Cdl ?

[Bob Verwold]

Well, I did pick up the CDL booklet and have been reading this. I'll be sure that I know everything in the book before taking the test. I was just wondering if I could take the driving test in my truck or if it had to be theirs (if they rent them)
Another thing, if this is NOT for profit are they really mandatory. And if they are do ya need a DOT #.

The lady at the DMV told me that a CDL was not needed because the truck was under 26,000lbs but because of the GVW it gets registered as a commercial truck. The truck isn't the problem it's when I hook up the trailer and the weight goes up to 39,000 that I get worried. Tried the RV route but she had no part of that........

Thanks for the reply's.

[Keith 944]

is this mandatory? ask 10 people you will get 10 diff. answers, lot of grey area, better safe than sorry. best bet is ask weigh station personnel in your state, still gonna get diff answers. and yes you SHOULD be able to take the test in your truck/trailer. it does not have to be traditional over the road type tractor trailer. sorry, all i can offer...

[Bob Verwold]

Thanks guy's

[Rob Petrie E395]

I let someone use my Crew cab dually and 44'GN Haulmark to take thier cdl test (truck 12K gvw Trailer 21K gvw). He could not do the air brake part so he ended up with a class A license without air brake endosement. Then he went back with a dump truck that he borrowed from someone else and they just made him do the pretrip and written test for the air brake endorsement. I just added doubles/triples. Hazmat and tanks to mine so I can haul fertlizer and they just made me take the written tests and back ground stuff for the Hazmat. Here in the great state of Illinois it makes no sense how and why they decide when you do skills tests and when you dont. So the short awnser is no you dont need a semi to get it here. As for if you need it or not. If you are able to get it, get it. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. My Toter is regestered RV but I will not let anyone drive it without a cdl. I figure if we get any crap about regestered RV we can always say we are legal to drive a semi anyways because of our class A cdl and medical card. Where as if they give us a hard time and we dont have a cdl they will hit me twice as hard. By the way if you get busted without a cdl (in a truck that requires it)under federal law they can impose up to a 25,000 fine on the driver and up to 250,000 dollar fine on the owner of the truck.

[voltdr]

Bob,
I have been preparing for my CDL here in TX. After talking with the State Troopers, here are some of my findings.
1. In TX, your are required to have a CDL class B, for any single vehicle (no trailer) if the GVW is over 26,001#. even an RV.
2. If the combination of vehicles (truck and trailer) is rated over 26,001# then you are required a CDL class A.
3. If the trailer is over 10,000# you are required a CDL class A.
4. If the nature of what you are doing involves "commerce" you are required a CDL class A.
5. They define commerce as being any time you are being compensated for what you are doing. This is where we, as racers, get caught in the system because we race for money.
6. In TX, you can take your skills test in any vehicle that meets the criteria in item #2 above, as needing a CDL class A.
Hope this helps.
Dan

[Bob Verwold]

I'm still working on the book part.........LOL Harder than I thought.

Thanks for the input.

[Phillip marvetz]

And yes they do want you to have a DOT# also. Is your truck registered for the 38,000lbs total or more? If you get scaled they will want you licensed for more than your total weight.

[C and W Racing]

[QUOTE=voltdr;309481]Bob,
I5. They define commerce as being any time you are being compensated for what you are doing. This is where we, as racers, get caught in the system because we race for money.

The problem comes from if you claim the expences for tax purposes. If you don't claim expences, but show winnings as income and pay taxes on it, then there is no problem
Chuck

[Phillip marvetz]

25,650 is pretty close to the CDL limit. A full tank of fuel, A cooler full of goodies, A passenger and the dog and you could be in trouble. How often do you drive by a scale house and how lucky do you feel?

[voltdr]

[QUOTE=C and W Racing;309540]

Originally Posted by voltdr

Bob,
I5. They define commerce as being any time you are being compensated for what you are doing. This is where we, as racers, get caught in the system because we race for money.

The problem comes from if you claim the expences for tax purposes. If you don't claim expences, but show winnings as income and pay taxes on it, then there is no problem
Chuck

Here is the real problem. How do you prove that on the side of the road, and the officer is telling you to park your rig until a licensed CDL-A driver arrives.