Lightweight Vehicles and the DOT
DOT rules and regulations apply to all vehicles, and their drivers, used in interstate commerce with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GWVR) of 10,001 pounds or more. The GVWR of a vehicle is a value assigned by the manufacturer. It is how much he thinks the vehicle can safely carry, including the weight of the vehicle. It is not the weight of the vehicle, or the weight at which you register the vehicle. The GVWR is commonly found on a metal plate on the inside of the door.
Power units are not the only vehicles with GVWR’s; trailers have them as well. When determining the GWVR of a combination unit, you must add the GVWR of the truck to that of the trailer. If it is 10,001 pounds or more, and goes across state lines, it is subject to the rules.
It doesn’t take much to come up with a 10,001 pound or more rig. A ¾ ton pickup probably has a GVWR of around 8,000 pounds. A one ton pickup is close to 10,000 pounds, if not over. If you pull any sort of trailer with these type of pickups, you are very likely over 10,001 pounds for the combination, thus making you subject to the rules.
A vehicle, which has a GVWR of over 10,001 pounds, but not over 26,001 pounds, which is a CDL vehicle, is subject to all of the same rules as a CDL vehicle, except for drug and alcohol testing. This means if you have a one ton pickup, pulling a kiddie ride, going state to state on your route, that driver must fill out logbook. He must have a medical card. The truck and the trailer must have an annual inspection. The truck must have a fire extinguisher and reflectors. The truck must have a USDOT number on it.
Trucks being used for non-commercial purposes are not subject to the rules. For example, you use your one ton truck to pull a trailer loaded with construction equipment for your job: subject to the rules. You use your one ton truck to pull a trailer with some ATV’s on them so you can so four-wheeling on the weekend: not subject.
Undoubtedly, you are thinking, “hey, I see those type of hot-shot combinations all the time on the highway, and none of these guys have USDOT numbers on themâ€. They’re probably violating the law. Most DOT cops don’t bother with the smaller combinations. However, if a DOT cop wants to write some easy tickets, all he needs to find is a one ton pulling a trailer for a business purpose with out-of-state plates, and no USDOT number on it. It just a question of if the officer wants to spend the time writing all those tickets that day. If you get stopped in one of these smaller rigs, and your driver is not adhering to any of the rules, it can be several hundreds of dollars in tickets. You should review their equipment and determine if they have any of the 10,001 – 26,001 pound GVWR vehicles. These vehicles and their drivers are subject to nearly the same rules as the big trucks!
_________________________
Eric Arnold is a Former Enforcement Agent with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and a leading expert on USDOT compliance for small businesses. Do you have a question for Eric Arnold? Email him at [email protected].
Arnold Safety simplifies D.O.T. Compliance for commercial vehicle operators. Get Eric Arnold’s USDOT Compliance Guide, DVD, & Regulations at ArnoldSafety.Com.
Learn more about Arnold Safety compliance consulting services at ArnoldSafety.Com.
I hate to say it, but, yes, whatever token compensation you get from the band probably does make it a commercial enterprise in DOT’s eyes. Therefore, you would have to comply completely with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, with the exception of CDL and drug and alcohol testing. Of course, the chances of you getting pulled over probably is not great…. however, I do believe they would consider you subject to the rules.
One additional question: FL officials (DOT and Agriculture check stations) told me that a Bill of Lading is required even if I am transporting my own gear and I’m NOT picking up or delivering freight involving any other parties.
Is that true?
Hi again, I’m considering building a custom rig for car hauling. My Truck, Ram – 11,500. Going to replace bed with a 17′ aluminun wedge bed – this puts my Truck length at 30′.In addition to this I need a 34′ trailer to pull two cars. My new truck weight will be 8200# dry, add a 3k# car and I’m under my GVWR of 11,500, so I’m good here. My aluminum trailer is under 3k# plus 2 cars at 3500# each puts my trailer under 10k#…so I’m good here too. My GCVWR is 21,500 this will be very close.Questions: Does DOT punish truckers with fines for exceeding the manufacture’s GCVWR? I know that individual states vary on GCV lengths from 55′ to 75’…in Tennessee there is no length specification…is there a federal length specification? If I get pulled over in Alabama where their max trailer length is 28.5′ can they ticket me if I’m tagged in Tennessee?
