Personal Hauling in A CMV

It gets even better than that in Idaho....
From their DMV website:

Even if your vehicle is a commercial vehicle according to the definition above, you may qualify for one of the CDL exemptions. There are four categories of CDL exemptions.

Recreational vehicle exemption – applies to drivers of vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members for non-business or recreational purposes.​

So you don't even need the CDL.

 

Yeah but the rub is this, it don't matter what you or others think, it is the guy in the car with the flashing lights that controls the situation and what he thinks matters more. I am betting he would tell you what I've been told - you have to log, you have to have a CDL because you are driving a commercial vehicle.

What I guess I'm driving at is many think that what they want to do is what they feel is their right to do because it is their property but that's not the case. Someone registers the vehicle for commercial purposes, it is a commercial vehicle which is used exclusively for commercial purposes by law and regulations but then that someone wants to do more with it and have no responsibilities under the law and regulations.

The other half of this is that personal property aboard aside, the insurance may not cover the vehicle for the liabilities with an accident because you were covering up the signs, putting that 'not for hire' sign on it (which by the way implies a private carrier hauling their own commercial products) and acting like a rental truck. I know mine would not allow it, they have already told me there is no way they would cover an accident when used to move house hold goods, even it is was my own.

 

In the state where I do commercial vehicle enforcement, you would not need a CDL or a log book. Having "not for hire," on your truck is meaningless. Most companies that are "not for hire," are still in commerce. So virtually all the rules apply. What gets you out of the rules is that you are moving your personal belongings. It doesn't matter what kind of vehicle you move them in. One of the first qualifications for falling under the federal rules are that you must be in commerce. Under the rules in most states, you would still need to stop at weigh stations, etc. So be prepared to show what you are hauling. It doesn't matter if your truck has DOT numbers or not. You are still, not in commerce.

 

And “Common Sense” rain thru. Perfect post, you must commence in commercial activity to be commercial.

I have a ‘79 359 Pete that i’m currently restoring. Being as it will be nothing more than an over grown pick up truck pulling my RV or boat around, it will have personal plates and i won’t need a cdl or log book to drive it.