Understanding Curb Weight, GVWR, Towing and CDL requirements

[aczlan]

I believe Federal DOT requires a CDL if the GCVW is over 20,000 pounds. I have a Class A with all endorsements but haz mat.

Nope, federal rules are 26k GVWR with a trailer under 10k GVWR, or under 26k GCWR.

No, there is no 10K trailer with an 8800lb payload.

You can get to 8300 with an aluminum one: Aluminum Equipment Trailer - Sure-Trac

Aaron Z

 

[5030]

I said 'I believe', not in stone. Pardon my dust. Don't care anyway. My Class A covers the farm vehicles and trailers.

 

[Hay Dude]

Nope, federal rules are 26k GVWR with a trailer under 10k GVWR, or under 26k GCWR.


You can get to 8300 with an aluminum one: Aluminum Equipment Trailer - Sure-Trac

Aaron Z

OK well I think the point is most of your average steel trailers aren’t going to weigh 1200 pounds and carry 8800 pounds.
And you know and I both know, if there was one, it’d fall apart rather quickly because it’s built too light. Aluminum trailers are not the ideal choice to carry excavating equipment.
I won’t own one.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Aluminum trailers are not the ideal choice to carry excavating equipment.
I won’t own one.

I agree, the problem with aluminum trailers is they can really carry a good load, until they can't. The "can't" is usually an immediate catastrophic failure that will force one to pick up two halves of a trailer and their destroyed equipment off the highway.

 

[paulsharvey]

Aluminum is different from steel. Steel can go to its peak strength repeatedly (not ultimate failure load, design load) without any problem. Aluminum will eventually fatigue, even at well below its design strength. Now, could this be 1000 times or 5000, I dont know. I also can't answer for anyone, is 1000 times good enough?

 

[5030]

Least it has some good scrap value...

 

[sandman2234]

I said 'I believe', not in stone. Pardon my dust. Don't care anyway. My Class A covers the farm vehicles and trailers.

Putting out bad information because you don't care isn't good for the original poster or anyone else who reads your jibberish. It also affects how people rate this forum, if you give out what everyone who has read the last 15 pages knows to be bad information. If you don't know the correct answer, don't bother posting.
David from jax
(yes I have a CDL and it isn't just to say I have one!)

 

[MikePA]

Click Here

• Class A: Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR or gross combination weight of 26,001 lbs. or more, including a towed unit(s) with a GVWR or gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 lbs.
• Class B: Any single vehicle that has a GVWR or gross vehicle rate of 26,001 lbs. or more, or a vehicle towing a vehicle with a GVWR (or gross vehicle weight) that isn’t more than 10,000 lbs.
• Class C: Any single vehicle (or combination of vehicles) that doesn’t meet the definition of Class A or Class B but is designed to transported 16 or more passengers (driver included) or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous or material that’s been listed as a select agent or toxin

Note: A CDL is not required to operate a truck that weighs under 26,000 lbs. with air brakes

 

[ning]

But if your trailer is 14k gvwr and your truck is 11.5k gvwr, then you don't.

I mention this only because this thread was posted more as a general CDL requirements thread than for the OP's particular requirements.

In California, pulling a trailer over 10k GVWR requires CDL, commercial or not, regardless of the tow vehicle rating

There may be other states which are similar.​

 

[stumblinhorse]

I mention this only because this thread was posted more as a general CDL requirements thread than for the OP's particular requirements.

In California, pulling a trailer over 10k GVWR requires CDL, commercial or not, regardless of the tow vehicle rating

There may be other states which are similar.​

I am sorry but that is not the case. Combined 26,001 with a trailer over 10k…. Same in CA as everywhere else.