CDL required or not.....Confused

Hello and thanks in advance for any help you can send my way.

Been researching to see if I need a CDL license or not and get more confused the more I search.

I have a flatbed ford truck that I use to tow trailers that have Halloween props to music events. The loads range from 2500-6500 lbs. (mostly closer to the 3000 lbs range)

If I am below the 26,001 limit, am I still required to get a CDL in the state of Texas?

I have regular insurance on my truck and a “Not For Hire” sticker on both sides.

Here are the details on the tow rig and trailers.

Tow Rig: F-550 Super Duty V10
Empty Weight: 6100 lbs
Gross Weight: 19.800 lbs
GCWR: 28,000 lbs

Trailer 1:
20' Tandem Axle Flatbed Utility - Bumper pull
Empty Weight: 3900 lbs
Gross Weight: 14.900 lbs

Trailer 2:
24' Tandem Axle Flatbed Utility - Goose-neck
Empty Weight: 5200 lbs
Gross Weight: 15.700 lbs

Trailer 3:
38' Triple Axle Enclosed - Goose-neck
Empty Weight: 6820 lbs
Gross Weight: 15.600 lbs

Can anyone shed some light on if I am required to get a CDL or not in the state of Texas?

Thanks!
Mog

 

Thank you ZVar.

I have been to the Texas DOT site and all over the web trying to figure this out and appreciate your reply.

I am assuming that I will need to get a higher costing commercial auto insurance as well?

If so, that sucks, as I only do this for a few days at the end of October.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I saw that some where on one of the sites and thought it was a gimmick to make me sign up for their school.

I better get to studying.

Thanks again for your advance / guidance!
Mog

 

yes, it is my own personal property for my private use, but yes I get paid to build a Haunted House for a 2 day music event.

I did look into CDL requirements before I bought the 1 ton truck, as one insurance company said the vin # was for a commercial truck and would need commercial insurance. For some reason, another company was able to insure the truck as a non-commercial truck, as I do mostly use it for personal use.

Thinking this whole time I was good, now I am seeing I am probably very lucky that I didn't end up with a huge fine and a loss of my license for 90 or so.

Do I need to have all the testing done before Feb. 7th, or just be in the system and showing that I have started taking the test, so I get grandfathered in?

Thanks again for all the info.

Mog

 

Thanks seagreag. I need to check into this. My gut told me that this probably would be the case.