It has been a while since I was in the police academy, but I try to keep up on DL requirements to keep myself out of trouble. Each state will have its own laws, but most have adopted the federal FMSCA requirements for CDLs or they don't get federal highway dollars. CDLs come in Class A, B, or C for those drivers operating a commercial vehicle. There are also a Class A, B, and C non-CDL license. In Texas you can use a Class A or B non-CDL if you are driving certain exempt types of vehicles classified as commercial.
The FMCSA regs only cover CDLs, state law will govern non-CDL licenses. Where people get into trouble in Texas is the definition of what a Class C license allows you to operate -
a single vehicle less than 26,001# GVWR pulling a trailer not to exceed 10,000# GVWR or 20,000# GVWR if it is a farm trailer. The below 26,000# GCVR does not come into play. Pull more than a 10,000# GVWR non-farm trailer in a non-commercial use with any pickup or SUV and you need a different class of license according to the statute. That seems to be a common statute in many states from the stories I have read. But where I live, you see lots of 2500 and 3500 pickups pulling dual 7,000# axle trailers and not get stopped. Most officers don't mess with it unless you are obviously loaded past the 26,000# GCWR limit - YMMV where you live.
I had a Class A non-CDL for driving fire apparatus. I let it go to a Class C after I retired but in hindsight I should have kept it for pulling my own trucks and trailers. Fortunately, Texas law allows for me to use my new GMC 3500HD at 14,000# GVWR to pull my Sundowner 15,900# GVWR horse trailer and my two Big Tex 15,900# GVWR trailers, all with farm tags, with my Class C license.
I watched the video about the guy without a CDL having to drop his trailer and get his buddy with a CDL to come get it after being stopped. He was over the 26,000# GCVR limit and the trailer was well over 10,000# GVWR. He tried to say he was not commercial. Officer didn't buy the non-commercial use story, his truck was registered to his company. Even if he had gotten by with the non-commercial excuse, he was pulling a 16,900# trailer with a Class C license. Either way he had to park the trailer and get somebody else with a proper license to come and get it.
These are from the Texas Driver's Handbook.
View attachment 842017
These are the exempt vehicle types:
View attachment 842004