heavy hauling question - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

FreightTrain · 05-19-2007, 16:57

Here is the senario.Say i have a large peice of Antique equipment I would like to take to shows and or "Runs".Said peice of equipment is 25 tons.Could I legally and safely use a 5 ton tractor and low boy trailer to haul it in the south east(Alabama,Mississippi,Tennessee,Georgia,North and South Carolina) without the use of a CDL as long as I put NOT for hire on teh side?

texas-5-ton · 05-19-2007, 22:03

Towing that much weight would get you in trouble with the highway patrol. As mentioned above, anything over 26,001 requires a Class A(in Texas), but it would NOT have to be commercial. The class A only would cover a combination for the 26,001 or over. CLASS A CDL COVERS 26,001 COMMERCIAL COMBINATION. SO if you are not for hire or earn revenue with your truck, A simple class A is all you need. You might ought to Check in Alabama just to make sure.

Chad

lacoda56 · 05-19-2007, 22:30

Why not just get a CDL and be good to go anywhere? It's not that hard to do, especially if you already feel comfortable hauling 50,000# down the road.

PWM · 05-19-2007, 22:56

Freight Train

Try to contact Alabama D.P.S . Motor Carrier Safety Unit they should give you the answer you are looking for. I work with Idaho’s version(CVSA) on a daily basis, If your states is anything like mine they will be more than happy to answer your questions.
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102
Phone: 334-242-4395

Pete

builder77 · 05-19-2007, 23:24

It depends on your state requirements. In Virginia personal use is exempt from needing a CDL. One of my past post covered all the Virginia law.

ida34 · 05-19-2007, 23:25

I hate to contradict info hear but if you are not carrying for hire then you do not need a cdl. Some states require a non-cdl class or endorsement for certain types of vehicles for combinations but most are for very specific stuff. The agricultural excepts are there because farmers are making money by hauling the stuff to marked and such. They are using the vehicles to make living so they would need a cdl without the ag exception. Think about a 40 foot moving van and a trailer towed behind it. These combinations would go over the 26001 limit but is still legal because you are just hauling your own stuff. If you were hauling someone elses stuff to make some money (even gas money) you would need a CDL. The 26001 limit is a limit that triggers a cdl only for commercial operators. Many already know I am a LEO and have researched this a lot to dispel some of the urban myths. I can't speak to the specific states but I can speak as to Michigan and a few other states I have researched.

There also seems to be a lot of confusion because some people speak of special classes and automatically call them a CDL when they really are just simply a class A or such this pretty much mirrors what was said above. In MI you would not need anything besides a regular O type or operator's license to tow what you are speaking of. The only special combination of private vehicles that need an endorsement is a truck towing a fifth wheel trailer and then towing a second trailer behind the first trailer. These combinations require a recreational tandem endorsement. If I ever get a chance to sit down and do the research, I want to make up a state by state guide on the laws. I have seen that a lot of LEO's are misinformed about this also. This is why I always run things by my motor carrier enforcement officer and this is why I tell everyone to run things by the local motor carrier enforcement officer instead of just the SGT or officer on duty.

ida34 · 05-19-2007, 23:30

Another thing to mention. When you do speak to someone ask them what law or statute covers what they just told you so that you can look at it yourself and print it out to keep with you in case you get an uninformed officer. If they can't tell you the statute then they are probably just guessing or repeating what they have heard. Keep going until you find it in black and white.

captain · 05-19-2007, 23:50

This dosent really help unless you live in PA. However http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/driverLi..._classes.shtml Apprently in PA we have non-commercial class A, B, and C lisences as well as the CDL verisions. It also appears down in endorsments that air brakes are not listed as an endorsment only a restriction. Now I need to find out whats involved in getting a class a or b non-cdl

Westech · 05-20-2007, 00:01

heck I have hauled over 30K with my 2500 HD many times.... you can get away with just about anything as long as you dont look like a company and just a normal guy hauling some junk.. and with a military truck... no one going to touch you

FreightTrain · 05-20-2007, 01:35

Thanks guys.I wonder if I could get away with this using the deuce.I know there are equipment trailers out there that can haul much more than 25 tons but the problem would be height.The peice I am thinking about trying to get is about as tall as a 5 ton truck.maybe more.