i feel ignorant and need help. Please

[Ddiesel]

long time listener first time caller. love the site. i feel a touch ignorant because i don't understand dot rules and regs. so maybe ya'll can help. I am a heavy equipment pipeline mechanic. i travel all over the U.S. for work. i have decided to build a bigger service truck. its a short hood single drive day cab 379. i think i can keep the weight under 26,000. what i need to know is what do i need? CDL? Log books? apportioned plates? permits? one guy i worked with had this big long monstrosity of a service truck and had to have a permit for every state he went through. think of me as a backwards child and tell me what ya need me to know.
Thanks very much.

[Fozzy]

Well I don't have time to do all the research on everything but for toppers, the WEIGHT of 26,000 is not what you (I assume) think that it is. the term that you are thinking of (again I'm assuming here) is that if you are under 26001 you will not need a CDL (B) to operate it? The regs are about the weight RATING. I'm pretty sure that the 379 will have a GVWR of over 26,001 pounds

[Useless]

And it isn't just a matter of what DOT requires.... your insurance carriier will also need to know what you are doing.

[Myth_Buster]

Q: Who is required to register under the IRP?

A: According to the Plan under section 204, all apportionable vehicles, which means any vehicle except for recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pick up and delivery vehicles, buses used in transportation of chartered parties, and government-owned vehicles, used or intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles and is used for the transportation of persons for hire or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and:...

1. is a power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms; or

2. is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or

3. is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms gross vehicle weight.

Trucks and truck tractors, and combinations of vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms or less and buses used in transportation of chartered parties may be proportionally registered at the option of the registrant.

Same as the CDL and D & A testing, IRP (approtioned plates) is driven by GVWR not gross weight.

Log book, medical card, periodic inspection all kick in at 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce.

A two axle truck shouldn't have to deal with IFTA as IFTA kicks in with three or more axles or 54,000 pounds.

Be safe.

[nightprwlr]

Air Brakes? Haz Mat? If your truck has air brakes or you have over 1000 lbs. oil,fuel placards you will. A U.S.D.O.T. number also.