drivers license requirements for 10k+ trailer

I've been trying to get a real answer to this question for a couple years now. I've asked police officers and dmv employees with no results, so I figured id ask here....

my own. i have been flying under the radar when i am hauling hay home from the fields and other farm tasks with our 12k gooseneck but we are considering a larger horse trailer w/ living quarters and id like to be legal to go farther from home. no plans on hauling for hire

Edited by Mrgoodwrench - 15 Jan 2021 at 7:50pm

Coke-in-MN wrote: At 10,001 the trailer becomes a commercial vehicle - as such you need a DOT inspection sticker on both trailer and tow vehicle   As trailer is then commercial the truck MAY become also - Now on license it seems you have crept into the CDL range and DOT Health Card is needed also . 10,000 pounds A Class B commercial driver's license is required to operate a single vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, or tow a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. Do I need a CDL to pull a trailer over 10000 lbs? With regard to the familiar combination, a tow vehicle (whether truck, automobile, or tractor) towing a trailer, the driver needs a CDL if the tow-vehicle manufacturer's assigned GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs. ... and the trailer's GVWR exceeds 10,000 lbs. In either case, the driver will need a Class A CDL. Essentially, federal and state law both require a CDL if the vehicle or combination of vehicles: Has a GCWR over 26,000 pounds including a towed unit with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds; or. Has a GVWR over 26,000 pounds; or. Is designed to transport more than 15 people or hazardous materials. Do I need a CDL to pull a 14000 lb trailer? A 14000# GVWR trailer would need to be pulled by a truck exceeding 12000# GVWR to have a GCWR over 26000# requiring a CDL. ... Be aware that 1 ton dually 3500 Series trucks will put you over 26000# requiring a CDL as the trucks are normally over 12000# GVWR.

interesting. what is your source for that info? if that is accurate then the DOT is missing literally millions annually as most three horse trailers, fifth wheel campers and tandem gooseneck trailers are 11k and up. 

Go looking for a state cop.  THEY know the laws cause they enforce em.  I had a similar question and couldn't get ANY answers either.  You'd think the DMV would help, but they don't care, they just want to license you and take your money.  Pulled into a weigh station on the interstate and asked the 3 state police that were there.  After 4 seconds, they all started telling me what I had to do.  They were nice and asked if I had gone other places to find an answer and I told them, they were about the end of the list and NOBODY would help, but they sure did.  They still help dummies, besides serving and protecting.

That weigh combination is very common and I've heard in Iowa they go over them with a fine tooth comb- if it were me and hauling my own I'd just drive and don't look back- keep it all legal ie; lights, tires, etc and they probably won't mess with you as they usually look for commercial guys if you do get stopped tell them you've tried to get info and made your head spin it's a racket as it seems each one has different views I ran that way for years never a problem

If your not for hire I don't believe you need a CDL, what you do need is the proper weight registration on truck & trailer. I have an F-350 dually crew cab 4x4, I have 18,000 lb BL tags on it, hooked to our 5th wheel I am right at that weight, I am going to a 24K plate for two reasons, one ?run into the wrong guy with the DOT & they will make you drop the trailer. Second reason,god forbid I get in an accident and am over the weight I have the truck registered for and the lawyers will have a field day. I do know here in Missouri the DOT has a field day with landscapers,firewood guys,contractors who are definitely for hire,over 10,000 lbs running around with no DOT numbers and over the licensed weight of the truck. Hopefully this cleared this up for you. I would check with your state because some are different than others, for example, I believe Iowa & Wisconsin now require a CDL if any trailer you pull is over 3 foot long. Long & short is don't confuse registered truck weight & CDL requirements.

Absolutely a gray area. That is the problem I have. I don’t worry when I’m moving hay because it is 3 miles tops and we post a smv triangle and stay under 30 so no big deal. If you look at the link I posted earlier the “commercial” question is terrible. A horse show with a cash prize is commercial! My kids win $20 at most.