Also if I am well under 26,000 lbs can my trailer exceed 10k# and not require a CDL? Thanks so much and Happy New Year!!
I don’t know. You should check with the State of Florida.
My short answer is ‘I don’t know’. You probably need to check with the DOT offices of the various States in which you intend to operate, starting with wherever you based. Each State has its own size and weight rules. While they are similar, there are some variances, as you pointed out. As far as your home-made improvements, you probably need to double-check with the DOT on that too. Yes, at some point they will punish you if you make changes to the vehicle. For example, if I start pulling off the bed of a truck, welding new beds, adding axles, I’m going to make a mess, and create an unsafe vehicle, because I don’t know how to do that. You probably do, but the police will probably scrutinize your work if they stop you.
OK my company is going through geting dot numbers and being certified now our biggest question is on the gvrw weights our 550 are aproximetly 19,600 and tge trailer is 4,000 lbs gvrw OK that is 23,000lbs now if we put a piece of equipment on that trailer that weighs let’s say 4,000 lbs does that put us over tge limit and require a cdl or is it just tge gvrw that goes into that requirement any helpful knowledge would be appreciated?????
CDL is determined by the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the trailer, or the weight of the trailer, whichever is more. If either is over 10,000 pounds, and the entire rig is over 26,000 lbs, again whether it be the GVWR or the actual weight of the rig, then it’s a CDL. It used to go strictly by the GVWR, which is a value assigned by the manufacturer, attached to the vehicle via a metal specification plate, usually either inside the door, or on the front of the trailer somewhere. However, they expanded the definition to include the actual weight of the vehicles, I suppose because they found overloaded vehicles exceeding 26,000 lbs, and decided those should have CDLs too. Hope that helps.
what about traveling up to Quebec with a 12 ft livestock trailer…and using a 3/4 truck, what numbers must I have, I also work in maritime commerce licensed by us coast guard, we’ve medicals every 2 years, with medical cards & part of random drug screening.
It sounds like your combination vehicle will very likely exceed 10,001 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which will make it subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. You will need to fully comply with these rules, which includes driver qualification, medical cards, logbooks, maintenance records, annual inspections, among other things.
I have a 14,000lb refrigerator truck that is used to pick up food from local grocery stores. It is DOT regulated. It is a non-commercial vehicle. Does my driver have to pass a road test? What do I have to keep in file?
The Federal DOT rules apply at 10,001 lbs. GVWR. Rules for CDL licensing and drug/alcohol testing apply at 26,001 lbs. GVWR. Assuming your 14,000 lb. refrigerator truck crosses state lines, you would need to comply with all the rules except for the CDL and drug/alcohol testing. This would mean time records, and possibly an ELD, maintenance records, and a complete driver file. One of the requirements of a non-CDL driver file is a road test. Someone familiar with the safe operation of the truck would need to road test your driver, and the test and certification that he passed should be in his driver file.
I am looking at a truck that has a GVW of 19500. If I tag a 10000# trailer and put it behind it. Can I tag and haul up to 26000#? and be under CDL?
Eric, we’re building some “mini-mobile-gyms” to bring to daycare centers to teach sports to kids (for a fee). It’s a business. However, we’d like to avoid our drivers needing to have a CDL, or keeping logbooks, or DOT #s, or as many other requirements/obstacles as possible. Currently we’re looking at a couple different options for the build:
1) a 3/4 ton truck () pulling a 2 axle “cargo trailer” (14,000 GVWR)
2) a 1 ton truck (12,000 GVWR) pulling a 3 axle “tiny home” (21,000 GVWR).
