That's not true at all.

 

If you operate a vehicle in the pursuit of commercail enterprise on the public roadways you are required to hold a CDL. If you drive a tow truck or a taxi cab. Technically speakin the pizza delivery kid is required to have one but in the real world will that ever be enforced.

If you are commercial you have to have a CDL. If your not commercial then you start looking at the weight and length requirements. As I said earlier in this post, I would love for somebody to prove me wrong on this it's creating a major burden in my world.

 

So as long as I remain non-commercial, and am under 26,000, I'm good to go then.

 

As long as you can prove you are not making an effort to show profit you are safe. The trick is how to prove that and not getting checked by an officer in a bad mood that day.

But in your case of hauling to rodeo's in specific. In Illinois so far I personally have not heard any horror stories yet but on other sites gathering info for this thread I did find several guys hauling horses that were fined. The DOT argument was that if you are in competion you are either in pursuit of a cash or trophy, which has a cash value. At some point your animals will be for sale and sale price will reflect it's winings so no matter how you look at it the argument can be made that you are commercial if they want to strectch the limits.

At the time I started this thread I had talked to a rep from the Federal DOT about this. I was told that it is the intention of the Federal Government that all 1 ton or heavier trucks will be classified as for hire by default in the near future. Some states were already implementing this and others are dragging their feet on it but will be forced to comply as times goes. At this time they have overlooked 3/4 Ton trucks in this program but I'm sure that's just a minor oversight that will be fixxed.

The big reason for this and the major enforcement so far has been the race car haulers and they are catching the brunt of the impact. If you go to racing sites they are playin hell right now with trucks and trailers. Most of us are just getting caught up in the wake. I've personally hauled horses and cattle for hire for several years up until recently. Been all over the country with this and the only state I have ever had real problems in was Iowa.

 

Yeah but Iowa DOT is a bunch of a**holes anyways regardless....

 

soooo if im hauling a u haul????

 

There was some special provisions in the federal guidlines for rental vehicles being excempt from weigh stations and special licensing but I'm pretty sure they have been removed. I know some states now require all rental trucks and trailers to stop at the weigh stations and the last I knew of Uhaul no longer ented anything long enough or heay enugh weight limits to require special licensing. If you look at the side panels of even thelargest ones they say gross vehicle weight under 26,000 pounds. If you overload it the ticket is on you and they are not responsible.

 

You ONLY need a CDL if you are OVER 26K lbs. If you drive tow truck for hire and it is registered AT 26K you are completely legal with a regular drivers license. This is the FEDERL DOT law. Individual states may vary. I am a Federal DOT Commercial Vehicle Inspector and we come across these things evey day. I don't claim to have all of the answers, but 'll try to help if I can.

 

If your an inspector then jump in here and help us out. I get conflicting answeres from every person I talk to and the written regs are so open to interpretation that anything could apply.

With the understanding that every state has their own set of rules fill us in on the Federal guidelines. For those of us that are hauling hobbies such as horses or race cars, or even the stuff we need to support those hobbies like hay or a tractor. Are we considered to be commercial.

I know it's a different issue but I got pulled over last year for hauling a load of rock from the quarry to my barn because I was was only running the orange implement marker and the State Cop said that the only load I could haul on my trailer with that marker is feed. It was always my understanding that I could haul anything in support of agricultural use within so many miles of my farm.

I'd also like some real world clarification on the difference between commercial and Non-Commercial DOT numbers for our trucks.

By the way, welcome to the site. Hope to you around a while.

 

I have found out that, single rear wheel, + a tag along i am out out the category big truck ( hauling for pay ) , have a 2 axle and 3 axle tag along trailers, both with independent 7000 lbs axle's, both pulls great with my 3500, now looks like a 2500.
Changed front wheel lately, same rims as on the back.
Local dot officer told me i am fine to go, don't have to stop at scales.