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

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.

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.

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?

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.

can someone tell me HOW to go about getting a CDL

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.

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

[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.

[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.

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.

[quote=trailerpro;3734694]

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.
I agree Mando will need a CDL for his situation. I just don't like it when people say "All trailers over 10000 need a CDL" because it's not true.

In the header of each page there is a "search" function. Click on it and thwen type in Cdl and you can read a post I made on this topic last month.

HTH

...I just don't like it when people say "All trailers over 10000 need a CDL" because it's not true.
ricko,
a typical exempting scenario with that rule would be a class 6 box truck (25.9k gvw) pulling a 6-lug tandem trailer (35.9k gcw), no CDL needed. I have seen a DOT reference to exceeding 10k on a trailer for interstate travel only though, just can’t put my finger on it as to where it was.

Setting aside rules in regards to engaging in commerce, a wedge large enough for 3 cars + the 3500 will exceed 26k anyway. :cool:

what do you guys think if I get a 2 car carrier instead to start out? I would imagin that the lower weight would then be inder 26k thus not requiring a cdl.

what do you guys think if I get a 2 car carrier instead to start out? I would imagin that the lower weight would then be inder 26k thus not requiring a cdl.\
Your truck is 11,400 GVW right? That means the trailer can be up to 14,600 GVW and not require a CDL. Most 2 car haulers will be 14,000 so it should work.

www.roadwars.com (http://www.roadwars.com)

[quote=ricko;3734734]
I agree Mando will need a CDL for his situation. I just don't like it when people say "All trailers over 10000 need a CDL" because it's not true.


yes, it is true atleast in ohio. The construction company that I work for goes through a lot of headache over this every year.

The back of my Ohio Class A CDL License reads: GVWR towed veh(s) in excess of 10,000 lbs.

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.


it also says above your bolded line that it is for CMVs... so if i bring my 12,000 RV, i don't need a CDL because i am not commercial... "commercial" is the key

it also says above your bolded line that it is for CMVs... so if i bring my 12,000 RV, i don't need a CDL because i am not commercial... "commercial" is the key

Well yeah, we are talking about driving to make money which would be commercial. Not recreational, so the RV thing is something totally different.

This is cut and dry in NY you need cdl and medical card. to tow for profit. Trust me NY dot is always happy to get the pick up trucks like us trying to make a living. And make sure everytime you hook up to trailer check lights brakes and breakaway.Cargo ins. in NY is scary exp.Good luck whatever you do.

This is cut and dry in NY you need cdl and medical card. to tow for profit. Trust me NY dot is always happy to get the pick up trucks like us trying to make a living. And make sure everytime you hook up to trailer check lights brakes and breakaway.Cargo ins. in NY is scary exp.Good luck whatever you do.
New York is just like Ohio, if the GVW of the truck and trailer add up to 26000 or less you don't need a CDL.
http://www.nysdmv.com/forms/cdl101.pdf

This is cut and dry in NY you need cdl and medical card. to tow for profit. Trust me NY dot is always happy to get the pick up trucks like us trying to make a living. And make sure everytime you hook up to trailer check lights brakes and breakaway.Cargo ins. in NY is scary exp.Good luck whatever you do.

I just found out from the FMCSA that a motor contract carrier is not required to have cargo ins. This was on section 2 page 9 of their instructions to fill out the op-1 form. Are you saying that although the FMCSA doesn't require it, NY does??

This is cut and dry in NY you need cdl and medical card. to tow for profit. Trust me NY dot is always happy to get the pick up trucks like us trying to make a living. And make sure everytime you hook up to trailer check lights brakes and breakaway.Cargo ins. in NY is scary exp.Good luck whatever you do.

here is the link for my last thread. check out page 9 section 2 for motor contract carrier
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/forms/r-l/op-1-Instructions-and-Form.pdf

Let's not forget commercial insurance for your truck AND the trailer (unlike your current personal insurance, any trailer pulled is a separate policy add-on, for each one)
…starts at $2-$3k/yr and goes up from there. It’s one thing for a tradesman that uses their vehicle for work, it’s a whole different level of insurance when it comes to transport.

And that's IF you can find an agent the deals with commercial policies, and then someone that'll deal with something small like a single vehicle.

Have you ever been at home during the day and see the continuous stream of PI lawyers running ads? Always looking for the big payouts ($500+k) from commercially insured “reckless trucks out on the road, preying on innocent little car drivers.” Truth is, most of those accidents are caused by the stupid actions of the car’s driver, not the pro driving the truck.

