Exchange Man,

That is all great information and exactly what I was looking for. All of our other insurance is through progressive, so hopfully I will be able to get none commercial insurance. Thanks again, that is priceless info.

GMAN,

I haven't had very good luck with DOT in my state. Everybody I talk to wants to transfer me to somebody else and then I end up talking to the person who first transfered me. I will check on the rest of the info and it is greatly appreciated.

Roadhog,

All the info from the site is really helping me with places to start. I have looked through the paper to find independent contractor jobs and so forth, but I wanted to ask here and find other places to check with aswell. Agriculture has really slowed around here in the past few years. I don't mind purchasing a rig that way I can run it when needed and to gain experience like you said.

Nascar,

The combined GVWR is 25,200. The truck is 11,200 and the trailer is 14,000. We keep it under 26,001 so CDL's wouldn't be needed at the time because I was only 19 and not old enough to take the test.

Thanks again for all the info. It is very much appreciated.

Jonathan

 

You will need an Airbrake endorsement regardless of GVWR because the rig will have airbrakes.

 

So *thats* why you guys do that! I've noticed a lot of pickups pulling trailers that go way wider than they have to. And sometimes I'm behind them and I'm thinking "I could almost make this turn, why are you waiting for a break in the traffic?". It all makes sense now...

 

You ever been stoped with that rig? I know some guys here in NC running the same setup and they got stoped and got tickets for not having a CDL.

 

One word of caution here, according to US DOT any driver towing a trailer over 10,001 lbs must have a class "A" CDL.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986 (The Act) was designed to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers of heavy trucks and buses from the nation’s highways. The Act required the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue regulations establishing guidelines and standards for the testing and licensing of CMV drivers. These guidelines and standards were established in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Chapter 49, Part 383. All states adopted these licensing guidelines and standards in April 1992 . The commercial driver’s license requirements are applicable to drivers transporting persons or property in both interstate or intrastate commerce. The commercial driver’s license has three classes covering the following vehicle classification groups:

Class A -- Required for a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Required for a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 lbs. GVWR.


So if the trailer weighs more than 10,001 lbs you must have a Class A CDL

 

Manicmechnic,

I am confused by the reading of that law. As I read it, I understand it to be if it is just my truck and trailer unloaded, then I am fine. When I load the show truck on the trailer which GVWR is over 10,001, then I am over the limit.

Please correct me if am I am wrong. If I am using my truck and trailer with a GCWR of 25,200 to haul furniture then I am ok.

When I am towing my truck, it is overweight due to the fact that I have to add the GVWR of the truck that is being towed to the GCWR of the the tow truck and trailer. Is this correct?

Another question I need to ask then. You said that if the trailer weighs more than 10,001 lbs. then I would need a CDL. If my understanding is way off and it is just based on trailer weight alone, then how am I suppose to get a CDL without access to a semi? I know Florida has rigs for you to take your test in, but in SC you must provide your own rig. This is a problem for my buddy aswell. He is a firefighter and has his class B's already. He wants to upgrade to class A's but we do not have access to a semi to take our road test in. This is what would make me purchase a semi before I have my CDL, just so I can take the test. I am sure it is different for people going through school, but we have a friend who can teach us all we need to know and more but he does not own a semi anymore either.

Is there any advice you can give me on this situation, or is there something that I do not know about this aswell?

Nascar,

I have never been stopped in this rig, so I haven't had any problems yet.

Thanks very much for the information and please keep posting anything you can think of.

Jonathan

 

The truck does not change the gross weight the GVWR is what the trailer including itself can haul safley. But if the trailer has a GVWR of more than 10,001lbs you will need a class A CDL.

 

Consider a "toter". Its like a tractor with a huge sleeper, that generally pulls a c-car enclosed race trailer. That would be the ideal setup. Some don't need CDL, if I am correct.

I'll find a pic and post it later....

 

 

Not quite.....he said his GCWR was 25,200.....

Class A only applies if GCWR>= 26001 and trailer GVWR>10k

Pickups with trailers (even with GVWR>10k) do NOT need class A if GCWR is <=26k