Big Enough Truck?

[LBrown59]

Different states have different rules for licensing, even for RVs. I had a 40 foot diesel RV wit air brakes, 35K pounds GVRW. In Florida, I only had to have an E class, normal drivers license. Most states had reciprocity with Florida, but some did not - like Illinois. I was always very nervous driving through Illinois, made no unnecessary stops, stuck to the Interstates, and put the cruise control on the speed limit - 55 for RVs.

Florida did have a class D license which would allow non-commercial drivers to drive rigs over 26000 GVW, IIRC - but only for personal purposes. It is possible that North Carolina has such a class as well. A check of the state's driver licensing web site should have the classes and requirements; otherwise, there should be a printed guide that does (besides the regular dirvers licenseing guide).

The license from the state you are licensed in should be good enough.

 

[Harold_J]

The license from the state you are licensed in should be good enough.

When you say it "should be" good enough do you mean that would be the sensible and reasonable thing, and you wish it were that way?

Or do you mean that is the way reciprocity actually works, GreenWannabe shouldn't have been concerned about Illinois, and our home licenses will be good in any and all of the other 49 states?

 

[Turbys_1700]

I took a look at the NC DMV website and it appears you do NOT need a CDL to operate trailers over 10K pounds. However they do have something called a CLASS A Regular License, which you would need to tow such a trailer. It's kind of confusing, but here is the link. I don't live in NC but might want to drive thru with a 16K trailer behind a pickup. GreenWannabe, how did you find about about the different states reciprocities?

NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: Driver Handbook: Chapter 1

This is from the NCDOT web site. Notice the second part of the sentence. And I quote: " provided the GVWR...OR... vehicles beign towed is in excess of 10,000#."

License Eligibility / Requirements

There are three classes of vehicles that require a North Carolina Commercial Driver License (CDL):
Commercial Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: License Eligibility / Requirements

NC classifies a Commercial Class A as a CDL. Yes, it is confusing. The CDL Class A license still requries you to pass the CDL written test and driving test. You do not need haz mat certification if you are not dealing with that type of material. I'm not sure what type of testing is required for the B & C license.

I've known several individuals that have gotten ticketed for towing 10,000# trailer withiout the appropriate CDL (Class A).

 

[LBrown59]

When you say it "should be" good enough do you mean that would be the sensible and reasonable thing, and you wish it were that way?

Or do you mean that is the way reciprocity actually works, GreenWannabe shouldn't have been concerned about Illinois, and our home licenses will be good in any and all of the other 49 states?

Right

 

[GreenWannabe]

Au contrare, LB, Illinois does not have reciprocity with Florida on the size vehicle I drove. That's what made me nervous about it. Unfortunately, I was in Iowa ready to go back south when I found that out.

 

[LBrown59]

Au contrare, LB, Illinois does not have reciprocity with Florida on the size vehicle I drove. That's what made me nervous about it. Unfortunately, I was in Iowa ready to go back south when I found that out.

I just don't feel it's rite for one state to impose their laws on out of state residents.

 

[Harold_J]

This is from the NCDOT web site. Notice the second part of the sentence. And I quote: " provided the GVWR...OR... vehicles beign towed is in excess of 10,000#."

License Eligibility / Requirements

There are three classes of vehicles that require a North Carolina Commercial Driver License (CDL):
Commercial Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: License Eligibility / Requirements

NC classifies a Commercial Class A as a CDL. Yes, it is confusing. The CDL Class A license still requries you to pass the CDL written test and driving test. You do not need haz mat certification if you are not dealing with that type of material. I'm not sure what type of testing is required for the B & C license.

I've known several individuals that have gotten ticketed for towing 10,000# trailer withiout the appropriate CDL (Class A).

I would suspect the individuals you've known to be ticketed were driving with a Regular Class C license, which apparently NC does not allow when the trailer is over 10K. I think you are mis-interpreting the "OR" clause you cited. I take it to mean "vehicle or vehicles", ie. one or more vehicles in tow.

