This may be redundant but I would like to know

It

It is out of hand, the regulations are a patchwork from state to state, and are making it very hard on the little guy, especially those that are not in trucking at all. What this does is make the construction guys overload their half ton trucks to avoid the regulations.

 

It is my understanding with the weight regulations that you have been talking about you have forgotten about crossing state lines. Once you cross the state line you will need the MC, DOT numbers. I am unclear about the CDL if you stay under the 26k even if the states you are traveling in do not require CDLs for intrastate work when you cross the state line and become interstate, then the Federal regulations kick in, ie HOS, Med card, CDL, IFTA taxes, plates etc. If someone has knowledge of this to the contrary please share as of right now I do not cross the state line for these reasons.

 

Slay, in the OP's case he does have his DOT number, MC authority, and medical card. Yes, some states have more permissive rules for in-state only (intrastate) operations, and yes once you engage in interstate commerce the Federal regulations do apply. With regards to IFTA, apportioned plates, hours of service, cdl, etc they all have different triggers.

In most states the trigger for a cdl does not matter if you are inter or intra state, usually it is any amount of hazmat requiring a placard, any single vehicle over 26,001 pound gross weight rating, or any combination of vehicles over 26,001 pounds gross weight rating with the trailer being more than 10,000 pounds gross weight.

IFTA/IRP which are your apportioned registration plates and fuel tax decals are usually triggered at any weight over 26,001 pounds however Arizona and Montana have lower weights for apportioned registration and some states have lower weights for fuel tax reporting.

Medical card, hours of service compliance, US DOT number, and MC # (operating authority) are usually triggered on a Federal level when you operate any commercial vehicle greater that 10,001 pounds in furtherance of interstate commerce. Hours of service compliance can also be a state issue even if you do not engage in interstate commerce. Some states have easier HOS rules, some have tougher HOS rules, but most follow the Federal guidelines even for in-state work. Same with medical cards, Pennsylvania for example enforces the 10,001 pound limit for interstate work but only requires a medical card for in-state work over 17,001 pounds.