12 replies to this topic

[LarryTheCableGuy]

So does anybody know where I can find info on PA truck/trailer combination laws, DOT numbers, Not for Hire? I have stopped at my local PA state police baracks with no results, not even a returned phone call. I have asked local notaries and they have no clue either. My truck is a 3/4 ton 8,900 GVWR and I'm towing a 14,000 trailer. I am not using this for a business. I have been hearing that pa state police have been cracking down on truck towing trailers and just want everything right. Any "true" info is greatly appreciated.

[RocketRide]

So does anybody know where I can find info on PA truck/trailer combination laws, DOT numbers, Not for Hire? I have stopped at my local PA state police baracks with no results, not even a returned phone call. I have asked local notaries and they have no clue either. My truck is a 3/4 ton 8,900 GVWR and I'm towing a 14,000 trailer. I am not using this for a business. I have been hearing that pa state police have been cracking down on truck towing trailers and just want everything right. Any "true" info is greatly appreciated.

Whats your questions i may know a little bit about this.

[friends with everybody]

First off you'll need a class A driver license to pull a 14000 lb trailer

[RocketRide]

First off you'll need a class A driver license to pull a 14000 lb trailer

That is correct,also you need to have your truck registered with the appropiate class as to weight to be pulled, it makes no difference if you put not for hire as far as legality goes,you still must comply with regulations all not for hire means is you are not commercial therefore no dot or mc number is needed. Alot of racers do not know the laws and that is why they are cracking down on this.

[sasszilla]

If towing vehicle is under 26,000 GVW and the towed vehicle is 10,001 or over, then class "B" or a single vehicle over 26,001 GVW, and if the towing vechicle is over 26,001 GVW and the towed vechicle is over 10,001 GVW then class "A". In Pa., A 14000 GVW trailer requires a combination lisence. Your 3/4 pickup is most times not rated to tow more than 10000. Pa will not give you a combo plate for it. Now you can only haul what the truck is lisenced for. 10,000 or less trailers + truck 8500 = 18,500. Your truck 8500 + 14,000 requires a 22,500 combo plate if you can get it. It's very expensive to get caught without a combo plate.

[Lukeracer]

Your best bet is to contact a DOT officer, the regs can be very confusing. You can get a Commercial Drivers Manual @ any Pa drivers license Center. Get your self a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Pocketbook, about 4 bucks......all the regs.

[sasszilla]

Look at the Penndot website under the vehicle code chapter 49 specifically.............. § 4942. Registered gross weight. (a) Single vehicle limits.--No vehicle registered as a truck, a combination or a trailer shall be operated with a gross weight in excess of its registered gross weight. ( Truck towing trailer.--No vehicle registered as a truck shall be operated with a gross weight, exclusive of any trailer being towed, in excess of its registered gross weight as a truck. © Combination.--No combination containing a trailer having a gross weight or registered gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds shall be operated with a gross weight in excess of the registered gross weight of the truck or truck tractor for a combination. 4945. Penalties for exceeding maximum weights. (a) Gross weight violations.-- (1) Any person driving a vehicle or combination upon a highway exceeding the maximum gross weight allowed by section 4941 (relating to maximum gross weight of vehicles) or the registered gross weight allowed by section 4942 (relating to registered gross weight), whichever is less, is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $75 plus $75 for each 500 pounds, or part thereof, in excess of 3,000 pounds over the maximum gross weight or the registered gross weight.

[Fwig]

You do NOT need a class A for pulling a 14,000 lb trailer. You need a class A for a combination vehicle (tractor/trailer) with a GVW over 26,000 lbs with air brakes.

For "Not for hire" laws or regulations are very vague because the reg's are wrote for commercial vehicles. Local enforcement officers will have there own interperitation of the reg's, so it's a crap shoot.

Go to: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

This site explains private coach and not for hire vehicles: http://www.pacode.co.../chap41toc.html

The big things they are looking for is the fuel being transported for the car, license, and medical cards. Then they will go off the tag on the trailer and tow vehicle to see if you have the right combination.

Hope this helps you. P.S.: Try to avoid going through tunnels with the haulers!

[friends with everybody]

