Help understanding legal weight in hot shot

Truck weighs 6-8000 pounds and trailers weigh 4-7000 pounds. So even empty if hauling for profit the truck and traielr qualifies as needing a CDL. What level one needs differs by state and whether it is farm related or just for profit. Even if farm related if it is not for your farm it is still commercial. Many will argue, but all it takes is one DOT stop and the fines can be very expensive. Missouri DOT worked with a friend of mine driving his new 5500 Dodge with a fancy 12 foot bed and a trailer filled with used tractors for his store. He could have been fined thousands as they all knew of his shop and the number of tractors he hauls. Once he took the dive into a bigger truck he had to get a fuel permit, adjust his insurance, label the truck as commercial, DOT number and misc. permits. He also had to get marked and approved straps and chains. No more hauling 2 5 gallon jugs of fuel on the flatbed. They had to be in an approved holder.
Still not that much but DOT worked with him. Iowa has been known to rip a new one on many HotShot trucks. Either you are or are not. Empty can exceed the limits just as well as full. When my friend hooked up his camper one DOT still asked for a logbook as he was in a commercial vehicle still labeled as work.

Enjoy, but now is a hard time to start as a hotshot. Stop at any scale close to your home and they will work with you. Even though many think it is just about revenue, most just want it safe.