From: timothy.smith1@att.net
Date: Fri Jun 03 2005 - 21:13:14 PDT
Mike,
I will speak as to Texas driver's license law only (yours may be different or perhaps quite similar) my guess is it'll probably be similar.
The following might shed a new perspective on your state's law which you must read carefully..but when you are done with this you will understand the concept for TEXAS.
In our state, for a towed vehicle (or vehicles) to be counted towards the GCVWR gross combined vehicle weight rating of the total vehicle (power unit and towed unit), the towed vehicle(s) must exceed a GVWR of 10,000 pounds. There may be more than one towed vehicle and their GVWRs get added together.
To illustrate this... A hypothetical tractor or truck has a GVWR of 16,001 pounds, towing a trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds. The trailer doesn't exceed a GVWR of 10,000 pounds so I don't get to add it to the truck's GVWR...in this TEXAS case, No CDL is required because all I've got is 16,001 on the truck and the trailer doesn't count for anything as it hasn't reached the threshold GVWR of OVER 10,000 pounds.
But, here's another one for you...A hypothetical tractor or truck has a GVWR of 16,000 pounds, towing a trailer with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds. Trailer exceeds 10,000 pounds GVWR, so we add it to the power unit's GVWR of 16,000 pounds. 16,000 plus 10,001 equals a gross combined vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds and he needs a Texas Class A CDL.
Texas has administrative rules which cover other circumstances such as the absence of a determinable GVWR on vehicles. Suppose I have a guy who is handy and he builds himself a big honkin' trailer with no assigned GVWR. In this case (absence of GVWR) the rules state I am to use his registered trailer weight (this is my primary source) or actual weight (secondary source) for the purpose of determining CDL.
So, your best source of information on what YOU need in your area is your local driver's license office. Ask for their CDL handbook; the study guide for taking a CDL test. It will spell out the ins and outs of CDL in your state quite clearly.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
TJ
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Mike <michael@tsixroads.com>
> The big question I have is do the regs say you need a Class A CDL for a trailer
> over 10,000 pounds? I am strictly talking about weight here, not if it is
> commercial or personal use.
>
> Looking at the Mississippi manual:
>
> You must have a CDL if:
>
> A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the gross combination weight
> rating is more than 26,000.
>
>
> BUT, I have also seen it written elsewhere as: A combination weight over 26,000
> pounds OR a trailer over 10,000. That would mean a 1/2 ton pickup with a
> flatbed trailer with two 5200 pound axles would need a class A CDL.
>
> Of course that doesn’t help Dave any with his 24,000 GVWR trailer does it? ie
> it is based on GVWR not what it is tagged for?
>
> Mike
> Tishomingo, MS
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: timothy.smith1@att.net
> Sent: Jun 3, 2005 9:52 PM
> To: Military Vehicles Mailing List <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Subject: [MV] Oh NO!..DOT
>
> Fellas,
> I happen to be a DOT inspector. I have been following this thread with
> interest. If you have some questions, perhaps I can be of service. (Go ahead,
> turn up the heat.... I have my nomex underwear on..)
> TJ
>
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Oct 28 2005 - 22:47:27 PDT