Truck Registration

Samuels68 · Sep 11, 2013

Didn't want to hijack Bob's thread on truck tags, but thought of something interesting the other day. I have an 07 Chevy crew cab Duramax. The manual states that is has a GCWR of 22,000 lbs. and a towing capacity of 13,600 lbs. I also own a gooseneck trailer with a max weight rating of 12,000 which I use for transporting my loader tractor. If I were to register the truck for total weight of truck and max trailer wieght, that would put me at just over 20k, so an 11 ton license. When I drove for the local lumberyard years ago, I had to get a chauffers license to drive trucks over 16000 lbs.
Now my question, If I register my truck at 11 tons, does my wife technically have to have a Chauffers license to drive the truck, even if it is unloaded? Just looking for opinions...
Jess

Anonymous-0 · Sep 11, 2013

S2710 · Sep 11, 2013

I am no cop or lawyer but the last that I heard was that you didn't need a CDL until you were over 26000 lbs. On another note no state issues a Chauffers license any more, only CDL's.

Bob

PeterE · Sep 11, 2013

26,000 is the limit for a CDL.

(Note that the limit for DRIVER to require a CDL is different than the limit for the truck to need DOT numbers, log books, etc. That limit is 10,000 for a vehicle used in business)
CDL from the US DOT

D beatty · Sep 11, 2013

There is one state that still does issues Chauffers license. Indiana issues a public passenger Chauffer license.

Samuels68 · Sep 11, 2013

What got me thinking of this is I just renewed my license last month, and they renewed my chauffers license. The back of my license specifically states "Class D-Chauffer Endorsement 2-Noncommercial vehicles > 16000 but < 26001"
I know I am below the CDL threshold with truck and trailer, and neither are used for commercial purposes, but was just wondering what y'all thought
Jess

john in la · Sep 11, 2013

Did not know Iowa law so I went and looked it up so I can give you a better answer.

Iowa has a Class D - Chauffeur (Non-Commercial)license. It covers trucks over 16,000 lbs and small passenger-for-hire vehicles.

So Yes. If you register your truck for 16,000 lbs or over any one that drives it will need the Class D - (Non-Commercial) Chauffeur license even when it is empty or without the trailer.

I got this info from the 2012/2013 Iowa drivers manual.

john in la · Sep 11, 2013

PS.
This same license also includes persons
exempted from commercial licensing such as farmers driving tractor trailers.

Samuels68 · Sep 11, 2013

John,
That is the way I interpreted what I read as well. It just didn't seem to make much sense that a regular 3/4 ton pickup would require a special license, but why would the law make sense, right? After all, laws are made by politicians...

Jess

john in la · Sep 11, 2013

Sam
I think it is more about how modern truck "owners" have changed rather than the laws.

These laws (for the most part) were made years and years ago.

If I think back to my early 20's or teens (I am over 50) I can not remember one private person owning a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Yes business; a farmer; or someone that did a lot of hauling stuff might have one but no private owners.
Heck they made 4 door pickups back then but the only place that I can remember that had one was the city water/sewerage department. No private driver would be caught dead in a 4 door pickup.

Now look around today. Everyone needs a 4 door pickup that can not only pull a 5th wheel camper; it can pull a load of jet skies; 4 wheeler's; or boat; behind the camper at the same time.
And some of them do not even own a camper or a boat. They just got some $60,000 pickup to show off to the neighbors.

Modern truck laws just have not kept up with the times.

Samuels68 · Sep 11, 2013

John,
You make a point I would never have thought of...and now that I do, maybe the old law aint so bad! I see soccer moms in town all the time in their King Ranch F350s etc. that can't even park them let alone drive them! Bet you not one of them out at the local "campground" (more like a spa resort) has a legal registration...standard 3 ton on most!
Even the county treasurers office has no clue though, because I once asked for a 4 ton license on a previous pickup and the lady looked at me like I had 3 eyes! I told her the truck weighs more than 3 tons without me in it!
Guess I'll have to send the Mrs. to get her proper license...
Jess

JimEvans · Sep 12, 2013

Most HD trucks are not legal in Iowa with a 3 ton license. A 4 ton is needed. I only licensed my 3500 to 6 ton because anything more than that started to get real expensive per ton. The law in Iowa says if you are licensed for the unloaded weight, you are allowed to weigh up to 8 tons + tolerance when you are loaded with anything but farm commodities. (16,800 lbs) That does make most people legal with normal loads like a trailer and one antique tractor. A lot more would be legal with a 4 ton license. If you are scaling more than 16,800 lbs, then you need to be licensed to cover the entire weight.
For the most part, camper trailers are exempt. I don't know if that is a real rule or it is just not enforced.

Bret4207 · Sep 12, 2013

Actually, a CDL is required for 26,001 lbs or more, not a GVWR of 26K. A small point, but important.

As a former cop/DOT Inspector I would urge you to go to your state DMV and get the information you need that is specific to your state. Talk to a Supervisor at the DMV or your state police or whoever is charged with enforcement. There are so many differences between states as far as licensing go that asking in a forum like this is almost certain to give you incorrect information. Get the information from your state, in writting, and retain it if there is any doubt in your mind. Generally, the issue of commercial use vs non-commercial comes into play, which is why Grandpa Greyhair can drive an RV with a 30K GVWR towing the Caddy and the boat behind it on a Class D! Also, registered weight and GVWR are two different things. Why they don't always use the GVWR is beyond me, but it's the way it is.

BAnNC · Sep 12, 2013

You got that right! and those King Ranch 350's are
on the road here with the 8 horse trailer with the
camper in the front. Don't know the overall weight
but it appears to be 40 ft. long. Scares me when
they go by you at 10mph over the limit, cell phone
in one hand, and trying to eat with the other. Hope
none of my family/friends are around when they come
back.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Sep 12, 2013

When it comes to pickups in Iowa, you register for only the maximum weight the pickup will ever have on it's axles, NOT the amount the pickup would weigh including a loaded trailer. So the correct weight you'd need to register for would be with only the truck's wheels on the scale and the trailer wheels off the scale or whatever cargo you'd have in the bed of the truck.

Samuels68 · Sep 12, 2013

Brian,
Not to change the subject, but whereabouts in Jasper co. are you located. My moms family is all from that area. Mostly west of Baxter along old 223
Jess

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