Pa guys gvw ?

slor1de

slor1de

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Feb 17, 2007
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Just curious if any of you guys from pa that are towing higher gvw trailers(16,000 gvw and up) towing with pickup. Do you have cdl or how are you registered. Ive heard of guys dropping trailer registration down to get under 26,001 to get away from having cdl, not sure if there getting away with this or not. Any input
 
Towing a trailer with a gvw of 10,001 lb and higher requires a cdl. Doesn't matter if you tow it with a pickup or a Geo metro. If you register a trailer with a gvw of 10,001> for a gvw of <10,000 you should technically be OK. However if you go over a combined gross weight of 26,000 lb you need a cdl.
 
I keep hearing the 10,001 deal but 90% of the guys around hear dont have cdl, these are combo plated 26000 trucks. Maybe they just havent got stopped yet.
 
If you cross state lines (I don't know PA law) then Federal Motor Carrier laws apply. Combination over 26,001 pounds or more, with a trailer over 10,000 pounds equals class A CDL.

Most states require fuel tax and apportioned plates for any combo over 26,001, and in commerce.
 
Hi,I am from Pa also. The way I understand the trailer situation is any trailer built for 10,001 or more gvw needs a cdl . Also combination plates about $450 I think. You will also need a medical card. Some where in this trailering mess, by-annual inspections. I think they are enforcing D.O.T. numbers on any truck rated over 10,ooo gvw. If you lend a trailer to a friend they can fine both of you for any violations. Plastic or missing valve stem caps on a CDL truck $300 fine per cap. Look at a cdl license it reads combination>26000 / tow >10000. Maybe tell D.O.T. cop you are illegal Mexican you go free. Sad but true. Hope this helps.
 
You do not have to be over 26000lbs just have trailer built for 10001lbs. and cdl req'd.
 
zippywildfire said:
You do not have to be over 26000lbs just have trailer built for 10001lbs. and cdl req'd.
Click to expand...

Can you find it anywhere in writing that a trailer over 10,000 requires a cdl in pa? I'd sure like to see it because I don't believe it.
 
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Um... PA law is the same as federal law as are most other states. A CDL is a federal license issued at state level. Below in red was take directly off the link posted above. Any law officer will explain it as it was to me and as I underlined. Just like federal law.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSES?
In accordance with the licensing requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the license classifications
are:
CLASS A - combination vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle
weight rating of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
CLASS B - single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a
vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
CLASS C - single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds if the vehicle is: transporting
hazardous materials requiring placarding; is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the
driver; or, is a school bus.


If you get caught operation a combination vehicle on the highway with a mfg GVWR of higher than 26,000lb. combo or towing greater than a 10,000lb trailer and you do not have a CDL...the fine is steep.
 
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Well you got in print twice,still not believe? I haul equipment and my wife works for a judge. I only try to help people. I have a friend who disagreed too. He did not believe on his $1000 fine but on his $1500 he decided to get his cdl.Thats right $2500 in one year. When you go past the rest areas where dot hangs out do you really think the trailers parked there are on break? The trucks with no drivers are getting supper? When you get pulled over tell dot they are wrong tell the judge he is wrong. LOL. I hate seeing this happen to people. God forbid you have an accident in CDL truck it gets even worse.
 
You guys seriously need to read that again. It says combinations over 26k, provided the trailer is over 10,000. That means the truck and trailer have to add up to more than 26,000 gvw AND the the trailer has to be over 10,000. It's not either or.
 
Tell it to the judge. LOL. It is on the CDL Class a combination tow in excess 10001. You have to read it on CDL. Regular license just says 26000 does not break down trailer weight. I cannot open the file you listed.
 
Gents, I am a State Trooper that does truck enforcement every day. State law may vary, but Federal Motor Carrier rules say combination over 26,001 pounds, AND a trailer over 10,001 pounds, equals class A CDL. You have to have both elements, combo over 26,001 AND a trailer over 10,001.

20,000 truck and 9,000 trailer, no class A.

9,000 truck and 20,000 trailer, class A.
 
This is a different way of saying it I found. Maybe you can understand this one.



A Pennsylvania CDL is required if you operate any of the following CMV's . . .
1. A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.
2. A vehicle towing a unit with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.
3. A vehicle used to . . .(a.) carry 15 or more passengers (excluding the driver), or (b.) carry (15) or less people (including the driver) when carrying children to or from school and home regularly for compensation.
4. A vehicle carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.
 
ctcsp846 said:
Gents, I am a State Trooper that does truck enforcement every day. State law may vary, but Federal Motor Carrier rules say combination over 26,001 pounds, AND a trailer over 10,001 pounds, equals class A CDL. You have to have both elements, combo over 26,001 AND a trailer over 10,001.

20,000 truck and 9,000 trailer, no class A.

9,000 truck and 20,000 trailer, class A.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
^^^ What he said only if you are over 26K it is CDL no matter what. I have been hauling cars for 2 years and have been stopped many times with no CDL. Everyone has told me the same thing; I have to be over 26K combined to need a class A CDL.

Different states require it under 26k as they can add to FMCSA laws, but cannot take away from them. This only applies to the state you are operating out of. Once you cross state lines; the FMCSA laws apply.

The thing to be very careful about in PA is how your truck is registered. If you have a trailer over 10k; you have to have a GCWR (gross combined weight rating) registration on your truck. It is a big fine if you do not, but it is not enforced everywhere. It's a pain and costs ~$255 extra a year IIRC, but it's also cheap insurance not to get a fine. This only applies to carriers operating out of PA.
 
ctcsp846 said:
Gents, I am a State Trooper that does truck enforcement every day. State law may vary, but Federal Motor Carrier rules say combination over 26,001 pounds, AND a trailer over 10,001 pounds, equals class A CDL. You have to have both elements, combo over 26,001 AND a trailer over 10,001.

20,000 truck and 9,000 trailer, no class A.

9,000 truck and 20,000 trailer, class A.
Click to expand...

If I understand correctly a truck registered at 20,000 lb. towing a trailer registered at 10,000 lb. may only gross 20,000lb. as a combo?

If a truck registered at 9000 tows a trailer registered at 10,001 or more the combo may only gross 9000 unless the truck is registered for a greater combination weight? Either way the operator must carry a cdl.
 
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When you pull into the scales they add up your registrations or VIN plates so you would be 29k.

Yes, no CDL unless over 26k and yes they go by truck registration if you do not have GCWR. You can see how the fines would add up. A trailer rated for over 10k and a truck rated at 12k would be over the 12k empty.
 
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Pa will fine you if trailer is built for over 10000 gvw. I know not every officer does . I have seen Pa troopers sit in a scrap yard and write fines while trucks where waiting in line. Yes it sucks here.
 
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