Since I hijacked a thread in another forum with some of this info and this does seem to be a somewhat recurring item among tree folks particuarly business owners, I thought maybe starting a thread with just this info would be a good idea. MODS---- If you feel this is inappropriate or is in the wrong forum please adjust accordingly. I'm not a slf proclaimed expert in this area. However i have paid my share of fines over the years, the area i live and work in (SE PA) is pretty conjested with multiple layers of DOT law enforcement ( local, state, and Federal), which I get to deal with on a practically monthly basis, and by good fortune ( ???) my business insurance broker has the initiative to run a day long class on DOT and CDL stuff every other year or so for it's clients. The class / Q&A session is led by our State Trooper that oversees ALL DOT items in PA and is also Federal accredited. This gives an great opportunity to ask ?s and what ifs without having to pay tickets and court costs so I have learned a lot thankfully.
Anybody with info and input please jump in and share. This ain't my thread. I'm possibly just starting it.
A important item to remember with all this stuff is going back to around 2013 the US DOT ( Federal) told all the states in the US that their Commercial Motor Vehicle divisions had to fall in line with their minimum requirements. States had until 2015 ( If I remember correctly) to adjust their CMVs divs accordingly. So pretty much everything I'll pass along here is based on the fact that the rules set by states are just carbon copied from the Fed book.
The simplest way to explain what I think are the most common issues can be summed up with:
1). If your trailer GVWR exceeds 10,001# you need a Class A CDL.
2). Air brakes is a restriction on your liscence- NOT an endorsement
3). It is entirely possible to need and have a Class A CDL and not have air brakes.
4). I gotta check on this but it's either 10,000# or 15,000# is the threshhold for needing a medical card. If you need a CDL you need a med card BUT you may also need a med card and NOT have a CDL. All states are supposed to be changing their CDL issuing rules ( i know it is in place in PA currently) you cant even get a CDL permit without a med card first. If at any time your card expires and you dont renew it you lose your CDL. They will not reinstate it either. You gotta go back to getting a permit n start all over.
5) If your vehicle exceeds 26,001 GVWR you need a CDL
6) Here is a oddball- If your vehicle GVWR and actual weight does not exceed 26,001# and you are towing a trailer with a max GVWR and actual weight not exceeding 10,000# you don't need a CDL...even tho your total is around 36,000#
7). If you tow a trailer exceeding 10,0001# you need to have that vehicle registered as a combination. If you don't the overweight fines can be devastating. There are some loopholes around the combo registration but simply put- you really don't have that option until you get into 10 wheeler and larger trucks that generally have a GVWR around 58,000 or more.
8). States still have the final say on axle weights and bridge weights ( loosely defined - bridge weight is used to determine appropriate weights on axles and axle spacing and number of axles- not what most of us think of as a bridge). I'm not even gonna touch this one since many are different.
9). This thread is not meant to provide final answers to questions you may have. You really need to contact your State DMV to get 100% clarification. It is meant to maybe clear up some muddy waters and provide links and info on where to go to ask these important questions.
10). I can't help every person in every state BUT- formyou guys and gals in PA here is a number to call direct 24 hrs/7 days that will tie you in to the State Troopers DOT desk. If you get stopped and think you are getting hit for some things unfairly you can call them. The key is to tell them you are quote "in a roadside stop". They will help whatever law enforcement that has you pulled over sort thru any questions you may have. I have used it, it works, and if you still feel whatever happened was unfair you can appeal it direct thru them before you urinate a bunch of hard earned time and cash away in court.
The number is 1-717-346-7347
I'll get off my soapbox for a bit now....
Anybody with info and input please jump in and share. This ain't my thread. I'm possibly just starting it.
A important item to remember with all this stuff is going back to around 2013 the US DOT ( Federal) told all the states in the US that their Commercial Motor Vehicle divisions had to fall in line with their minimum requirements. States had until 2015 ( If I remember correctly) to adjust their CMVs divs accordingly. So pretty much everything I'll pass along here is based on the fact that the rules set by states are just carbon copied from the Fed book.
The simplest way to explain what I think are the most common issues can be summed up with:
1). If your trailer GVWR exceeds 10,001# you need a Class A CDL.
2). Air brakes is a restriction on your liscence- NOT an endorsement
3). It is entirely possible to need and have a Class A CDL and not have air brakes.
4). I gotta check on this but it's either 10,000# or 15,000# is the threshhold for needing a medical card. If you need a CDL you need a med card BUT you may also need a med card and NOT have a CDL. All states are supposed to be changing their CDL issuing rules ( i know it is in place in PA currently) you cant even get a CDL permit without a med card first. If at any time your card expires and you dont renew it you lose your CDL. They will not reinstate it either. You gotta go back to getting a permit n start all over.
5) If your vehicle exceeds 26,001 GVWR you need a CDL
6) Here is a oddball- If your vehicle GVWR and actual weight does not exceed 26,001# and you are towing a trailer with a max GVWR and actual weight not exceeding 10,000# you don't need a CDL...even tho your total is around 36,000#
7). If you tow a trailer exceeding 10,0001# you need to have that vehicle registered as a combination. If you don't the overweight fines can be devastating. There are some loopholes around the combo registration but simply put- you really don't have that option until you get into 10 wheeler and larger trucks that generally have a GVWR around 58,000 or more.
8). States still have the final say on axle weights and bridge weights ( loosely defined - bridge weight is used to determine appropriate weights on axles and axle spacing and number of axles- not what most of us think of as a bridge). I'm not even gonna touch this one since many are different.
9). This thread is not meant to provide final answers to questions you may have. You really need to contact your State DMV to get 100% clarification. It is meant to maybe clear up some muddy waters and provide links and info on where to go to ask these important questions.
10). I can't help every person in every state BUT- formyou guys and gals in PA here is a number to call direct 24 hrs/7 days that will tie you in to the State Troopers DOT desk. If you get stopped and think you are getting hit for some things unfairly you can call them. The key is to tell them you are quote "in a roadside stop". They will help whatever law enforcement that has you pulled over sort thru any questions you may have. I have used it, it works, and if you still feel whatever happened was unfair you can appeal it direct thru them before you urinate a bunch of hard earned time and cash away in court.
The number is 1-717-346-7347
I'll get off my soapbox for a bit now....