If you get into it, you can thank those lawyers when you send that monthly payment in, and that’s usually more than you’re paying for rent.

hookmhorns-you are so right!

Let's not forget commercial insurance for your truck AND the trailer (unlike your current personal insurance, any trailer pulled is a separate policy add-on, for each one)
…starts at $2-$3k/yr and goes up from there. It’s one thing for a tradesman that uses their vehicle for work, it’s a whole different level of insurance when it comes to transport.

And that's IF you can find an agent the deals with commercial policies, and then someone that'll deal with something small like a single vehicle.

Have you ever been at home during the day and see the continuous stream of PI lawyers running ads? Always looking for the big payouts ($500+k) from commercially insured “reckless trucks out on the road, preying on innocent little car drivers.” Truth is, most of those accidents are caused by the stupid actions of the car’s driver, not the pro driving the truck.

If you get into it, you can thank those lawyers when you send that monthly payment in, and that’s usually more than you’re paying for rent.



Hookmhorns, you bring up valid points. but there must be some good aspects to transporting with all the companies out there. are you yourself a transporter?

Good?
It’s nice to have a job where daily, everyone (stranger or not) is glad to see you, wherever you go.

You’re not trying to sell ‘em anything and you’re not there to pester ‘em, They’re waiting on something you’ve brought and they’re happy that it’s there. ;)

The secret to happiness is to find something you like to do, where when you wake up in the mornings you think, “Oh Boy! I GET to go to work today!”
After that, everything in life will just fall in place. -Mr. Manic ):h

Good?
It’s nice to have a job where daily, everyone (stranger or not) is glad to see you, wherever you go.

You’re not trying to sell ‘em anything and you’re not there to pester ‘em, They’re waiting on something you’ve brought and they’re happy that it’s there. ;)

The secret to happiness is to find something you like to do, where when you wake up in the mornings you think, “Oh Boy! I GET to go to work today!”
After that, everything in life will just fall in place. -Mr. Manic ):h

so hookmhorns, I have one question for you.... Aafter considering all that goes into it; licensing, insurance, expenses, finding drivers, loosing drivers, insurance and any other BS that would go along with operating your own business I have one question for you.......................................Is it worth it??????

Yeah, I guess.

It pays the bills, but I could see how someone could get burned out with it.



I’m ready to win the lotto, get my HDT conversion,

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8657/volvopulltoy001.jpg

latched onto a toy hauler 5er with boat and go see what this thing is that people are so fascinated with….

something called, a Va-Kay-shun?:coolio:

www.hotshothauling.com enjoy the read!!!! :-)

i have a class a cdl in arizona, and here if your combined GVWR is over 26,001 LBS and you are using it for profit you need a cdl, if combined is under 26,000 than you are ok.
my dad farms and we had are dodge hooked up to a GN and combined GVWR was 29,000 he would need a cdl but bc of some kind of Farmer's law or something he doesnt need one but idk on that subject really

THE DRIVER

Drivers have been required to have a CDL in order to drive certain CMVs since April 1, 1992.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed and issued standards for the testing and licensing of CDL holders. These standards require States to issue CDLs to certain CMV drivers only after the driver passes knowledge and skills tests, administered by the State and related to the type of vehicle the driver expects to operate. Drivers are required to obtain and hold a CDL if they operate in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce if they drive a vehicle that meets any of the classifications of a CMV described below.


My understanding is that a driver that makes money driving the interstate is required to have a cdl,this was pulled from fmcsa (federal motor carrier safety regulations) each state has it own laws but if you cross state line you abide by fmcsa laws


http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/cdl/cdl.htm

hey what do you guys think about a ford F450SD towing a 4 car wedge. strong enough???

put not for hire on the truck and trailer. Then you just buy all the cars you tow. Then you can flip the cars and tell the dot man your hauling them for yourself not making money hauling them. I pull heavy all the time and have never been looked at twice by them or stopped at a scale but when on the interstate it is all my own toys im hauling anyway. I weighed 38k once hauling round bales with my 2500hd and a 40foot gn trailer:D

put not for hire on the truck and trailer. Then you just buy all the cars you tow. Then you can flip the cars and tell the dot man your hauling them for yourself not making money hauling them. I pull heavy all the time and have never been looked at twice by them or stopped at a scale but when on the interstate it is all my own toys im hauling anyway. I weighed 38k once hauling round bales with my 2500hd and a 40foot gn trailer:D

you gatta be careful when you pull that heavy, (knock on wood) but lets just say you get in a accident and they look to see what you max GVWR is on the truck and if your trailor is over that, guess wos actually going to get in more trouble

The question was asked earlier "whats involved in getting a CDL". When I first got my CDL "B", in NY, it was (2) written tests and one road test. The first test is a standard CDL exam, multiple guess questions. Second exam in my case was for the passenger endorsement, so it was question geared towards transporting people. The road test was pretty straight forward, just dont make any mistakes.
As far as "is hauling worth it after all the other expenses", if you dont already have the truck /trailer, then thats a significant amount of upfront costs to get off the ground. Then you need clients to haul for. Just posting to Craigslist may not net you enough responses. You never want to haul empty.

