My Wife and I live in Ontario, Canada and have been towing a Glendale Titanium with our 2003 Duramax for the last 18 months. We have travelled to Nova Scotia and also Arizona. Our concern is that it was recently brought to our attention that we are driving illegally on an Ontario Class "G" licence which is for " Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000kg (24,200lbs) provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600kg (10,120lbs)."
Our total combined weight is 8,409kg (18500lbs), but the weight of our trailer is 5027kg (11,060lbs), thus exceeding the legislated 4,600kg (10,120lbs).
We were advised that we needed a Class A licence. According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation site, a Class A licence is required for " Any tractor-trailer or motor vehicle combination exceeding 11,000kg (24,200lbs) where the towed vehicle exceeds 4,600kg (10,120lbs)." Now our total combined weight does not exceed 11,000kg (24,200lbs), so we do not qualify for the Class A licence. We do not seem to fit into any of the categories
Our concern is that if we do not have the correct licence, our insurance may be invalid.
We feel sure that there must be thousands of Ontarians pulling large trailers and only having a Class G licence. What are their feelings on the matter, and what is the situation down in the States?

Basicly the US has an exemption for RVs.

Look at the big bus/coach RV pulling big trailers and some little 70yr old woman driving.

On our CDL (commercial driver license) it goes by GWR of the tow or towed vehicle, over 10,000# and the trailer combo combined goes over 26,001# it's class A.

Notice how the 3500SRW is rated at 9900#.

With the exception of a CDL (commercial drivers license which was Federally standardized in the mid 80's and all states were forced to adopt and recognize the same criteria). drivers licenses are a state by state issue and the last time I checked (several years ago), some state require CDL for the large RV's, towing heavier weights, etc. I was forced to get a CDL in the mid 80's because I towed larger trailers occasionally and got stopped by the California Highway Patrol (as a Nevada resident with Nevada plates driving in Cal) for a trailer tail light out on my 43' enclosed car hauler. They chased me down on I-10 outside Banning, took me back through the scales (29,900 lbs GCVW), checked my tire ratings, and wrote me a ticket for a burn out tail light and no CDL, which was not required by Nevada at that time (soon was though). I got a CDL. For most RV uses, you will never get stopped and checked in most of the western states nor midwest from my experience. If you're hauling frt or seem overweight, you may get stopped. Of all my towing experiences coast to coast for 40 years, the above was the only time I have been stopped and checked. The Banning CHP station is known by truckers as one of the most Chicken Ship weigh stations in the nation.

I posted this initial post also on the Open Road RV forum. You may be interested to read the replies.


http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14694921/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

The Texas law states any single vehicle who's GVWR exceeds 26,000 lbs or any trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or greater if the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs. Those are ratings not actual loads. I haven't seen anything about an exemption for RVs. It also says you need a CDL if the original purpose of the vehicle was to transport more than 15 people. I have a friend who got ticketed for this because he was driving a converted school bus even though he didn't do the conversion. I have just started studying to get my bus CDL so I can start driving our church bus so may have overlooked something. If I come across something I will post it.

Guy I used to deer hunt with had an "A" license for driving his fifth wheel. Think he said it was required for over 10,000 LBS. He turned 65 and said the license expires.

Without stirring up a honets nest, try talking to an RV dealership. Maybe someone there can give you some good info.

After that, try a weigh scale. But take the wifes car or borrow a vehicle. I stopped at a weigh scale (truck only) and asked some questions. Without my knowledge, they ran my plate then and there.

THINK, to tow over a certain weight (10,000 LBS) you may have to get the truck and trailer rated as a commercial vehicles. Subject (both) to safety inspections, annually.

I left the weigh scale with a head ache. Lotta crap for stupid stuff. But for insurance sake, definitely look into.

After that, try a weigh scale. But take the wifes car or borrow a vehicle. I stopped at a weigh scale (truck only) and asked some questions. Without my knowledge, they ran my plate then and there.
And they won't run a car plate because? You can bet your bippy that the will run a plate anytime they think they need to. So what is the problem with that?

Jim

Cause problems for yourself?

Well, if your not driving a stolen car, don't have warrents out for your arrest, or don't have other infraction issues I don't see what problem you will cause yourself. Max Owner seemed surprized Johnny ran his plate, and even without asking him. I would be surprized if Johnny didn't run the plate.

Jim

My thought is why have them come looking for you? After asking a few questions. Why cause problems for yourself? That was the point of saying about the MOT guys running my plate.

In New York call DMV and get different answers to the same question and even when asking the same person. The question is do we have to put private-not for hire or rec.veh. or just leave alone, asked and called 6 times 6 diff. answers. Then asked NYS Police DOT he could not answer.Seems mdt are to new for a accross the broad answer they have think what gives them the most in fines.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT! Like most issues government entities get involved with it is usually about money. Yeah, money! Insurance companies adjust the rates they charge per locality based upon accident rates and claims. This drives up the costs for consumers and government vehicles operating the highways. :rolleyes:

As more and more RV's are hitting the roads these big beasts are driving up insurance rates considerably. States are beginning to clamp down on drivers of these rigs, mostly to ensure the people operating them are capable of driving them safely on the roads. It used to be that RV's were exempt from special licensing requirements. But when the RV salesmen sale a $200k coach to a 75 year old guy with glaucoma bad things can happen? ):h Would they do that? You can bet your ass they would! :eek:
I recently purchased a 40' Sunnybrook 5ver and since the GCWR of the truck and RV exceeded a certain length/weight my wife and I both had to obtain Class D licenses here in Florida. Mostly safety stuff, not much on how to drive with the rigs like one might expect with a CDL.