Both of these trailers are 40′ goosenecks. From what I’ve read on your blog, #2 would require a class A CDL, correct? How about a logbook, DOT #, etc? How about #1 … does it require any of these things?
Btw, initially we’ll be providing these services in Colorado, South Dakota and Florida (with plans to do so in other states too). If each unit stays within one state, does that reduce our requirements/hassle?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Eric. Your blog has been very helpful for me.
Yes, if you’re using it for business use “at all” you fall under the regulations if your GCWR is over 10K pounds, it can hold more than 8 people, or you’re hauling hazmat – and that means even if the guy driving it is being paid to drive it (even if he’s just paid hourly) then it’s a commercial use. Even if you’re driving it yourself for a business you own, it’s commercial use because you’re using it to further a business. Got an F150 with a 11,000 pound trailer? They’re rated for it these days, you know. CMV. When you buy an F350 or 3500, there’s a actually an option to limit the GVWR to 9,000 pounds instead of the 10,000+ pounds it can actually hold – this is so you aren’t subject to CMV requirements when you don’t have a trailer. There’s NOTHING different about the truck, same springs, same box, same frame, but the lower rating means you don’t need a DOT number or to pull in scales.
Also, very important –
If your truck is rated for 9,090 pounds like the F350 we have is, but you load it in such a way that its actual weight is 10,320 pounds, then you are now subject to all CMV regulations for vehicles with a gross weight over 10,000 pounds, no matter what the door sticker says. Note that you most likely won’t get a ticket for exceeding the GVWR from the manufacturer (I don’t know if they even check that, and in some cases such as GCWR they would have to actually look it up and they probably don’t have time to deal with that), instead you’ll most likely get a ticket for exceeding your registered GVWR (on your license plate).
Sorry for the tardy reply. Option #1 would not require a CDL license. However, you would be subject to all the other DOT requirements, such as the hours of service requirements, logbooks, medical cards, annual inspections, and driver qualification files. You would be exempt from drug and alcohol testing. Hope that helps.
If you stay wholly within one State, then you are subject to that State’s DOT requirements. The Federal rules apply at 10,001 lbs. However, some State’s safety regulations apply at 26,001 lbs. I believe Texas is one of those states. At any rate, you should check with your local highway patrol if you are going to stay wholly within that state.
If I were to pickup a 25,000 GVWR trailer with a Ram 3500 to take home to GA, not hauling anything with normal license GA plates, can I do this legally.
I am assuming you are moving the truck and trailer across state lines. If you are doing this for a business purpose, you need to completely comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to move the trailer. If you are not doing it for a business purpose, you still might need a CDL. Some states require a CDL, even if the vehicle is not being used in commerce. Hope that helps.
Thank God for these rules! I used to drive all over pulling my tools and equipment with my pickup and although I was unaware of it, I was extremely unsafe and putting my fellow motorists’ lives in danger every time I started my pickup in the a.m. Now that I have all sorts of restrictions and these rules to follow it is way more safe! Even though I haven’t changed anything about the way I operate except putting stickers all over my pickup and filling out my log book and/or time cards with a smile every morning I know now no one will ever be affected by me pulling my stuff around because I have stickers and a little notebook with me. I also have a tiny fire extinguisher in the cab; tire fires are very easy to put out and a fire extinguisher will cover it easy. Also, if I do get in an accident I won’t be in any trouble because I follow all the rules and am in total compliance… isn’t that the way it works? If something goes wrong its not my fault because I’m following the rules. I can’t imagine all this extra effort would be for nothing! It is very important to me to never work long days now that I know how serious it is… I will never stay and finish a job I always make sure I’m home on time. The nice thing is when I get home at least I can unhook my trailer and drive for days straight until I fall asleep and run someone off the road in my same privately registered pickup but because I’m not conducting business that makes it ok! I appreciate the time and effort the USDOT has taken to create these very simple and sensible rules and the massive undertaking the federal government pays local patrols to carry out and make very certain that no one ever breaks the rules because if they do everyone else on the highway will die in horrible fiery explosions caused by a guy pulling a back hoe who stayed an hour late to finish a job and then tried to drive home. What sort of fool would think he could rely on himself to be safe when all of us intelligent folks know we have to rely on the government to do that for us? Once again, thank God for the USDOT and their regulation of small businesses with pickups!
