A Semi for Personal Use- Paperwork Question

your cdl will have a farm/agricultural only endorsement and can not be use to haul for hire loads. also you have to go thru scales just like commercial vehicles. the main reason they want you to have the license is really just to show that you know how to drive that size vehicle. 1 ton trucks get by with more because they dont figure they are going to be over 26001 lbs. gross. by the way you can drive a class 8 strait truck as a motor home because it is under 26,001 lbs. i have a 2009 international prostar and it weighs bobtail (no trailer) 21,600 lbs full of fuel. also watch for emissions. cali is cracking down and soon will not let non-emission trucks in the state if they have there way. this is why mine is a 2009 model and not a 2006.

 

you do have to have a cdl in some states for anything over 26,001 lbs with a trailer. also if it has air brakes you have to have that endorsement also. the difference is that you have a farm license (for farm use only) that is not held to standards as stringent as commercial vehicles.your cdl will have a farm/agricultural only endorsement and can not be use to haul for hire loads. also you have to go thru scales just like commercial vehicles. the main reason they want you to have the license is really just to show that you know how to drive that size vehicle. 1 ton trucks get by with more because they dont figure they are going to be over 26001 lbs. gross. easy way to find out is to go to you local drivers license office and ask for a cdl hand book and it will give you definant answers. by the way you can drive a class 8 strait truck as a motor home because it is under 26,001 lbs. i have a 2009 international prostar and it weighs bobtail (no trailer) 21,600 lbs full of fuel. also watch for emissions. cali is cracking down and soon will not let non-emission trucks in the state if they have there way. this is why mine is a 2009 model and not a 2006.

 

Hey,

he may still be connsidering what to do..................

3 years is nothing to some folks.

I was gonna paint the shed next week, I said that about 4 years ago !!

Maybe I'll just hire an out of work driver, let him paint it, prolly pays better !!!!

 

k here's wat i can tell u need 2 do, half my family is truckers, and im in prosscess of getting my non commercial class A CDL, 1st u need 2 check if ur state has a non commercial class A or B their's only a hand full of states that do, as long as u are not 4 hire u can can drive anywhere in the states, canada, and mexico as i have checkd in2 this from ppl that help get the rules and regulations out 2 every1, now if u do get a non commercial b prepard as some states like 2 give hell 2 ppl that carry them even write them tickets and try 2 impound their trucks but don't worry it's easly taken care of, and some ppl are around 2 help stop it from happening it's just a tactic some states try 2 use 2 get every1 in a regular cdl so u have 2 obide by dot laws, 1 word of advise is don't even think of pulling load 4 hire if u get a non commercial as if u do get caught they will nail ur butt 2 the wall i know of 2 ppl that did it and by the time they got out of court they didn't get out with less than $50k in fines and other costs, but u also will have 2 check on laws on wat states ur gonna drive in some states if ur non commercial u don't have 2 stop at scales but most states u will have 2, same as with large bus motor couch's some state u have 2 pull on the scale's and some states u don't have 2, so just make sure u check everything out b4 u leave ur drive. my biggest problem is finding an insurance company that will give me non commercial insurance on my trucks dang theifs just want more money

 

That was the most painful post I've ever read. I'm sure it is full of great info but I had to think to hard to read it.

 

I’m wondering the same thing, I’m looking to “Bob tail” and not pull a trailer at all... just the cab with the sleeper driving around seeing the country. I currently have a Class B CDL but want to find out what regulations or DOT requirements I’d need to do so. Who or what would be the best way of finding out ? I live in Florida so we don’t have a DMV ( division of motor vehicles ) only Tax Collectors. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

OMFG.

That IS a painful post.

I thought I was horrible. This takes the cake. OW my eyes... MY EYES!!!! Such stupid burns...

 

11 years later... it is helpful, kinda

The main question I had was about insurance, which has still not really been answered. I'm pretty sure anyone thinking of driving a semi probably had a CDL at one time

 

RV insurace will be cheaper than commercial insurance. Commercial insurance will be higher as drivers will be operating alot during rush hour. As well as the need to drive in adverse weather. RV insurance on the other hand is for no loads. Tho the insurer needs to be told how the truck will be used. The OP stated they would be using it for hauling to horse shows and they would not bee able to get RV insurance. Yet here again it depends on how loose their lips are at the time of getting it insured.

Personal insurance would depend on how it is used as well. The agent will probably specify that to insure it may mean to remove the fifth wheel. Inurance agents have heard it before so choose your words carefully. Often the ability to buy insurance on line is the best way, as it removes the agent.