Vehicle combination weights & keeping it under the Non CDL weight

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by The3SomeTrailer, Dec 26, 2018.

  1. Ichabod

    Ichabod Bobtail Member

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    That's awesome your son is driving a semi! Unfortunately, the properties are a long way from each other. I'm in SC, the one we're looking at is in OK. So....not exactly 150 miles.
     
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  3. Don379

    Don379 Heavy Load Member

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    It’s clear as day if you guys follow the easy to read flow chart listed on every states cdl guidelines. Some people try to find a silly loophole to avoid a cdl. So many pages for something petty. A class a cdl with no air brakes in a pickup truck has to be pretty easy. Sheesh
     
  4. Ichabod

    Ichabod Bobtail Member

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    Can't get a class A due to medical, so that's out. Hence my other questions. Easy is relative.
     
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  5. RocketScott

    RocketScott Medium Load Member

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    Depends on the state. Here in WA it's not as easy as other states to get a CDL. 140 hours of required training. So several grand and a month of your time. Not petty at all wanting to avoid that

    OP- You'll need to look at the laws of all the states you'll be going through. I just did that for all the states I need to go through to get back east. I'm moving in a few weeks and taking my truck with me. Have all the laws that apply printed out and ready to go at the scale house. You're best bet would probably be to follow the laws regarding farm tucks
     
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  6. Bdog

    Bdog Road Train Member

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    To clarify on your question the GCVWR that the DOT uses to determine the need for a CDL or not is the GVWR of the truck plus the GVWR of the trailer. The GCWR of the truck means nothing. If it the did the duramax with the 27500 GCWR of a 3/4 ton would need a CDL to drive around with no trailer.

    I can say with 100% certainty that federally with a 11,500 GVWR 3/4 ton pickup and a 14,000 GVWR trailer you do not need a CDL federally. There are a few states, and very few, that require a CDL if your trailer is over 10k. I think California may be one but I am not sure. I very seriously doubt you will need a CDL unless your state is goofy.

    The problem I forsee you having is a pickup pulling a backhoe screams commercial. The DOT kind of operates in a guilty until proven innocent manner. You are going to have to convince them some how that what you are doing is not commercial if they stop you. If your GCVWR (truck GVWR + trailer GVWR) is over 10k and you are crossing state lines for business purposes then you fall under DOT regulations. No CDL needed until you exceed 26k but you do need logs, medical card, commercial inspections, UCR, DOT number on door, fire extinguisher, etc. We run several 3/4 ton pickups that are non CDL but over the 10k and have to deal with this all the time. The DOT definition of commercial is very broad reaching. The Ag exemptions are very complex but as an example if you raised cattle at your property and were hauling the backhoe there to work on your property they would deem it commercial because using the backhoe was furthering your cattle business. I am not at all doubting your motives I am just saying the DOT looks at it like what person has a backhoe and hauls it across the country for fun. They are making money somehow with this. Maybe not hauling the backhoe for hire, maybe not doing backhoe work for hire, but maybe improving a property so it is more suitable for some sort of business. The burden will be on you to prove otherwise.

    Bottom line though get your Duramax. It makes no difference vs the gas and the CDL situation. Just make sure the truck GVWR and trailer GVWR don't add up to over 26k. Any combination will be over 10k so you are going to run into the issue of proving not commercial when crossing state lines.
     
  7. Ichabod

    Ichabod Bobtail Member

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    Thanks Bdog and everyone else who responded. This was really helpful. When the time comes to move equipment maybe I can keep a copy of any real estate documents and show them that. Guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. Or rent in OK and pay a trucker to move the heavy equipment down the road. In the meantime, thanks so much! Bdog that post should be put into a FAQ somewhere on this site, the DOT part is especially enlightening.
     
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  8. Coal Region Deplorable

    Coal Region Deplorable Light Load Member

    Just tell him you're a sovereign citizen, and you're not driving you're traveling, and that flag has the wrong color Fringe.

    Be sure to get a video of it and post it on here
     
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  9. Ichabod

    Ichabod Bobtail Member

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    Will do, once I make bail! LOL
     
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  10. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    I’m having a hard time wrapping my brains around moving a backhoe between SC to OK, apparently routinely, and buying specialized trucks and trailers to do that?

    Wouldn’t it be heaps cheaper to just rent one when you need it in OK? Or vice versa?
     
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  11. Ichabod

    Ichabod Bobtail Member

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    Might be. Routinely might be a stretch, I just want to know what my options are for moving it when necessary. One of those "if I had only bought a X instead I could have done it myself" type of thing. Right now we are in planning stages of what we want to get and put where. Might be cheaper to just buy a larger, more available (more beaten) machine for each place too.

    Wrapping your brain around my early plans is typically a recipe for a lot of Advil. There's a lot of loose cats chasing a lot of yarn in my noggin at all times....
     
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