Like I said,check with your state they are going to be different. Here in Missouri as long as its farm use as in your farm your good. But again if you have a 1500 Chevy with 6,000 lb tags on it & your trying to move a gooseneck load of large round nails your going to be illegal. A one ton dually with 24k tags on it and your good. Now, go into the hay hauling business for hire and it's a whole different animal.

Look as the GVWR can change the class when a trailer is attached 
Not the GVW of the license plate but rating of the truck itself - then adding the trailer . 
 DOT inspection sticker is another one - if the trailer is required to have a inspection - then the tow vehicle is also. 
 Then there is the Health Card - your special DOT card that says your not going to die while driving - least not from a few things .
 Oh if you take your DOT - Class A or B test in a automatic transmission truck - you can't drive a stick shift with the license .

 One that makes no sense at all - is you can drive a vehicle with RV plates without all those restrictions - be it a motor home or a tractor trailer with air brakes 

Order the DOT handbook, to be Exempted under Farm status the entire rig has to be Farm Registered and Licensed(Restricts Distance can haul), MO does not give a darn of Licensed Weight, they as other DOT look at Registered ID Sheet GVWR tags and ratings.  A MO Beyond Local(BL) license tag for a Individual releases from DOT Inspections HOWEVER once pass 26001GVW towing anything Class A CDL IS Required and all required inspections are forthcoming.

Edited by DMiller - 16 Jan 2021 at 12:51pm

Seem motor homes going right by weigh station on I 94 coming out of WI - couple pulling a trailer - with another boat on trailer behind - triple unit . 
 Same as friend drove by weigh station with his 1 ton Ford - had a set or torches strapped upright to headache rack - got pulled over and made to return to station . 
 Ticket for regulators attached to torches , ticket for no Hazardous placards on truck , ticket for no CDL as carrying Hazardous materials endorsement  , ticket for no health card , oh and double on the CDL as none and no endorsement.
  How do the rules : 
 A few days before he got stopped I went through that same weigh station with my 66 White Dump truck and was told to pull around for level 1 inspection - so 45 minutes later everything was OK and went inside to finish paperwork - Another inspector started asking how many tickets the inspector wrote on the truck ( NONE )  so he says go over it again , use State and Federal laws and find something - cant let a old truck like that go through without finding something to write a ticket for .
  When inspector handed me back the paperwork he also gave me a CVSA sticker - said put it on lower right side of windshield - it might keep A Holes like the other guy from going nuts if stopped for a roadside inspection .
 About a week later got stopped coming out of gravel pit - inspector said they were going to do a level 1 inspection - took out paperwork from week before and said I also had the CVSA sticker - took a quick look at papers - walked around truck and said take off were done .

Friend of mine retired sold his house bought a RV motor home just under the CDL requirement and went to Texas for the winter. What scares me is this guy is a Diabetic that passes out from time to time ! When they first got the RV they were at a camper park and he passes out,wife calls ambulance they take him to Hospital she can't drive Motor Home! Whenever I meet one on the road I shudder thinking it could be him I'm meeting and he is going to pass out!

Went through all this a few years ago ,got correct tags and driver License .Then ask the State trooper that helped me with this  witch is called a ( Interpreter of the law ) I am now legal ,he said well I am a Interpreter of the Law . NOT THE Enforcer witch is officer that pull's  u over and determines your faith by the situation .

Told this before as well, buddy with RV license on his PU Truck, 17000gvwr(Towing) Dodge grabs a buddies trailer to haul lumber, cop sees has Auto plate on truck pulls him over, asks for registration, gets ticket for improper use of RV license, failure to license truck for cargo weight, etc etc etc, cost him over $500 in fines and $1200 for attorney that could not fight it.

As other have said "YOU NEED TO BE ASKING THIS QUESTION TO YOUR STATES DOT/MVA", Only they can give you the absolute answer to your question. They will tell you what you need to do. 

Edited by PaulB - 16 Jan 2021 at 3:50pm