I disagree with the notion that it is not that hard to get a CDL.
As has been pointed out on this list, in order to get a CDL, you have to
be
tested in the same type of vehicle that you want to get certified for.
So
......
You have to have access to such a vehicle.
You have to have some skills in the same type of vehicle, but you can't
legally
drive this vehicle and obtain the skills unless you have a license and
access to
such a vehicle. You can go to a driving school $$$$$.
On the other hand, I could go out and buy a tractor, put farm plates on
it,
drive it a few hundred miles down country roads and get the hang of it,
drive
the tractor to the CDL certification site and then get a CDL, if it is
required.?? I agree that driving cross country with a semi rig plated
as a
farm vehicle would probably be asking for it however I wonder how often
it is
done also.
You do not have to own a farm to get a vehicle plated as a farm
vehicle. A farm
does not have to be incorporated, so there is really no definition for
what a
farm is. Many farms around here also don't make any money, so again I
fit the
definition. (:->) I also own two farm tractors, but again I don't have
a
farm. I do have a garden.
>If it is manufactured as a tractor, and/or has a fifth wheel you need a
Class A CDL.<
Nope, not true. Farm vehicles and the operators of farm vehicles are
expressly
exempted from requiring CDLs. It's right in the Federal Code. Also, a
lot of
Pickup trucks have fifth wheels and they also are not required to have a
CDL to
operate.
>But you still must be qualified to
drive what you are using even if it is just for your own personal use.<
While I agree that everyone "should" be qualified to drive whatever
vehicle they
are in, even a 16 year old kid with a brand new license is fully legally
qualified to drive a 1 ton pickup truck with a 40 foot fifth wheel
camper behind
it. What the law says, and what is common sense is often two different
things.
Dave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Glenn Shaw wrote:
> Hi Dave;
>
> Comments within your post:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: DaveCole <davidcole@tk7.net>
> To: Military Vehicles Mailing List <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 6:08 PM
> Subject: [MV] trailer laws - now MV Movers discussion
>
> > Tim and other Mil Veh folks:
> >
> > 1. To maintain non-commercial status and not require a CDL (at least in
> Indiana)
> > you can't haul other people's stuff for pay and you have to declare your
> rig a
> > farm truck. OK, so say I only haul my half-track or whatever and and
> want to
> > maintain my non-CDL/non commercial status.
>
> You may be able to say you are non-commercial, and you may be able to beat a
> lot of the fees by saying you are a farm truck(which of course requires a
> farm) but I really think you are going to risk having big problems without
> having a CDL. This will be especially true if you travel into other states
> or on the National Defense Interstate Highway System. It is not that hard
> to get a CDL license and you will have some piece of mind.
>
> > a 80's Freightliner with a nice 40 ft flatbed would move MVs very nicely.
> >
> > I have seen (one is in the local trade rag today) semi rigs converted to
> > campers. The one I just saw was a full blown tandem axle tractor, with a
> 40 box
> > trailer. The front 24 feet of the box trailer was converted to liveable
> > quarters and the rest was left to move whatever (empy box). The tractor
> itself
> > was left as is and the owner says it is registered as an RV.
>
> If it is manufactured as a tractor, and/or has a fifth wheel you need a
> Class A CDL.
>
> > 3. Would there be any benefit on trying to obtain a single axle tractor
> instead
> > of a tandem axle unit regarding making it an RV, getting by with no CDL,
> etc.
> > Remember in most of the US, RV's don't require CDLs at all.
>
> This would probably never fly with any P O as an RV. Single or twin screw
> axles doesnt matter. A tractor is a tractor. About the only things you can
> benifit from by being non-commercial is exemption from certain DOT regs
> which pertain to commercial truckers. But you still must be qualified to
> drive what you are using even if it is just for your own personal use.
> There are a lot of people runnig around under misconceptions. You would not
> want to find out the hard way after an accident or after being stopped for
> some reason. Get the CDL if the truck needs it.
>
> > I just want to avoid the pitfalls before I get pulled over and cited!
> > Dave
> >
> This is true.
>
> Glenn
> MVPA
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 04 2001 - 08:10:48 PDT