 26K GVWR for the truck and trailer combination. If your combination GVWR is over 26k, you are NOT legal.

Aaron Z

joefromga · Jan 8, 2016

I wonder who came up with the 26,000 limit.

Copperhead · Jan 8, 2016

FMCSA, NHTSA, and Congress. Now based on what, I have no clue. But FMCSA is the one who sets the standards on CDL licensing, and that has to be uniform and adopted by all states to maintain reciprocity between state agencies for commercial drivers. That is why I posted the FMCSA CDL guidelines. They are a the de facto rule. Now, a state may play games within its own boundaries on what can be done, but for a CDL, which is a federal controlled license, they have to comply with FMCSA CDL guidelines.