bluesurf

I often tow 12k and will likely be stepping up to a 14-16k dump trailer for work. I tow a skid steer and materials. My question is do I need a different lic to do so. Some tell me that after 10k trailer you do. But when at the rmv they say no, trailer place says no, ins says no. But I don't believe that I am being well informed. I f anybody has info on towing under 26k but over 10k I would appreciate it. Thanks

Willy91

I don't think you need a cdl to pull heavy trailors. At least a lot of people pull heavy without having one and never have problems.

scottsjeeprolet

In MD all you need is a DOT physical card up to 26K#. I had to get one for my work truck PSD crappy F350 but the door sticker says GVRW of 12500# so the trooper told me to get a DOT physical card and i did.

texaspower19

i got a cdl in texas but cant use it out of state till im 21. here you have to have one for comercial use. before i turned 18, when hauling stuff for my dad i always said it was farm use.

fiveology

As long as the GCVWR is under 26k you don't need a CDL. You will need a DOT physical card.

csramsey640

In the manual it states;

Has a GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more, vehicle towed is under 10,000 lbs Class B CDL

If the GVWR of the vehicle(trailer) being towed is over 10,000 lbs, than you need a Class A CDL

So to be legal, you can use a pickup truck, and pull a 14,000 lb equip trailer without a CDL. But if the entire unit, your towing truck, equipment and trailer weight over 26,001 lbs, youll need a CDL Class A. CDL laws are universal to any state. You also need a CDL if using any vehicle to conduct business out of state lines involving HAZMAT.

Therefor many of the Hotshotters have a CDL

bluesurf

picked up the book today and I found what you all have said to be right on. This puts my mind to rest and I have a copy in the truck to shut up the people that keep telling me I'm illegal. I hate being misinformed about things like that. Although I did not see anything about the dot physical but it sounds like it makes sense. What is involved in the physical? Thanks for the great info. Brad

scottsjeeprolet

What book are you refering to? Where do you get it?
The DOT physical is easy just wear sweat pants for THE test they're easy to pull down, just make sure when the Doc is back there he doesn't have both hands on your shoulders and still givin you the test

Patrick Campbell

Where do you live bluesurf? It will vary state to state.

jerky1280

Wouldn't that mean that you'd need a CDL for anything over 10k lbs (including the 14k lb trailer mentioned)? That's what I was told when I registered my trailer at the CA DMV.

scottsjeeprolet

Guess i should have a CDL when haulin this much stone with my Dually

JKM

I feel somewhat relieved , The physical i took for my class one (our version of a class A CDL) Did not involve that part of the test, and my doctor was a she

bluesurf

I'm referring to the cdl book in mass. In our book it is stated that if you are going to tow 10k trailer and the gcwr is over 26k you need cdl. It is written a bit confusing but that is it in a nutshell. I guess that if you have f550 and tow a trailer under 10k you don't need one. Dosen't make much sense but whatever. I still can't find out where it states that I need a physical card but I'll keep looking.

Patrick Campbell

It is definitely confusing. The safest way to say it is if your GCWR is over 26000 you need a CDL but like you are saying that is not true.

If your power unit GVWR is under 26001 and your trailer is under 10001 you do not need a CDL. Example you could have a 26000 lbs straight truck with a 10000 lbs trailer and no CDL. So you could have up to a GCWR of 36000 lbs and no CDL. I would not test that one out with the DOT they probably wouldn't understand

I would not be surprised if you might get in trouble for running right at 26000, since many people might think the limit is 26000, when it is really OVER 26000. That being said my trailer GVWR is 14000, my truck is 12000. GCWR 26000.

If the trailer GVWR is over 10000, and the GCWR is over 26000 you need a CDL. If the trailer GVWR is over 10000 and the GCWR is under 26001, no CDL.

RickG

It doesn't matter what the MA books says. State laws cannot supercede Federal laws . The book to go by is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations pocketbook available at most truck stops . Section 383.91 (a) 1. Combination vehicle (Group A)-Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.
(2) Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B) -Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVW .
So most duallies weigh around 8,000 lbs and can pull trailers up to 18,000 lbs. without requiring a CDL . It's only when the GVW is over 26,000 you need a CDL to pull a trailer over 10,000 lbs.
None of the RV transport companies require contractors to have a CDL and they pull a lot of trailers that are over 14,000 lbs. A lot of their duallies are tagged at 26,000 .
Now regarding the physical -391.41(a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he is physically qualified to do so and except as provided in 391.67 (regarding farm vehicles) has on his person the original ,or a photocopy of a medical examiner's certificate that he is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle .
I couldn't find anything in the rules requiring a physical card for vehicles over 10,000lbs. but I know some states require it as well as for vehicles placarded for hazmat or carrying more than 15 passengers .