Read the part about the "Regular" (non-CDL) licenses they also offer. They offer a "Regular" Class A (non-CDL)that would allow you to tow the heavier trailer and would probably not require the drug testing, physical exams, etc, that are imposed with a CDL; probably cheaper too. I looked it up. A Regular Class A is $4/yr a CDL is $15/yr + an application fee.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just don't feel it's rite for one state to impose their laws on out of state residents.

Thats the craziest thing I have ever hear. If that were the case I could drive my speed limit in your state, carry a gun around with my concealed weapons permit, ect, ect. There would be no end to it. Guys from Nevada would be coming to your home town and setting up brothels and use the excuse that it is legal where they live. Next you would have the Taliban moving in saying all the things they are doing is legal in their land.

You must obey the laws of another land when you are there.

Chris

 

[wkpoor]

Thats the craziest thing I have ever hear. If that were the case I could drive my speed limit in your state, carry a gun around with my concealed weapons permit, ect, ect. There would be no end to it. Guys from Nevada would be coming to your home town and setting up brothels and use the excuse that it is legal where they live. Next you would have the Taliban moving in saying all the things they are doing is legal in their land.

You must obey the laws of another land when you are there.

Actually the HP told me they don't impose Ohio rules on out of state vehicles. Example being tinted windows. Its legal to have a darker tint in Arizona than Ohio and if an AZ car comes into the state they are legal. Register the car in Ohio and you would have to un tint the windows. They said they can't make an owner change a vehicle just because they cross the state line...but you better do the speed limit.So Chris no its not right. Don't confuse federal laws with state traffic laws either.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Actually the HP told me they don't impose Ohio rules on out of state vehicles. Example being tinted windows. Its legal to have a darker tint in Arizona than Ohio and if an AZ car comes into the state they are legal. Register the car in Ohio and you would have to un tint the windows. They said they can't make an owner change a vehicle just because they cross the state line...but you better do the speed limit.So Chris no its not right. Don't confuse federal laws with state traffic laws either.

I think its more of a issue of them picking the battle. They could ticket you for the tint but they chose not to unless you are being a _________ then they will find all the laws you are breaking and hand you a stack of tickets.

That goes with what I have been saying all along. Just be careful, don't be to obvious, and keep a low profile and you will have much less chance of having problem. You go flying through, no lights, no tie downs, junk truck or trailer, you are going to end up stopped and paying.

Chris

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Thats the craziest thing I have ever hear. If that were the case I could drive my speed limit in your state, carry a gun around with my concealed weapons permit, ect, ect. There would be no end to it. Guys from Nevada would be coming to your home town and setting up brothels and use the excuse that it is legal where they live. Next you would have the Taliban moving in saying all the things they are doing is legal in their land.

You must obey the laws of another land when you are there.

Chris

I can already see the big sign!


cathouse: party!


ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED! NO REFUNDS.

 

[Ken45101]

While I respect the right of each state to make it's own laws, there is the Interstate Commerce Clause which allows free movement across state lines.

I understand N.C. has it's special classes of licenses. However, I don't think they will issue one for a non resident, especially without the non resident coming into the state and surrendering their home state license. And darn if I'm going to give up my Ohio license so that I can drive through N.C. Oh, what happens when I get to the S.C. line and don't have their license?

Can I (as an Ohio resident) get the special N.C. license without driving down there first without my horse trailer?

Somehow I bet N.C. does not want to turn down the revenue from out of state visitors.

Ken

 

[LBrown59]

Actually the HP told me they don't impose Ohio rules on out of state vehicles. Example being tinted windows. Its legal to have a darker tint in Arizona than Ohio and if an AZ car comes into the state they are legal. Register the car in Ohio and you would have to un tint the windows. They said they can't make an owner change a vehicle just because they cross the state line...but you better do the speed limit.So Chris no its not right. Don't confuse federal laws with state traffic laws either.

