Glenn Shaw MVPA CDL
Mark C. Johnson wrote:
> Oh, and
> >did I mention the commercial driver's license required to drive it!!!!=
!
> >
>
> To my understanding of the law you only need a CDL if it is a
commercial
> vehicle. So if the truck is for personal use you do not need a CDL.<
Actually you're both wrong. I've been investigating this for a couple
years since I really don't want to run into problems with the law. For
many reasons there is a great deal of confusion over all of this. Also,
the states and federal DOT do not enforce the law uniformly. =
For instance in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I used to live, the BMV would say=
that any vehicle over 26,001 lbs GVW had to have a CDL. No exceptions. =
Also if it had air brakes, then a CDL was required no exceptions. =
In Indiana, they don't care if it has air brakes or not, but if it is ov=
er
26,001 lbs GVW then a CDL is required, unless you meet one of the
exceptions. =
1. Farm use - I quote: =
"Farmers (and their farm hands in the farmer's vehicle):
Those operators of a farm vehicle which is
- controlled and operated y a famer;
- used to transport either agricultural products, farm machinery, farm
supplies or (some combination thereof) to or from a farm
-not used in the operation of a common or contract motor carrrier; and
-used within 150 miles of the person's farm
2. Firefighters and operators of emergency equipment....
3. Military Personnel - All non-civilian...
4. Recreational Vehicles - That are registered as a recreational
vehicle...."
end quote
Note that no where does it talk about personal or non-personal use. That=
's
not relevant.
I know as a fact that in Ohio and Indiana there are a large number of far=
ms
that operate tractor-trailer rigs and the drivers to not have CDLs. They=
use these rigs primarily to tranport stock, grain, and machinery. I also=
know of many companies that are called "farms" that really do little to n=
o
farming, the make make pallets or machine parts, and I bet that few if an=
y
of their truck drivers have CDLs. All of their trucks have Mckenzie Farm=
s
stickers on the cab doors. Are pallets farm supplies? I guess one coul=
d
argue that. (;->)
I approached the local BMV guys about getting a tri axle dump truck
registered as a farm vehicle so I could haul dirt and gravel to my
property. The GVW was about 50,000 lbs. The BMV said the license fee wa=
s
about $170 for farm tags. I called my insurance company and they said
sure, the cost would be about $200 every 6 months. No big deal. I end=
ed
up not getting the truck, but that's another story. I've got 2 1/2 acres=
near a large city. Not quite a farm, but I do have a garden!
Another option is to just go and get a CDL. From what I've been told it
really isn't a big deal if you study the license material. I know of an =
ex
-neighbor who drives a Semi and he got his CDL with no formal training. =
He
practiced driving on a farm and just went and did the test. Since a 5 to=
n
truck would only require a Group B CDL license, I can't believe the test
could be that tough. The real problem might come when you try to insure =
it
and the insurance company knows that it is licensed as a commercial
vehicle. That might get expensive. =
Dave
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