Keep us posted what you decide.
My .02 -John

THE DRIVER

Drivers have been required to have a CDL in order to drive certain CMVs since April 1, 1992.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed and issued standards for the testing and licensing of CDL holders. These standards require States to issue CDLs to certain CMV drivers only after the driver passes knowledge and skills tests, administered by the State and related to the type of vehicle the driver expects to operate. Drivers are required to obtain and hold a CDL if they operate in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce if they drive a vehicle that meets any of the classifications of a CMV described below.


My understanding is that a driver that makes money driving the interstate is required to have a cdl,this was pulled from fmcsa (federal motor carrier safety regulations) each state has it own laws but if you cross state line you abide by fmcsa laws


http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/cdl/cdl.htm

The part in red is not true. I make money driving interstate, but since my GVWR is under 26k I do not need a CDL in any state, except possibly Cali. I've been pulled over in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, North carolina, Louisiana, Virginia, and I'm sure there are others I've forgot, but none have said anything about my regular driver's license.

My big trailer is registered in NY at 9998 beacuse I was told by NYS DMV that if I registered it for 12,000 like the previous owner I would need a CDL class A-1. At that time I was using a k1500 to haul that trailer.

Now you can call this hear-say but I am not willing to risk it.

I know RV's have a special exeption.

My big trailer is registered in NY at 9998 beacuse I was told by NYS DMV that if I registered it for 12,000 like the previous owner I would need a CDL class A-1. At that time I was using a k1500 to haul that trailer.

Now you can call this hear-say but I am not willing to risk it.

I know RV's have a special exeption.

First

The person at the DMV that told you that was flat out wrong.


A driver with a Class D license can operate a


A truck with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or less that tows another vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs., but the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of the two vehicles together must be 26,000 lbs. or less.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/ncdlc.htm

Second

You would have needed to get the GVWR derated, not just the registration. That may work for New York but it wouldn't if you go interstate.

trailer was home made, only GVWR it has is on the registration.

The next question I would then ask is if your truck is registered in NY is it registered Commercial or Passenger?

trailer was home made, only GVWR it has is on the registration.

Default GVWR is usually equal to the sum of the axle ratings.

The next question I would then ask is if your truck is registered in NY is it registered Commercial or Passenger?

Shouldn't matter either way.

axels are 6k ea, now this all took place in the mid 90's

I asked about the class of registration, because what I was reading on the link you posted is that these classes refer to Passenger Vehicals. NYS loved to remined those of us with Commercial plates that we are not passenger vehicals. Have been ticketed in NY for driving on non truck routes.

But it all boils down to interpritation of the enforcement officer and the judge.

axels are 6k ea, now this all took place in the mid 90's

I asked about the class of registration, because what I was reading on the link you posted is that these classes refer to Passenger Vehicals. NYS loved to remined those of us with Commercial plates that we are not passenger vehicals. Have been ticketed in NY for driving on non truck routes.

But it all boils down to interpritation of the enforcement officer and the judge.

How could a cop, judge or anybody else argue with the link I posted. It is pretty cut and dried.

How could a cop, judge or anybody else argue with the link I posted. It is pretty cut and dried.
I wish my experiances with the athorities had been so cut and dried. I hope things keep going so well for you.

Like stated already if the truck trailer combination is over 26,001 lbs then you need a Class A CDL. Even if the trailer is unloaded with nothing in it but it is rated at say 20000, and the truck is rated at 10000. You need a CDL. I got pulled over by the Dot with my 9 ton dump trailer and my truck. He pulled me over because I had just bought a set of pump jacks that were sticking out 4 feet past the back of the trailer and I didn't have them flagged. When he was checking the registration he came back to the truck and told me that I couldn't drive the truck out of there because I was driving out of class. He explained to me the combination 26,001 weight restrictions, so I told him that the trailer weighed maybe 6,000 with what was in it and the truck weighed 8000. He told me it was what it was rated to do. So I called my father who has a class A and he drove the truck out of there. about 4 months later and I now have a Class A and nothing to worry about.