New trailers over 10K rating?

Looking to replace / upgrade my old (1992) 7000# car hauler trailer. I don't use my trailer often and the heaviest thing I can picture is an Oliver 1355 at about 7000#, or one of my truck projects at about 5500#. My current trailer was not happy with the Massey 202 Workbull with loader and weighted tires (about 6000#), but did just fine with all my other projects. When I do use my trailer the drive is usually 200+ miles. I'm not in a hurry and drive careful but there are some areas that just can't reasonably be reached without expressway driving, and I'm leery of loading the trailer close to max and driving thru the potholes and crazed drivers in Flint in the afternoon... So I thought I'd step up to something with better brakes and suspension.
I used to be able to find 9900# trailers, but now all I see is 10200#. Looking at all the recent posts it does not look like the laws added a 200# safety allowance like tractor pulling does LOL. Am I correct that I would need a CDL to legally pull one of these?
 
(quoted from post at 04:57:43 09/12/16) Looking to replace / upgrade my old (1992) 7000# car hauler trailer. I don't use my trailer often and the heaviest thing I can picture is an Oliver 1355 at about 7000#, or one of my truck projects at about 5500#. My current trailer was not happy with the Massey 202 Workbull with loader and weighted tires (about 6000#), but did just fine with all my other projects. When I do use my trailer the drive is usually 200+ miles. I'm not in a hurry and drive careful but there are some areas that just can't reasonably be reached without expressway driving, and I'm leery of loading the trailer close to max and driving thru the potholes and crazed drivers in Flint in the afternoon... So I thought I'd step up to something with better brakes and suspension.
I used to be able to find 9900# trailers, but now all I see is 10200#. Looking at all the recent posts it does not look like the laws added a 200# safety allowance like tractor pulling does LOL. Am I correct that I would need a CDL to legally pull one of these?

My trailer is rated for 14,000#. My truck, a one ton dually, is rated for 11,400#. The combined weight is 25,400#, which is UNDER the 26,001# ruling. I do NOT need a CDL unless I was hauling for hire, which I do not do.
 
NO : the regulations state if your
trailer is OVER 10,000# AND your
combined GVWR is OVER 26,000 a CDL is
required. I doubt you will be pulling
it with a truck that will put you over
the 26,000 mark.
 
Ah, it's lonely if the combo exceeds 26K.

I was wondering about that, there were a lot of 9900# trailers being sold last time I was in the market. Good to know the facts.

Now to decide if, for the 3 days a year I need one, I should buy new, or just have someone else haul it if it's that heavy.

Thanks again.
 
Not sure where you are located but in NC you are aren't required to have a CDL but you are required to have a class A license....Class A: Required to operate a combination of vehicles that is exempt from
CDL requirements when the towed unit has a gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.

Maybe should give you local drivers license folks a call.
 
(quoted from post at 03:21:29 09/14/16) Ah, it's lonely if the combo exceeds 26K.

I was wondering about that, there were a lot of 9900# trailers being sold last time I was in the market. Good to know the facts.

Now to decide if, for the 3 days a year I need one, I should buy new, or just have someone else haul it if it's that heavy.

Thanks again.

Once you have the trailer you'll find many uses that you never thought of before. You'll also realize that no matter where you park it, it will be in your way.
 
Federal law states that you must have a Class A license for any combination over 26,000lbs if the trailer in tow is over 10,000lbs.
So to expand on that, if your combination is over 26,000 lbs but the trailer is under 10,000lbs then you need a class B

Now that doesn't mean your state cant crack down on that a bit more. I've heard of states that require it for trailers over 10,000lbs.
Best bet is to seek out your state's CDL manual as the requirements should be in the very first few pages there.

Unless you are hauling for hire, you are NOT subject to USDOT regs.
 
Here, I did the work for you. :
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/cdlmanul_16090_7.pdf
Take a look at that. Its your CDL Manual. Looks like your all set, your state does not require a CDL for trailers over 10,000 lbs unless the combined weight rating of both truck and trailer exceeds 26k.
 
[u:243209c971]Ok so heres another one from your state. Looks like in your state, they don't care if you exceed 26K as long as is personal possessions, and not for hire. Read the bottom.

Who Needs a CDL?

Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:


Single Vehicles - Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.



Combination Vehicles - Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the gross combination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more.



Vehicles:

•Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)


•Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding


*Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the recommended maximum total weight of the vehicle and load as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. The GVWR label is usually found on the driver side door post of the power unit and on the front left side of the trailer. The GVWR should not be confused with the elected gross vehicle weight (GVW) which is declared by the vehicle owner for registration purposes.



**Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a combination vehicle. In the absence of a label, the GCWR can be calculated by adding the GVWR of the power unit to the GVWR of the vehicle(s) or trailer(s) being towed.



Exemptions



The following people do not need a CDL:


Active Duty Military (including National Guard): With military licenses operating military vehicles.



Police Officers and Firefighters: Meeting approved training standards and operating authorized emergency vehicles.



Farmers: Operating vehicles within a 150 mile radius of their farm.

•An F-endorsement is needed by farmers operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. A knowledge test, but no skills test, is required to obtain the F-endorsement.


•However, farmers who carry hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding while operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, need a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.




[b:243209c971]Individuals: Operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members, for non-business purposes[/b:243209c971]
[/u:243209c971]
 
If trailer is under 10001#: and truck
is under 26,001#: no CDL is required.
That is the regulations exemption used
by the rental truck companies. "Class
B " CDL is for non-combination
(straight truck, no trailer) vehicles
over 26,000#. This is the FMCSA
interstate requirements. Some states
may have added different "intrastate"
standards but I doubt they will
override federal statute. Seems that
if you declare you cross state lines:
federal regulations would apply.
 
(quoted from post at 15:51:04 09/14/16) If trailer is under 10001#: and truck
is under 26,001#: no CDL is required.
That is the regulations exemption used
by the rental truck companies. "Class
B " CDL is for non-combination
(straight truck, no trailer) vehicles
over 26,000#. This is the FMCSA
interstate requirements. Some states
may have added different "intrastate"
standards but I doubt they will
override federal statute. Seems that
if you declare you cross state lines:
federal regulations would apply.

Yes but if the trailer is over 10,000 lbs, but the combination is under 26,000 lbs, no CDL is required.
 
Federal law saws that but some states have added their own requiring to the federal law and in some cases you do need a CDL. So you better check the state or states that your going to be traveling through.
 
I work for a large municipality. We have bought
many new trailers that are over 10,000 ratings. We
have them remove the manufactures plate and
derate them to 9,999. The serial number plate, title
and registration from the manufacturer is 9,999.
This is not to be confused with under registering a
trailer that has a manufacture plates that states
12,000 and you tag it for 9,999. This allows us to
have a very heavy duty trailer and use it for much
less weight. People here seem to abuse stuff. It's
not like a personally owned trailer. So discuss with
the dealer if buying new to derate the manufacturer
serial number plate and title before purchase, it can
be done.
 
Don't forget the first question about needing a CDL is are you Commercial or Private? Some but not all conditions are if you're not; hauling your tractor in the furtherance of a business, Hiring yourself out to do work with it, using the tractor to advertise your restoration/repair skills for hire, hauling somebody else's tractor for compensation, taking your tractor to a show or contest where you can win prize money, you have a sponsor paying all or part of your transportation costs.
If you answered 'NO' to all of the above, you're private and exempt from commercial regulation.
 
(quoted from post at 14:16:41 09/15/16) Federal law saws that but some states have added their own requiring to the federal law and in some cases you do need a CDL. So you better check the state or states that your going to be traveling through.

Your needing or not needing a CDL is based purely on your home state. Your not required to change your licensing for every state you go through. Your held to the requirements of the federal government and your home state.

That doesn't mean you wont get a hard time from an incompetent cop in some other state. That idiot cop might even write you a ticket and tow you, and you might have to go to court(in which case it would be dismissed immediately).

So yes, being knowledgeable of other states laws is a great idea, but if your state doesn't require special licensing to tow over 10,000 lbs, then you can legally tow that in all 50 states.
Too bad the same doesn't apply to guns.
 
Yep: CDL is a federal program, administered by the states under federal mandate using federal standards and requirements. I very well remember when it came into being and how hard some states tried to avoid the federal requirements overriding state statues. Didn't work.
 
Every time this comes up it gets beat to death. I can say they got rid of several of the stupid requirements for trailers in MI. Not sure just which ones other than the US DOT numbers being on the side of your truck and some of those things.
 
(quoted from post at 20:52:23 10/03/16) Not sure just which ones other than the US DOT numbers being on the side of your truck and some of those things.

And you only need DOT numbers if your operating commercially. And that information is in the first few pages of the US DOT manual in plain English.
 
Funny thing, I lost my DOT medical due to an eye the falls below minimums. I can still see 20/20 with the other eye. That said I can not drive a F550 (and over grown pickup) across a state line
commercially but I can pull my 42 foot 5th wheel with a 1 ton pickup that totals 27500 with no CDL or DOT medical. Seem silly to me but that the law.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top