please help me win this bet
 

car haulers: up here in new england I see this alot. a 1 ton P/U pulling a
3 car trailer .

now here's the bet I say you need a CLASS A to drive this rig he says you don't what's your opinion.

my opinion: 3 cars x 4K lbs each= 12K any trailer over 10K needs a CLASS A

buddy's opinion: it's a P/U
there's 100 bucks on this

It would most likely depend on the state. Every state is a little bit different when it comes to the weight of a trailer for class a
Just a quick glance over a few state DOT websites shows that most states are around 26,000 lbs total weight for the combination of trailer and truck to require a class a.
So with that in mind, I say you just lost 100 bucks.
then again, I could be wrong, I am just a recruiter and not a driver.

You would be right. Is there any markings on the side of the vehicle?

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...ction_toc=1331

Subpart F — Vehicle Groups and Endorsements

§383.91 Commercial motor vehicle groups.


(a) Vehicle group descriptions. Each driver applicant must possess and be tested on his/her knowledge and skills, described in subpart G of this part, for the commercial motor vehicle group(s) for which he/she desires a CDL. The commercial motor vehicle groups are as follows:

(a)(1) Combination vehicle (Group A) — Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

A pickup pulling a trailer like that wouldnt be near 26000 lbs.
Ever since I saw your post I have been messing around on quite a few dot websites. Quite a few states have pick up trucks pulling trailers written into their law. And they state a pickup truck pulling a trailer over 10k lbs DOES NOT need a class a. Im not saying all states are like that. But everyone I read today you WOULD NOT need a class a.

car hauler
 

They are under D.O.T. regulations, log book and all . 8)

Sheepdancer would you mind telling me where you found those sites?

Yes, you would most certainly need a CDL "A" to operate a 1ton dually pulling a 3 car trailer.

Most 3 car trailers have two 8,000 pound axles or three 7,000 pound axles giving the trailer a GVWR at 16,000 lbs to 21,000 lbs. Most all dually's with diesel's weigh about 12,500 with a GVWR rating about 22,000 putting the total GCWR over and above 26,000 lbs.

You can however pull a two car trailer (GVWR of 14,000lbs) with a 3/4 ton truck with a gas engine (approx truck weight 8,800lbs) because the GCWR is under 26,000 lbs.

Hope this helps.

Ceb I think you are right and for 20 bucks I will call your buddy and pretend to be a DOT official :lol:

Re: please help me win this bet
 

I have a son-in-law that had his own rig. A 1-ton with a 45 foot goose-neck trailer. He would fit 3 cars on the trailer on his return trips to FL. And he generally ran the northeast. Not only did he NOT have a CDL, he also only has one eye.

First of all, he owned the rig.
Second, it was registered for 25,999 pounds, gross weight.
Third, he had a DOT WAVER for his eye.

A loophole in the law, if he owns the rig, and it's weight is less then 26,000, he does not need a CDL. He paid overweight fines, and log book fines, but never was told he was not legal otherwise. He hauled hot-tubs out of FL up into CT and beyond, and brought cars back to FL. Did that for more than 10 years before his wife told him he had to stay home with her and the kids.

I tryed to pass a guy from my office as a mass state trooper. he would not buy it he asked him why he was calling. he told me he wants to see it writing before he will pay off.

Side Note: I have talked to 3 state troopers over the week end
1) said the gcvwr needed to be over 26k lbs
2) said the truck pulling the trailer had to be over 26k lbs
3) said " don't worry about it you have a CLASS A "

so I think it all depends on who is stopping you