A Semi for Personal Use- Paperwork Question

You'll need to check with your State's DOT for the information you are seeking, if you plan to operate within your state only.

There are many private carriers on the road.

You will be required to meet some Federal Regs, such as log books. I base this on the facts you have provided. Those facts point out you will fall into the weight requirements that need to run log books. Unless you stay within a 100 radius of "home".

You will fall into class 8 operator status for the most part. But, some of the requirements will not be as strict...IE cargo insurance etc.

 

Instead of a big class 8 truck, check out civilian versions of Freightliner FL60's. We have 2 of them for cattle hauls on my family farm and pull 40ft horse trailers/campers and 34ft cattle trailers just fine. We also move heavy equipment with them.

 

I've also been more than a little curious at times wondering what it would take to register a privately owned Class 8 tractor as a personal use/recreational vehicle. (ie; not hauling trailers or freight around for pay.)

Would a CDL still be required? Insurance? Reg? Hmm...

 

There are more and more folks towing RV's with a Class 8 tractor. You can go to the "IRV2 dot com" website and go down to the HDT section and get your questions answered.

I am thinking hard on singleing out a tractor to haul my fifth-wheel toyhauler. I tow with a F-350 Cab-n-chassis with a steel bed now. The truck and trailer scale out at a hair over 23,000 pounds loaded light with nothing in the toy section. The truck does a good job, but I would be a LOT more comfortable with a singled out tractor. Overkill maybe, but it would tow the trailer like it was a flea on a elephant.

If it is for personal/private use (Nothing commercial) you do not have to get a CDL. No logging, HOS rules and such. But several states now require a "Non-commercial Class A" license to operate trucks this way. You would have to check with your state DPS to see what is required in your state.

I hold a Class A CDL as I used to drive a day cab with a drop deck. Also drove for a race team for a while. (Sometimes I miss the road and gotta get a "Fix" by makin a trip with my truck and camper) So additional licensing would not be required in my case. That and I ain't no stanger in the cab of a tractor.

 

If You Would Add Some Length To A Sleeper An Install A Water Tank An A Hot Water Heater, A Portable Hopper, You Would Have An Rv An Still Be Able To Tow Your Horses Around

 

Most State laws will consider the class 8 as an RV and you do not fall under DOT law if;

You are the owner of the vehicle
You haul your own equipment with no intentions to earn income
This also applies if you are renting a vehicle, such as Uhaul, Penske, or Ryder and use for your personal use

But, as was suggested earlier, check with local law, or review your States CDL manual for verification.

I have driven across the country in my KW W900, and in a rented Penske with no problems using the truck for personal use. Each time I stop at the scales to check, I am told the same by the Port Authorities.

 

I run a couple of heavy straight trucks, dump and water, at my ranch property, and have them tagged as farm vehicles. This exempts me from any commercial requirements. Note that I'm not running them acrosss any state lines.