In state CDL not for hire questions

Farmers doing actual farming have certain CDL and CMV exemptions. They aren't that easy to get a full explanation/understanding of, but they are in place. Just remember that car shows aren't farming, and once these vehicles do non-farm work you have crossed over the line. You need to find someone in your state's DMV or DOT to sit down with and get the specifics. There's a lot of variables with what you are doing. Get your answers from the horse's mouth.

 

GMC,Do a search for Kansas Corporation Commission(KCC).Once there look at the sidebar.You'll see a box that says "Truckin' Through Kansas Handbook".It's a PDF.About page 10 as you scroll down.Rather large but it'll give you info about what Kansas describes it's vehicle classifications as and alot of other info.Another state agency(like you don't have enough)is the Kansas Dept. of Revenue.Check these two out before KDOT.





Admin.state/gov sites

 

I was running on farm tags, no DOT#, no CDL, no medical card, no drug/alcohol program (never heard of one), within 100 mile of home, running empty on my way to pick up a load of calves I'd bought out of state, in a class 8 with triple axle cattle pot. I pulled into a scale just across the state line and was cited for no DOT# and no medical card, the truck passed inspection, no mention was made of a drug/alcohol program. I was told that if I crossed a state line, even if private not for hire, that I was engaged in interstate commerce and therefore subject to all that entails.

When I got home, I applied for a DOT#, and got my medical card. About eight months later I get the bright idea to get my CDL and pro-rate my truck so I can pick up some outside work moving cattle. I jumped through all the hoops and paid all the money to get started. Next thing I get a call scheduling a new entrant DOT audit. I failed the audit based on the fact that I wasn't in a drug/alcohol program when I got caught at the scale the previous year. I argued to no avail that at the time I was private not for hire and that I was in compliance before I started hauling commercially. USDOT told me it doesn't matter what kind of farm exemptions each state has, once you cross a state line you are under their jurisdiction.