Of course it's not right.
Neither should one have to change drivers license simply because of crossing a state line.
I can see it now ; to be able to drive in all 50 states one would have to have 50 different drivers license.
Wouldn't that go over like a pregnant pole vaulter?
Can't you just imagine what a smooth operation that would be?

 

[LBrown59]

Thats the craziest thing I have ever heard. If that were the case I could drive my speed limit in your state, carry a gun around with my concealed weapons permit, ect, ect. There would be no end to it. Guys from Nevada would be coming to your home town and setting up brothels and use the excuse that it is legal where they live. Next you would have the Taliban moving in saying all the things they are doing is legal in their land.

You must obey the laws of another land when you are there.

Chris

Nothing crazy at all about a state honering the drivers license of another state.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I never said a thing about the license. I said you must obey the laws and traffic rules. If you do not you risk getting a ticket.

Chris

 

[Turbys_1700]

Guys,

I just copied and pasted a response I gave on another thread about this issue...

Here it is...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just got off the phone with officer Fullbirght of the DMV office located in Newton, NC.

The law in NC changed as of Dec 2008.

If your total weight is under the 26,000# threshold total your trailer can now be greater than 10,000# and not require the class A license. The licesnse requirement for that is now a class C. The only stipulation is that it must befor personal use. I guess that they are trying to help out the personal use guy that is not business.

He can be reached @ 828-466-5516 for those who wish to verify.

 

[FlaDon]

Actually the HP told me they don't impose Ohio rules on out of state vehicles. Example being tinted windows. Its legal to have a darker tint in Arizona than Ohio and if an AZ car comes into the state they are legal. Register the car in Ohio and you would have to un tint the windows. They said they can't make an owner change a vehicle just because they cross the state line...but you better do the speed limit.So Chris no its not right. Don't confuse federal laws with state traffic laws either.

Better do the speed limit is right. I got pulled by the local county mountie in Ohio for doing 60 in a 65 zone on I-77. Florida tags, under the speed limit, dually = drug dealer in their eyes in that area.

And LBrown59, it was a Washington County cop. He wasn't happy when he found out we were going home from being in Caldwell and home is Reno, Marietta, or Whipple where the road is named after my parents/grandparents.

And yes, I do get my truck and trailer weighed before each trip north. Coming south I'm normally empty. I also have a CDL Class B which would keep me legal if it was for commercial purposes. License requirement for getting a Class B CDL is the same as a Class A except for the weight. A Class B is for over 26K but limited to under 10K GVWR trailer. You have to test with a vehicle that meets the Class requirements. Air Brake test if you need them and Hazmat if you plan on moving required placcarded loads. The Hazmat part has become the real pain in the butt and wallet part. Dropped mine on the last renewal which also means not having to go in for renewal every 6 years for a 30 question test.

 

[Duffster]

I have been told by the freindly trooper at the local weight station that GCWR isn't a legal number

He said if it was it would be on the door sticker with the GVWR and the GAWR

Made sense to me

 

[Harold_J]

...A Class B is for over 26K but limited to under 10K GVWR trailer. You have to test with a vehicle that meets the Class requirements...

But no trailer for the Class B testing, right?

If you wanted to pull a trailer over 10K with a straight truck that is over 26K then you would need a Class A like you say. Does anyone know if you can take the Class A test with such a vehicle (heavy straight truck pulling heavy trailer)? Would this then also allow you to drive a semi trailer?

 

[Duffster]

But no trailer for the Class B testing, right?

Correct

If you wanted to pull a trailer over 10K with a straight truck that is over 26K then you would need a Class A like you say. Does anyone know if you can take the Class A test with such a vehicle (heavy straight truck pulling heavy trailer)? Would this then also allow you to drive a semi trailer?

You can take the Class A CDL test in any combo vehicle that requires a Class A

Several people I know took there test with pickups pulling 20k trailers

Some then took there air brakes test with a straight (class B) truck

After that they could drive a semi