Each state has their own rules, and as you travel you are responsible for adhering to each states requirements. Used to be you could hit the road and not worry about passing inspection stations, weigh stations, etc. I still do but look in my rearview to see if Bubba is coming with lights flashing.

Stay safe on the roads folks. JJ :)

I am a Canadian. When going South for the winter and towing my 5th wheel, do I have to stop and be weighed at all the interstate weigh stations?

I am a Canadian. When going South for the winter and towing my 5th wheel, do I have to stop and be weighed at all the interstate weigh stations?
south would be where?

Winsor ):h or Pelee island ):h ):h

Point Petree (mis spelled)

I am a Canadian. When going South for the winter and towing my 5th wheel, do I have to stop and be weighed at all the interstate weigh stations?
RV's are exempt in Texas and I am pretty sure in most other states. I have never had to pull through one except in Florida. Sign said all vehicles with trailers need to be weighed. They just waved me through.

They have changed all this recently. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation anyone pulling any trailer, over 10,000 pounds GVWR, across a state line is required to have a class A CDL. They said, AS THEY WERE WRITING ME THE TICKET, that this is a federal law now. That means all 50 states. We fought it and lost. Myself, my wife, and my son now have class A CDL's

They have changed all this recently. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation anyone pulling any trailer, over 10,000 pounds GVWR, across a state line is required to have a class A CDL. They said, AS THEY WERE WRITING ME THE TICKET, that this is a federal law now. That means all 50 states. We fought it and lost. Myself, my wife, and my son now have class A CDL's
Did they say anything about a medical card? Luckily I have a class A and current medical card for work. When you go interstate the medical card is required commercially. Not sure about a private vehicle.

we have a titanium 28/33b, when i have a full auxtank gen set, and trailer full of fresh water, it puts my truck at 9600lbs over the two axles, my gvw is for 9280lbs, but have been told that on a fifth wheel it is 9800lbs, does this sound right

We also have to have the medical card. I don't thick it is needed until you drive commercialy. By the way I just drove by the Montana Port of Entry with four trailers stacked, grossing 27,800 pounds and no one chased me down. Better lucky than good!Their sign says all commercial vehicles must scale.

We also have to have the medical card. I don't thick it is needed until you drive commercialy. By the way I just drove by the Montana Port of Entry with four trailers stacked, grossing 27,800 pounds and no one chased me down. Better lucky than good!Their sign says all commercial vehicles must scale.

The medical card is not needed unless you are driving a commercial vehicle.

You are licenced in Canada so you should make sure you are correct in Canada.
You will not have a problem in the States with the type of licence you are driving with because the CDL requirement in the USA is a Federal one and your RV does not qualify as needing a CDL under USA regulations. Some states do have weight limits on towed units without brakes or the ratio of towed unit to towing unit but again I don't think you fall under that because I assume your trailer has brakes.
I do know BC has a regulation that if your trailer exceeds the manufactures GVW they will tow you to the boarder at YOUR EXPENCE. With some trailer that is not hard to exceed with a few pairs of shoes and a full holding tank. So carry sneakers and dump before entering BC.

you can go to any mto weigh scale station and explain your issue. Take the weights of all vehichles and then they will help you.

It seems like I am not the only one confused about the cdl business. I am starting up a hauling business with my 3500 dually and will tow travel trailers, boats, horse trailers and whatever else I can get. I have been through the question of cdl requirements based on a statement in the cdl study guide that commercial business requires a cdl. Then it gives a definition of commerical hauling. It is a single vehicle over 26000 lbs gvwr; a trailer over 10,000 lbs if the gcwr is more than 26000 lbs. This is a class A cdl and a reg class A. I goes on with a couple of others qualifiers for class B and C. RV's for personal use are exempt in Texas. The CDL requirements are nationwide.

I have called and written to Austin and the local DPS stations and got the answer for CDL being required as based on weight. I tried to get them to give me the CDL test using and travel trailer since that is what I would haul. They said I don't need a CDL. Some transport companies require one to haul TT and some preferr it but say it is based on your home state requirements.

There needs to be some updating of the rules related to the "light hauling" business because the new pickups are hauling heavier loads now than the older 2 ton trucks. Even the registrations are screwed up the way they plate the vehicle. They us 1000 and 1500 lbs as the load and the gvwr is wrong on the registration. This is a problem for commercial work because you can only haul what the vehicle is plated for and not exceed the gvwr. I had to have mine changed to the actual 11400 gvwr on my registration.

I am going to get a cdl class A or a regular class A just to keep from having a problem. I saw on a web site that Florida has a Class D that looks like it would be what all states need to add.

Tom