Agreed...where this gets muddy is when does it become a commercial venture.

If I own a trailer with a 15K GVW and pull with a 1 ton with a 9000GVW. I am class A, but not CDL. Because I carry mine and my sons jeeps.
Owning and pulling these trailer means I'm as much commercial as owning a weapon means I'm a murderer.

comments??

 

If you are being inspected they will depending on how in depth the inspection look at one of two things. The quick version is that they will look and see what you are your plated ratings are and go by that. For the more in depth inspection they will check the tag on the inside of the drivers side door and go by the weight classifications on that and they will also check the sidewall rating on the tires and make sure you are not over weight there also.

So it's not what you are hauling at that moment that matters for the CDL purposes but what you are rated to haul. You still need a CDL to drive a semi even if it is empty and under 26,000 pounds. I have a trailer rated at 21,000 and I have to ave CDL to haul it even empty.

The other problem with this is that from now on if you are hauling the Federal DOT says that with very few exceptions you are commercial now. If your hauling that mudder or racer, regardless of weight you are a commercial enterprise. This is even making it's way down to lawn services hauling a small trailer. They are a business entity and your gonna see the small pickups even having DOT numbers on them to operate that trailer. Uncle Sam bein serious about this, he want's his cut and he's gonna take it out of your hyde if he has to. It's already happening. For better or worse he's being supported by the legal haulers on this also. If you go to the trucking and Hot Shot sites, we are not a well liked crowd and they're tired of us weekenders takin their livelihood. Be this right or wrong, I have mixed emotions. But either way it is a fact.

 

do you have a link to the exemptions?

I can understand why the pros are pissed at the hotshotters. But the blanket screw'em all mentality of the Gov't is what really pisses me off.

 

This DOT Reg is your only chance at being able to argue it.

If you look up the federal government's definition of compensation, it is the exchange of currency and/or the exchange of goods or services that might have a monetary value. Your trophy, belt buckle or prize money is considered to have monetary value. In the end it all boils down to who is pulling you over and how much of a dick they wanna be. If your riding that edge, you are betting thousands of dollars on the fact that only the nice guys are gonna stop you.

 

Michigan sent our company a paper stating who applies for a USDOT #
I havent sent in for my numbers yet... I just dont like the idea of putting the company name/city/state/USDOT #'s on the doors

AND my own personal 1 ton chevy 2wd dump truck that I have a FARM plate on will need USDOT #'s..... CRAPPPP! I dont want to put my own name on the side of the truck....

 

For any of you that have been through this already, please feel free to post up the how to's for the rest of us poor slobs on how to get the USDOT numbers and any additional tags were gonna need.

 

my paper says:

 

Do you have to have the CDL prior to this number. Is there a certain order things have to go in. You have the CDL, USDOT and/or StateDOT number and Tag to cross state lines. I'm just wondering in what order they need to be done.

Not to mention the additional things that these things bring in. Medical Exam, Vehicle Safety Inspection, Proof of Required amount of insurance and the marker reay for placement on the truck.

 

I just filled out the online form and poof I had a DOT number. Again, it's a private, so I can't comment on commercial.

 

So what's the difference between private and commercial.