Understanding Curb Weight, GVWR, Towing and CDL requirements

[stumblinhorse]

You said it in your own reply. "there certainly needs to be a line drawn" That line is 26,000lbs. If they raised it to 30,000 lbs. Then next someone would want 35,000 lbs. then 40,000 lbs...... Where would it end? 80,000lbs? And actually you can have a Class A with a O restriction (Truck /Trailer combination)

I’ll tell you what my problem is, I won’t haul 26000 in my set up. if I did then fine me. But don’t frickin make me get a cdl a just because my rig is rated to do it. My Jeep has a limiter at 99 mph. Give me a ticket right now! My Jeep will hit that in about 1/4 mile in 12 secs.

I bought a 18k trailer because my new tractor overloads a 14k. Now I need a CDL to haul the exact same load I pulled hundreds of miles overloaded on a 14k in a much safer set up. Totally BS.

And my full load on the gravel pit scales… truck, tractor/implement and trailer is 24k…

 

[Omega Woods]

Omega Woods

You have to look at 2 different weights. The vehicle(s) actual weight(s) and the GVWR for the vehicle(s) whichever is the greatest or a combination (actual / GVWR) of those. Example the truck's GVWR weight is 14,000 lbs. and an actual weight of 10,000 lbs. The trailer's GVWR is 12,000 lbs. but has an actual weight of 12,500 lbs. so for licensing purposes the combination weight is 26,500 lbs. (truck's GVWR is the highest of the 2 weights and the trailer's actual weight is the highest).

Also, a truck does not have a range for GVWR unless it is built as an incomplete chassis in which case the end manufacture has to assign the GVWR.

Understand. Thank you.

 

[Omega Woods]

No, there is no 10K trailer with an 8800lb payload.
That’s why I’d opt for the 2500-3500HD SRW with a 14-16k trailer to haul machine, then buy an older 25,999 dump truck.

It’s really not that complicated.

It makes a lot more sense to have a bigger digging machine to load a 25,999 dump truck with anyway. It’s the best way to “go big”, but stay out of CDL territory.
If you go with an F450/550, that limits your trailer greatly, and therefore your machine size greatly.

The 25,999 dump truck will cost 10-15K for a decent one with a diesel and an allison. They are all over the place, and one thing that has stayed pretty cheap.

This is exactly what I plan to do over time. 2500 diesel and 14k (or so) trailer to pull 3.5 to 4 ton mini ex. 25999 dump truck with a smaller trailer for tractor/box blade/small skid steer/whatever else. Mix and match but don't put the big trailer on the big truck.

 

[Peter 315]

No, there is no 10K trailer with an 8800lb payload.
That’s why I’d opt for the 2500-3500HD SRW with a 14-16k trailer to haul machine, then buy an older 25,999 dump truck.

It’s really not that complicated.

It makes a lot more sense to have a bigger digging machine to load a 25,999 dump truck with anyway. It’s the best way to “go big”, but stay out of CDL territory.
If you go with an F450/550, that limits your trailer greatly, and therefore your machine size greatly.

The 25,999 dump truck will cost 10-15K for a decent one with a diesel and an allison. They are all over the place, and one thing that has stayed pretty cheap.

Eby 10K Low-Profile lp10k18 load capacity 11,780 lbs..

 

[Hay Dude]

Then it’s not a 10,000lb GVWR trailer. The name “10k” fir that trailer is just a name and has nothing to do with its GVWR.
Most “10K” trailers are 10,000lbs GVWR.

 

[jjeff]

Why don't they just rate CDL requirements with gcwr of truck and trailer meaning the entire weight of both potentially fully loaded. I just renewed my CDL didn't get or presently need a dot med card, anyways had a handy flow chart in a booklet for mi CDL laws unfortunately not on me at the moment. However they do seem to have changed somewhat when I changed states and got a mi lic a few years back.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

One thing to watch is many of these trucks have insane tow ratings but cant hardly achieve them in the real world. Once you start putting 10-20% tounge weight on the truck, you run out of GVWR on the truck before the trailer.

Iirc my dually only have about 3-4k usable room for tongue weight

 

[Peter 315]

Then it’s not a 10,000lb GVWR trailer. The name “10k” fir that trailer is just a name and has nothing to do with its GVWR.
Most “10K” trailers are 10,000lbs GVWR.

My bad..... sorry

 

[Peter 315]

Why don't they just rate CDL requirements with gcwr of truck and trailer meaning the entire weight of both potentially fully loaded. I just renewed my CDL didn't get or presently need a dot med card, anyways had a handy flow chart in a booklet for mi CDL laws unfortunately not on me at the moment. However they do seem to have changed somewhat when I changed states and got a mi lic a few years back.

Here in NH its ever 2 years for a dot med card. If you have medical issues it could be every 6 months or every year.

 

[4570Man]

Good point. I vote for bypassing 30k and 35k, and going straight to 40,000 lbs!

Seriously, there is a whole lot of room between:
- 26000 lbs (my daughter who barely passed her driving test in a Civic is allowed to operate with no additional endorsement),
and
- 80,000 lbs, 75 foot-long combination (160 hours of schooling / training at a cost of $6k).

A class/level somewhere in between seems reasonable, considering the specs and capabilities of modern diesel duallies.

A CDL wasn’t previously that big of a deal to get. Idk why people go through significant trouble and expense to avoid getting one. Even the current requirements of going to truck driving school isn’t that bad compared to basing your entire operation around not having one.