Got pulled over in inspection area, trooper says I need cdl

IFTA goes by live weight. Not GVWR, and he didn't weigh over 26k.

 

All the time trying to avoid all that. You could study and get your cdl. if your not in compliance then be prepared to pay big

 

Back to the OP, one aspect that puts another kink in this is whether what is being done is for commercial use. GVWR is one thing, but it what is being hauled is over 10001 lb and being done on a commercial basis, CDL still applies. Some states are pickier than others. Iowa really can put the screws to folks over this kind of thing. Just hauling a horse or small livestock in a small stock trailer to sale barn requires CDL and med card. I have seen IDOT set up roadside checks at places like Kalona, IA where horse traders congregate. Same holds for folks hauling small equipment and materials. I see far more pickup/trailer combos pulled over and checked along road in Iowa than class 8 trucks.

The wildest one I have ever seen Iowa do.... citing a farmer for not having current CDL and med card while driving his tractor and planter on road from one field to the other. That farm crossed states lines of Iowa and Missouri, so the DOT ruled it was interstate commerce related. Now that is pretty anal about the regs.

 

You can get one without the air brake endorsement I think and it's just a class C cdl or whatever the corresponding letter or numeral is in your state, but then you are subject to having a medical card and enrolling in random federal drug testing which is probably the point of the whole thing, unless your traveling less than 100(?) airline miles from home and not across state lines.
Either way, it's all about complying with their rules. That's how they want it.

 

Is the truck and trailer being used for business or just your stuff?

 

Just get a CDL and don't worry about it. Just get a class B. Jeez..

 

He doesn't want to be subjected to a medical card or drug testing would be my guess...