De-rating a truck to get under CDLs?

Logan Bryan · Feb 26, 2018

Has anyone ever de-rated a truck from 33,000 to 26,000 or less? Having CDL drivers are hard to get nowadays even though they are pretty simple to get. But I was wondering if someone has ever done it and how hard it is to do. It would only be our bucket trucks. As you need as much weight as u can with grapple trucks. We never haul anything with our buckets though so weight should not be an issue. Thanks for ur input!

Gorman · Feb 27, 2018

If you get pulled over they go by the door jam tag. Not the registration. To change that tag is a huge deal if possible and not worth it.

TimberJack · Feb 28, 2018

What sort of incentives do you give to employees who obtain CDL? Do you have employee tenure problems?

Logan Bryan · Feb 28, 2018

2-3$ an hour salary increase and we pay for all cost to get them. I’m asking for my dad right now but I will be taking over the business in a year once I get out of college. Honestly just ppl that don’t have any drive to get them.

TimberJack · Mar 1, 2018

I worked for companies that made it a prerequisite. Others only offer $1, $2-$3 is a great incentive. Only rear mount 55 - 65 footers can sqeak into 25,999 lb gvw from my gatherings. Elevators and forestry packages are too heavy.

Logan Bryan · Mar 1, 2018

TimberJack said:
I worked for companies that made it a prerequisite. Others only offer $1, $2-$3 is a great incentive. Only rear mount 55 - 65 footers can sqeak into 25,999 lb gvw from my gatherings. Elevators and forestry packages are too heavy.

Yeah ours is a 65 bucket that we were want to look into it. But I guess there is no easy way around it.

ATH · Mar 1, 2018

I'd bet it would be easy if you were ordering new. The manufacturer could tag it and title it at a lower rating.

I had looked into getting a bigger dump trailer tagged at 10,000 and was told "no problem". Decided not to get that, but I know it was possible.

southsoundtree · Mar 1, 2018

Logan Bryan said:
Has anyone ever de-rated a truck from 33,000 to 26,000 or less? Having CDL drivers are hard to get nowadays even though they are pretty simple to get. But I was wondering if someone has ever done it and how hard it is to do. It would only be our bucket trucks. As you need as much weight as u can with grapple trucks. We never haul anything with our buckets though so weight should not be an issue. Thanks for ur input!

Out of curiousity, what is the dry weight of the your truck? Loaded weight with fuel, people, gear?

I've seen this advertised in used truck sales. Seems bogus.

The truck will still have air brakes, right?

Logan Bryan · Mar 1, 2018

southsoundtree said:
Out of curiousity, what is the dry weight of the your truck? Loaded weight with fuel, people, gear?

I've seen this advertised in used truck sales. Seems bogus.

The truck will still have air brakes, right?

Yes will still have air brakes. But as far as I’ve seen as long as your GVWR is below 26000 you can have air brakes but don’t need a CDL. Truck will be around 22-24k probably

Gorman · Mar 1, 2018

ATH said:
I'd bet it would be easy if you were ordering new. The manufacturer could tag it and title it at a lower rating.

I had looked into getting a bigger dump trailer tagged at 10,000 and was told "no problem". Decided not to get that, but I know it was possible.

All he has to do is buy a brand new truck. I dunno, sounds like a large hoop to jump through.

ATH · Mar 2, 2018

Gorman said:
All he has to do is buy a brand new truck. I dunno, sounds like a large hoop to jump through.

Yeah...kinda.

southsoundtree · Mar 2, 2018

What state?

What does your DMV or State Patrol tell you?

Logan Bryan · Mar 2, 2018

Alabama. I guess that will be the next step is to contact the state patrol. Honestly the more I think about it the less I see it’s fisable. It’s a older truck. When I run the operation I will keep it in my mind for the Under CDL trucks. And honestly it’s very easy to get CDLs so it shouldn’t be as big of a problem as it seems. Thank y’all for the input guys!

Gorman · Mar 2, 2018

It’s going to be very easy to recruit cdl drivers once automation takes place. It will take five or so years but there will be a glut of class A drivers out a job looking for work.

Logan Bryan · Mar 5, 2018

Gorman said:
It’s going to be very easy to recruit cdl drivers once automation takes place. It will take five or so years but there will be a glut of class A drivers out a job looking for work.

Yessir it will but will they be willing to really “work”. 4 out of 5 people that come to work for us that come with CDLs have very little to any hard work in them. But I will have to give and take some to get what I need I guess.