Is this a gray area?

Yes to the first one, and no to the second. The dolly would be considered a trailer
so you would need the triples endorsement.

 

Any fuel truck is technically never "empty"...there is residue still in the bottom of the tank...so once loaded with a placarded liquid...the placards remain.

Con Way pulls doubles (in Orange County, as triples are a no no in CA)...when you see a truck pulling one trailer with con gear and no second trailer, it still falls under the Doubles endorsement...however, the Doubles/Triples endorsement is the same written test...so if you have the Doubles endorsement, you also have the ability to pull triples...as soon as you get out of CA.

BTW...fuel trucks with two tanks are most commonly truck/trailer...as the first tank is mounted to the tractor frame and the rear tank is a trailer...so they aren't doubles, but tractor/trailer. And they are a whole different world in backing!

 

No...the con gear (connecting gear) are not considered a trailer, but an extension (connection) for the second (and if necessary the third) trailer.

However, if pulling a con gear without the attached trailer, the con gear is required to have a complete set of brake and turn signal lights.

 

You are thinking too much. But you killed some road time. Truckers are good thinkers.

I highly doubt anyone would be put in those positions without having the endorsements and doing them jobs for a living.

 

And mud flaps,..............

 

When I typed that last night...it just wasn't ringing right...truck trailer...that's the ticket

I did a very short stint on some bottom dumps, asphalt and road base...just not enough work for my taste...work a couple days and 5 or 6 off...doesn't cut it for my budget...they didn't require any special endorsement beyond the regular Doubles/Triples.