CDL necessary?, 3 car wedge

[Mando]

Hi everyone - I am looking to start a small transport biz. Considering to start off with a 3 car wedge and a 3500HD dually (GMD or Dodge). Any thoughts as to if this type of truck will be able to handle the weight of a 3 car wedge?? Also I am still unsure if I will need a CDL. I am in New york and thought that as long as the gvw was under 26,000lbs it didn't require a CDL.
Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks Al

[Carl Lassiter]

Originally Posted by Mando

Hi everyone - I am looking to start a small transport biz. Considering to start off with a 3 car wedge and a 3500HD dually (GMD or Dodge). Any thoughts as to if this type of truck will be able to handle the weight of a 3 car wedge?? Also I am still unsure if I will need a CDL. I am in New york and thought that as long as the gvw was under 26,000lbs it didn't require a CDL.
Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks Al

If you're hauling for profit you'll need a CDL.

The 3500 Dually will do just fine as regards weight (as regards legality and ability) so long as your moving sedans or compact PUs rather than three diesel trucks.

[ricko]

You'll need a CDL most likely, I just went thru this. Our 3500 had a GVWR of 12,000lbs and our 50ft low pro wedge trailer has a GVWR of 20,000. Combined our GCWR is 32,000 and our license is up to 26,000 lbs. So I had to get a class A CDL. I got stopped by DOT and my fines could of been up to $3,000 but they made me wait untill someone with a class A CDL came and got me.

And if you lived in PA and read the CDL book, towing any trailer over 10,000 lbs requires a class a cdl.

[trailerpro]

Originally Posted by ricko

And if you lived in PA and read the CDL book, towing any trailer over 10,000 lbs requires a class a cdl.

You have anywhere in writing that shows that?

[dmaxalliTech]

I dont know all the laws, but if your hauling commercial and I expect you will be over the 26k limit with a full load, I'd get one.

[Mando]

can someone tell me HOW to go about getting a CDL

[ricko]

Originally Posted by trailerpro

You have anywhere in writing that shows that?

As a result of the Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Pennsylvania established a Commercial Driver Licensing Program. This program has been developed to improve driver quality, ensure that commercial drivers have the skills needed to operate commercial vehicles, and to prevent drivers from having more than one driverʼs license. The Program requires you to have a Commercial Driverʼs License (CDL) if you operate, or plan to operate any of the following Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVʼs):
a) A combination of vehicles with a gross combination (GCWR) weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
b) A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds.
c) A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
d) A school bus designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver.
e) Any size vehicle which transports hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in


Its still a combination thing but if your trailer is 10,000 GVWR or over you need it, a DOT officer told me. I went thru a bunch of crap for it. Most people tow illegally all because of the recreation thing. Kinda scary when you have retired old people towing around a 40ft camper with no CDL.

[Mando]

I agree. I checked out the FMCSA & am registering with them for my dot# & mc#. will have to ck the dmv for my cdl. anyone know if a school is required

[trailerpro]

[quote=ricko;3734590]
a) A combination of vehicles with a gross combination (GCWR) weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
quote]
You are misinterpreting that statement, it's all one sentence. If the trailer is over 10,000 then you add it together with the truck GVW and if it totals over 26000 then you need a CDL.

[ricko]

[quote=trailerpro;3734694]

Originally Posted by ricko

a) A combination of vehicles with a gross combination (GCWR) weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
quote]
You are misinterpreting that statement, it's all one sentence. If the trailer is over 10,000 then you add it together with the truck GVW and if it totals over 26000 then you need a CDL.

Yes I know, it wasn't the exact phrase I was looking for in my CDL book they word it different then that, but either way hes going to need a CDL or close. His truck will have to be at least 12,000lbs GVWR and im sure his wedge will be 12,000 up to 20,000 GVWR, he might be close or over but better safe then sorry. As well as a DOT# if going state to state. MC# and then you will need to carry a log book and have medical card which you will need to get a CDL anyway. I took my air breaks endorsement too its nice to have. We also put 19.5" wheels and tires on our 3500 for stability and it pleases DOT a little bit better, you usually overload your tires before anything thats why we got a dual tandem trailer. Even tho a triple axle trailer can haul more then our tandem dual axle trailer because of the way they make things. We just upgraded to a C5500 so now our GCWR is 39,500 up from 32,000 which will make it nice, can haul more weight and alot more stable.