Online Driver and Vehicle Services Information Centers Business Partners About this Site Security on this Site Home Rate this Site Contact Us Search this Site Tom Corbett, Governor Barry J. Schoch, P.E., Secretary, Department of Transportation What Class of Driver's License Do You Need? In Pennsylvania, driver’s licenses are issued specifically for the class and type of vehicle you operate. Therefore, the class of driver’s license you should have depends specifically upon the type of vehicle you operate. Generally speaking, the majority of applicants for a Pennsylvania driver’s license will be operators of regular passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks or vans. Classes of Driver's Licenses Non-commercial Driver's Licenses CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds). CLASS B (minimum age 18): Required to operate any single vehicle rated in excess of 26,000 pounds. Example: Motor homes rated at 26,001 pounds or more. CLASS C (minimum age 16): A Class C driver’s license will be issued to persons 16 years of age or older, who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any vehicles, except those requiring a Class M qualification, and who do not meet the definitions of Class A or Class B. Any firefighter or member of a rescue or emergency squad who is the holder of a Class C driver’s license and who has a certificate of authorization from a fire chief or head of the rescue or emergency squad will be authorized to operate any fire or emergency vehicle registered to that fire department, rescue or emergency squad or municipality(emergency use only). The holder of a Class C license is authorized to drive a motor-driven cycle with an automatic transmission and cylinder capacity of 50 CCs or less or a 3-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab. CLASS M (minimum age 16): A Class M driver’s license will be issued to those persons 16 years of age or older who have demonstrated their ability to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. If a person is qualified to operate only a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, he/she will be issued a Class M driver’s license. If you test on a motor-driven cycle, an "8" restriction will appear on your driver’s license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a motorcycle. If you test on a 3-wheeled motorcycle, a "9" restriction will appear on your driver’s license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a 2-wheeled motorcycle. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator’s Manual (PUB 147) or the Mopeds, Motor-Driver Cycles and Motorcycles Fact Sheet located on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website in the Motorcycle Information Center. Commercial Driver's Licenses - Classes A, B or C CLASS A (minimum age 18): A Class A license is issued to those persons 18 years of age or older who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. The holder of a Class A license is qualified to operate vehicles for which a Class B or Class C license is issued. Where required, appropriate endorsements must be obtained. CLASS B (minimum age 18): A Class B license is issued to those persons 18 years of age or older who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more or any such vehicle towing a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds. The holder of a Class B license is qualified to operate vehicles for which a Class C license is issued. Where required, appropriate endorsements must be obtained. CLASS C (minimum age 18): A Class C license is issued to those persons 18 years of age or older who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 26,000 pounds or any combination of vehicles, except combination vehicles involving motorcycles, that does not meet the definition of a Class A or Class B vehicle. Where required, appropriate endorsements must be obtained. NOTE: You must be 21 years of age or older to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle on an interstate (traveling between two or more states). This applies to ALL classes. In addition to the CDL classes, there are also special endorsements and restrictions that you must have to drive certain types of commercial vehicles. They are: Endorsements/Restrictions Endorsements– The following authorizations are required when operating vehicles of the type listed: H - Required to drive a vehicle with hazardous materials placards (you must be 21 years of age). N - Required to drive a tank vehicle. T - Required to drive double and triple trailers. P - Required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 passengers or more including the driver (buses). S - Required to drive a school bus. Designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver. X - Represents a combination of the hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements (you must be 21 years of age). Restrictions – The following restrictions prohibit you from operating certain type vehicles: L - Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes. B - Passenger endorsement restriction – cannot drive Class A buses. C - Passenger endorsement restriction – cannot drive Class A or B buses. A - Restricts the driver to driving within an exempt intracity zone (49 CFR §391.62). Q - Requires the driver to wear corrective lenses. G - Indicates the driver is qualified medically by operation of 49 CFR §391.62. V - Indicates the driver has been issued a medical variance. Y - Requires the driver to wear a hearing aid(s).

[LarryTheCableGuy]

This is the PA registration I pulled from the internet. MV-70S (2-10) Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees REGULAR TRUCKS/TRUCK TRACTORS/FARM VEHICLES (Classes 1 through 25) BUS/LIMOUSINE 1 5,000 or Less 58.50/4.88 76.50/6.38 2 5,001 - 7,000 81.00/6.75 76.50/6.38 3 7,001 - 9,000 153.00/12.75 76.50/6.38 4A 9,001 - 10,000 198.00/16.50 76.50/6.38 4B 10,001 - 11,000 198.00/16.50 76.50/6.38 5 11,001 - 14,000 243.00/20.25 81.00/6.75 6 14,001 - 17,000 288.00/24.00 96.00/8.00 7 17,001 - 21,000 355.50/29.63 118.50/9.88 8 21,001 - 26,000 405.00/33.75 135.00/11.25 My truck is registered as a class 3 right now I have heard that you take the truck & trailer GVWR add them together and thats the combo registration that you need to have for example my truck is 9,000 and trailer 14,000 which puts me at 23,000. With that I would need a class 8? I dont know for sure, I heard all kinds of things, I just think with everyone on here probably races or tows heavy trailer that maybe this will help other guys out that are in the same predicament as me. thanks for any info just would like to get this all figured out.

[outside the box]

I thought if it was a non commercial rig as in regestered Rv not for hire you didnt need a cdl to drive it since its private and an RV what is the rule for that ? Lots of the big S&S style transporter drivers don't have cdl's and why with a lot of those big haulers do they put Montana or Maine license plates on them when there not from those states ?

[LarryTheCableGuy]

Well I do know in the state of Maine if you buy a used trailer they dont make you pay for the taxes on purchase price of the trailer and there registration is cheaper. A friend of mine lives in NY and has his titled in Maine thats what he told me.

[SI86]

Now a Chevy 1/2 ton w/ class 2 and a Open trailer do you need combo plates DOT numbers or any of thatt? I seen a class 2 is 7,000# so that means if the trailer is Reg. @ 7,000# im ok? Also I heard some people talk about having to have medical cards, Fire Extinguisher and Triangles with you at all times is that true? ***Just so you all know.... make sure ur plates are Horizontal not vertical.... From prior experience I got pulled over for a vertical plate.... I always thought if it was visible it was good, but in that case the 5-0 didnt see that it was ok.