Just went through basically the same thing and it's all in the wording. By that I mean you have to understand there is first the GVW of a vehicle and it has nothing to do with the GCW of the same vehicle with a trailer behind it. If the back of your regular license reads like it does here in NC it is good for ANY vehicle with a GVW of less than 26,001 lbs and can tow a vehicle with s GVW of less than 10,001 lbs. Beyond that the ONLY difference the actual weight will make is IF there is no actual GVW sticker on the vehicle or trailer, and/or in the case of the trailer the GVW is shown as over 10,001 lbs. If BOTH of the GVW stickers show the lesser weight of 26,001 or less and 10,001 or less the only thing they can actually do to you is give you a ticket for being overweight (if you actually are) wether you have a CDL or not. As the DMV Safety man told me as long as you have something 'more official than a letter from your momma' stating the mfg's listed GVW for that vehicle is less than or greater than 26,001 lbs, then that's all they can legally go by when it comes what you need in order to require a CDL. Now barring that official document the actual weight of the vehicle then comes into play and over means a CDL, under means your OK.
Too I hear people all the time saying air brakes require a CDL. Granted it's in the books for vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVW byt says nothing about them on vehicles below 26001 lbs. Dad's truck has a 25,000 GVW and has them, mine has a 26,000 GVW and has them and we have both been through the weight stations and been stopped for random inspections numerous times over the past 20 plus years and have never had a problem. The only problem I ever have is that though my truck has a 26,000 GVW sticker it typically weights over that, and I keep it tagged for 38,000 lbs so I can pull a small trailer and not be worried about being overweight. Even so I typically have over the 20,000 legal weight on my rear axel so a small ticket for being over my legal axel weight and being on the interstate is usually the order of the day. That's why I know how to get around the weight stations when I need to use the interstate, as there is a 10% grace over the 20,000 on the backroads and I'm good there.
In your case you ARE bound to get a CDL for the simple fact the GVW on your trailer is greater than 10,001 lbs, regardless of the combined weight. Your truck obviouslly isn't rated for a combined weight, if it was it would be listed onb the door sticker as the GCWR, so don't worry about that. Because of that the GVW of both the truck and trailer are all that matter. Now you can often get the GVW on a trailer changed/lowered by the mfg (I know Hudson will do it for you on their trailers if that's what you have, all you have to do is fill out a paper requesting them to derate it...I called and asked about one that was given to me by a buddy). That said you CAN get, and do need the class A, with the truck you currently have and your trailer, not because of anything to do with thr truck, not because of anything to as that DOES NOT MATTER, but simply because your trailer itself has a GVW of greater than 10,001 lbs. What I was told is that you get a regular CDL but that it would have a class 8 restriction meaning you couldn't drive say a big KW and a 53 foot trailer.
All of that said I'd do as others have suggested and find another DMV agent to talk to. Better yet do what I did and find one of your local truck driver training schools and call and ask their instructors. Those guys make their living doing this stuff and being a third party contractor have to cover their a$$es when they do the road tests, etc. That's what I finally had to do to get a straight answer about what I did or didn't need with my truck. Even then I got the same answer you did but after talking to the guy for a few minutes it finally dawned on him what was going on and he called the main DMV branch in Raleigh to get the letter of the law to make sure he did things right. In the end even the DMV guy he spoke with had to go back and actually read the regs to get it right. In the end the GCW means nothing unless the truck is rated with a GCW. If it's just rated with a GVW then 26,001 lbs and less no CDL and you can tow any trailer with it's own GVW of less than 10,001 lbs without a CDL. Go over the 26.001 on the truck alone and you need a class B CDL, go over the 10,001 on the trailer, REGARDLESS of the trucks weight and you automatically need a class A with a class 8 restriction if called for by the situation.
It's all long, complicated, and a royal PITA to deal with but having gone through it myself I know exactly how you feel. If you have any other questions please feel free to message me direct and maybe I can help out a little more. Good luck. Wayne
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. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Engine Valves - Some Helpful Information - by Staff. Intake - On the intake stroke the piston moves doward, sucking in carburized fuel through the open intake valve. Exhaust valve is closed. Compression - With both the intake and exhaust valves closed, the pistons upward stroke compresses or squeezes the fuel into the combustion chamber. Firing - Ignited by the spark, the compressed fuel explodes and forces the piston downward on its power stroke. Intake and exhaust valves are closed. Exhaust valves and seats are exp
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
