Weighted License

[Jimmy J.]

How much weighted license do you need to haul a C-1 in a 20' enclosed pace trailer? The tow vehicle is a 07 Silverado 4WD extended cab short bed. Thanks, Jimmy

[Harmon C.]

Re: Weighted License

Jimmy
I know of no exra license you need. Truck and trailer license may be by weight empty and drivers license is no difference if you are recreational. Each state may have different laws.
Lyle

[William L.]

Re: Weighted License

In Mo. you need your truck plates to be bl 12000 (beyond local upto 12000lbs)
Bill

[Dick W.]

Re: Weighted License

The laws do vary from state to state. It is rare for a 1/2 ton with a car trailer to be weighed but it does happen. I have always had enough tags to cover the truck and trailer but most do not. I have seen states even make motor homes go through the scales. I guess that it all boils down to "are you willing make the assumption that they will never stop me". And be prepared to pay a fine if you are stopped.

BTW most states require a CDL if the vehicle weighs over 10,000# and has a trailer attached (trailer and cargo weight included) Again most drivers do not have the CDL's and the law is not heavily enforced.

Also check in you state about inspection decals on your trailer. Are they required. NC has gotten a "wild hair" about inspections on trailers. Can cost $300 here.

[Jeremy D.]

Re: Weighted License

You'll never have a problem with going by the scales. To keep it simple, yes laws do vary, but you'd have to be pulling a trailer with 5-6 cars on it to even be an issue....and I guarantee you could drive by a cop without even getting a glance. They're looking at semis, particularly open trailers carrying steel or machinery parts. Easy targets.However, DO get your trailer stickered & tagged or whatever your HOME state requires.

[Chris Patrick]

Re: Weighted License

BTW most states require a CDL if the vehicle weighs over 10,000# and has a trailer attached

The CDL is only required if you are doing it commercially. Most states have the regular driver's license rated at 26000 GVW or less, so you can run a 10,000 lb GVWR pickup and a 10,000 lb GVWR trailer with no issue.

Many states base it on actual weight, however, Florida bases theirs on GVWR. A few years ago, they had the Class E license at 8000 lb GVWR which meant many driving a 3/4 ton pickup truck or Suburban were illegal. A few NCCC autocrossers where changing their licenses to be legal towing a trailer. A lot of soccer moms in their big Ford Expedition were illegal. That has changed, Florida is now a 26,000 GVWR on their Class E license.

More towing sites:

http://www.hitchemup.com/statetowinglaws.htm

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

http://www.hitchemup.com/statetowinglaws.htm

http://www.longhornsales.com/trailer-laws.htm

http://www.roadkingtrailers.com/brakelaws.htm

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/trailer/trailer-laws.html

Towing Laws Listed by State

[Dick W.]

Re: Weighted License

Not going to get into an argument, but if you will look at the laws of several of the states they require a different license if your gross is more than 10,000#. Federal law does not diferentiate between commercial and private. You are at your own risk if you do not have sufficient license. NC has and will write tickets for improper drivers license and for over weight vehicles. Several that I know have received tickets while hauling their horses and or show cars.

[Chris Patrick]

Re: Weighted License

Dick, I think you are misreading your drivers handbook. Yes, you have to get a higher grade in NC, but not a CDL. I see NC is confusing becasue it has a Class A, B, and C private and a Class A, B, and C commercial (CDL).

And yes, the Federal government DOES differentiates between private and commercial. The COMMERCIAL Drivers License (CDL) is for commercial use, per the US DOT.

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

From the NC Drivers License website (Bold is mine):

Class A: Required to operate any combination of vehicles exempt from commercial driver license (CDL) requirements with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is greater than 10,000 pounds. Also required for operating any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds, if the vehicle being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds.

Class C: Required to operate any vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds that is exempt from CDL requirements and is not towing a vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds. Most drivers need only a Regular C license to operate personal automobiles and small trucks.

http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/driver_services/drivershandbook/chapter1/typesLicenses.html

[Dick W.]

Re: Weighted License

I will not argue semantics with you, but you get caught in NC by DMV, while towing a loaded trailer without a Class A license you will get a ticket.

I see no further need for this debate to continue.

[Chris Patrick]

Re: Weighted License

What you could be running into, Dick, is that NC is attempting to declare all of these vehicles commercial.

The racing forums have been alive with this over the last year. Some states are deeming the amateur race teams to be commercial operations if they have received sponsorship money and if they are carrying advertising on the cars or trailer.

Obviously, the amateur racer who is receiving $100 or $500 for the year in contingency prize money is not a commercial operation, however, some states are deeming him as such, because he earned money.

There have been many last year warning to remove all advertising from your enclosed trailers to keep from getting stopped. That STP or Valvoline sticker may look neat, but it suddenly makes some states think you are commercial.

Part of it is the big racers, the ones who are pro, but not the NASCAR level of income, trying to avoid the licensing, the CDL, the highway permits, and so on that a commercial rig is required to have. They load up their 40 ft enclosed behind their crew cab dually and head down the road like they are Mr. 5-races-per-year Amateur Racer when they are really doing it professionally.

Now anyone with an enclosed trailer is look at with suspicion.

[Dick W.]

Re: Weighted License

Same thing with horse trailers. NC law reads 10,000# + with a towed vehicle. Granted that every trooper/DMV agent enforces the law, but I have see several tickets.

[Chris Patrick]

Re: Weighted License

I bet that is the deal, then. Not too many towing around 5 or 6 horses or more at a time are doing it as a hobby.

And NC is cracking down on them, like they should. Years ago, I had an open trailer in Illinois. The trailer licenses were TA - 1500 lb, TB - 3000 lbs, TC - 10,000 lbs, and so on. The rating was for the total weight = trailer + load, but many bought the TA because their trailer was around 1500 lbs empty.

The killer was that the TA was cheap, like $15, the TB was like $30, and the TC was something like $60. Naturally, most went for the $15 figuring they would never get caught. It always irked me since I complied with the law and paid the $60 and everyone else got away with paying the $15.

And it isn't like you can hide a TA plate on a car trailer with a car going down the road.