Is this a gray area?

It's all in the eye of the beholder! Each state or zone, depending on where the driver originates from will have different terminology for the exact same thing.

In CA...they don't count the con gear as a vehicle...just the trailers and the tractor.

Doubles.....2 trailers
Triples.......3 trailers

manage du twoi....well that means the same thing everywhere! However you spell it!

 

Hey guys if I may jump in. I have been a full time leo in florida since 1973 and have an enforcement viewpoint.

A tanker endorsement in Florida is required if the design capacity of a tank is 1000 gallons or more of a liquid or gasseous substance. Therefore in Florida the full, empty, or never had anything in the tank is not relevent. It is based strictly on the design capactiy and the endorsement would be required.

On the converter dolly that varies from state to state. Here the dolly doese not require a plate by exemption but any vehicle attached must have a plate. Therefore trailer,dolly,trailer is legal, but tractor,dolly,dolly would not be. Now New Jersey doese require a plate on the dolly and the last I heard it was a $100 violation.

 

The tank endorsement wasn't the issue....the issue was was if "placard required"...which we covered fairly well, and since we all agreed on that part...IT HAD TO BE RIGHT!...LOL!!!

You LEO types are always welcome to contribute here...get ready, these guys will hit you with some interesting questions...then if they don't agree...well the argument is on......those can get juicy sometimes!