Truck & Trailer ideas to tow 14,000 and be under 26,000 pounds

[RandyT]

But first and foremost......the C in CDL is for COMMERCIAL. IF you are NOT commercial, then it doesnt apply right off the bat.
Now whether your state has different classes of non-commercial licenses.....that varies for each state.

True

You could not be more wrong. Unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions, if you are over 26K you must have a CDL.
No need to be making a profit or doing it for business, or if just because you think it is fun, if you are doing it over 26K, unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions a CDL is required. Do what you want but don't convince others to hang themsleves out for a ticket that can exceed $5K. Not saying that it is fair or that it makes sense or anything else, just what can happen.

Some states offer Class A or B non CDL, but that could be an exception.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

You could not be more wrong. Unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions, if you are over 26K you must have a CDL.
No need to be making a profit or doing it for business, or if just because you think it is fun, if you are doing it over 26K, unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions a CDL is required. Do what you want but don't convince others to hang themsleves out for a ticket that can exceed $5K. Not saying that it is fair or that it makes sense or anything else, just what can happen.

Are you sure you could not be more wrong. Key word is “commerce”.

FMCSA

“As previously explained in FMCSA’s regulatory guidance for § 383.3, question 6, drivers of vehicles used strictly for non-business purposes do not need a CDL unless the state of licensure requires it.”

 

[LD1]

You could not be more wrong. Unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions, if you are over 26K you must have a CDL.
No need to be making a profit or doing it for business, or if just because you think it is fun, if you are doing it over 26K, unless you fit one of the category exceptions/exemptions a CDL is required. Do what you want but don't convince others to hang themsleves out for a ticket that can exceed $5K. Not saying that it is fair or that it makes sense or anything else, just what can happen

Nope. You are definitely wrong on this one.
Now whether a nanny state chooses to enforce the commercial regulations on non-commercial drivers is totally up to them and within their rights.

Please have a read Hours of Service: Frequently Asked Questions- Non-Business Transportation of Personal Property –ELD, CDL | FMCSA

But this just further proves the point of how complicated CDL laws are and who should be licensed and who shouldnt.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Bottom line is we need more nationwide pressure on legislatures to start amending dot laws. One thing that makes it the hardest is the teamsters are the biggest lobbyist out there and they depend on restrictions under the guise of safety.

its just a mess, and they scream its all for safety. Its not, its for power and money. Take a moment, send an email to you know where, and explain your position. Just like the points LD1 made, the laws are dated, equipment is safer with more capacity at higher weights which was an a virus factor in deterring legal limits in 1992.

 

[Hay Dude]

In 31 pages of posts we all have learned a lot… that is where I started, now I know just like so many on the road, I am required to have a CDL. But it is cheaper to get fined than to get a CDL. That is where I landed…. And I will never buy another 1 ton truck. I will get the exact same equipped 10k 3/4 ton and just load it to the max GVWR. Because our government does want us to be safely under capacity, they want to push out the small guy because that is what lobbyist tell them.

I just took my bi-annual CDL med card test yesterday and it was enlightening.

For the last 30 years, I have been going to the same doctor. He put me through a series of pretty simple tests (vision, hearing, reflexes, pee, etc.)

Then he retired. There aren’t a lot of med card docs around. So I went to University of Penn Medicine, the same place that does all of our blood and urine tests. These people have made a multi-million dollar industry of testing truckers for anything under the sun. They lobbied and created the need for all this BS.

The test was much more rigorous and despite my mixed feelings about the qualifications of the nurse doing my hearing test, I was diagnosed with moderate hearing loss in my left ear.
(I know, “what did you say???” lol). Requires no medical attention, but something I need to keep an eye on. I had to wear a mask the whole time during the test and the breathing noises from under the mask made it harder to hear, so it’s debatable if I have any hearing loss at all.
Otherwise, I am good to go another 2 years.

I still believe the CDL test worth paying for and taking. I DO agree the laws need some reasonable refreshing to reflect todays more capable vehicles. You will learn a lot and enjoy driving your “iffy” trucks with their cargo without having to worry about getting yourselves into trouble.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

I just sent my email off.
It is ironic as a farmer i can pull 38000lb of hay, cattle, or farm equipment, but as a plumber i cant pull 26001 to dig up a sewer.
How am i a safer driver when pulling for farm?

 

[Hay Dude]

I just sent my email off.
It is ironic as a farmer i can pull 38000lb of hay, cattle, or farm equipment, but as a plumber i cant pull 26001 to dig up a sewer.
How am i a safer driver when pulling for farm?

I feel the same way. I farm and can haul just about whatever I want with no CDL.
But I need a CDL to take my truck and a excavator to dig in some tile.

The answer is, you are no safer. The laws are antiquated, but you have farming lobbyists and trucking lobbyists pushing to keep or change laws.

I bet most unenlightened people would be surprised how laws are actually made and amended.

 

[LD1]

No matter where the line is drawn, there are always gonna be those that flirt with the limits of of equipment to stay just under the threshold, and those that are just over that are gonna feel slighted and claim the laws are unfair.

So I dont have any good proposal.....or suggestion on where to draw the line....other than simply owning a dually pickup and a 20' trailer should NOT in any way require the same license, medical crap, and log books that is required for driving a freaking semi.

 

[kf4uda]

It doesn't make any financial sense to do my own hay. It also doesn't make sense to haul my stuff to the farm 62 miles away. But I've been buying hay for awhile now, and the one thing that I've learned is that it's a never ending battle to find quality hay at a reasonable price. For whatever reason, the guy who had it last year, doesn't have it this year. I bought from 3 different people last year, all at absurd prices. I'm saving my cash to buy this year, but really don't know if anybody that I bought from before will have any for sale this year. I'm wasting so much time searching for hay that I feel that I need to do something different. With my brothers 40 acres just sitting there, I can't get past the thought that I should be baling it for my own use. I know of two different guys that will bale it for $27 a bale, which works for me if I can rely on them to do it a couple times a year, every year. That's my initial plan. I can hire somebody to haul my tractors to his farm and avoid all of this, but then I'm dependent on their schedule, and having to take time off from work to do this.

What will probably happen is that I'll rent equipment close to my brother farm and have them deliver it, and then pick it up.

The only way that I could see it financially working out buying equipment to do your own hay would be to contract doing others as well. I think your decision to rent what you need for cleanup and have it delivered/picked up is a good idea as well. Not only does that get the equipment there when you need it, also if it breaks you call them and they fix it or bring you another piece of equipment. Sounds like you are working out a sound plan Eddie.

 

[MGP4506]

So if you have a class A lic but no med card can you legally drive a private non commercial vehicle weighing over 26k across state lines around the country?

Technically yes. However, the only way to have a Class A is 1. have a K restriction which restricts your CDL to your home State or 2. have a medical card. If you have a K on your license, then it would be up to the current State you are in if they want to honor your A for a private vehicle. Also, if your Stated requires a Class A or B for the vehicle you are driving or a special endorsement then you would be operating out of Class depending again on the State you are currently in. Clear as mud?