What if I am driving an enterprise box truck into California from Las Vegas, this truck would be filled with furniture items that I am doing service calls for work. most of these items are replacements and not paid for. But I am paid hourly. I have gotten stopped at the state line with them asking for DOT, Medical card info. I am renting a truck and it is not mine. Why would I need those things. What do I need to do?
You would need to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The truck weighs over 10,001 lbs. (or has a GVWR of 10,001 lbs. or more). This, and the fact this is a business enterprise, makes you and the truck subject to the DOT rules. You need a medical card. You probably need some kind of paper log, depending on how far into California you are going. There are exceptions if you stay within 100 or 150 miles of your office for log books. You would need a DOT number, although if you have a rental truck, you don’t have to have it on the door, unless it’s a lease of over 30 days. That’s just off the top of my head.
Hello, I have a DOT rule question. My jobplace has multiple older bucket utility trucks that are well under 26k and dont have dot# stickers. Well a new F450 bucket truck I am getting to use has dot# stickers. I will only be using it in the state of Texas. What rules will apply in this circumstance? Thanks
I am trying to find a website for intrastate laws in Oklahoma, I contacted the FMCSR and they gave me a number for Oklahoma State Judicial Center but , they could not find anything on Intrastate laws regarding commercial vehicles that weigh under 26,001 lbs. Do you have any info on this topic. We are trying to figure out if our guys need to complete logs for intrastate. They will be driving F-250’s. they work about 14 to 15 hours a day.
I’m sorry, but I don’t definitely know the answer. I did a quick Google search and there was a brochure printed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. It seemed like if you are not transporting for-hire, the limit is 26,001 lbs. and more. I’m not sure about if you are transporting for-hire. I would try calling the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
I guess I don’t know. What’s the GVWR? Is it under 26,000 lbs.? Or more than that. If it is more than that, ie, a CDL vehicle, you would have to comply with most, if not all, of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Less than that, probably not, I believe Texas does not regulate vehicles with GVWRs of under 26,000 lbs.
I have an F350 super duty dually that has a GVWR of 12,500lb but she’s got a lot of bells and whistles. If I remove them and get her weight down below the 10,000lb mark (officially changing GVWR through the manufacturer) but pull a trailer with a GVWR of 2,800 lbs, (bringing the combo weight above the 10,000lb mark), across state lines do I need a DOT number? I should mention this truck is used for business purposes.
Also, any advice on having the official GVWR lowered is much appreciated.
Hi, i use a small sedan to tow 10 foot utility trailer. For business. Sometimes, when loaded the combined weight is close to 7000 pounds. Or 8000 on one occasion. Do i need to be be concerned?
Probably not. DOT does not regulate vehicles which both weigh under 10,001 lbs., and have a Gross Combined Weight Rating of under 10,001 lbs. I would double check the weight ratings of the both vehicles (ie, the car and the trailer). If they add up to more than 10,000 lbs., you must comply with all the DOT regs.
I guess you can get a dealer to officially remove the ‘bells and whistles’ and officially remark the specification plate with the GVWR on it. This may make the truck itself below 10,001 lbs, GWVR, making it unregulated. However, when you pull the trailer, you must add the GVWR of the trailer to the GVWR of the truck. For example, a 9,900 lb. GVWR truck pulling a 4,000 GVWR utility trailer is 13,900 combined GVWR. Not to mention, the truck may not pull as well with the bells and whistles. Sorry for the late response, hope that helps.
Maybe this has already been answered but if I had a 1 ton truck with DOT # that I use for business during the week also be used for personal use on the weekend? Ex. If I used my truck to pull my construction equipment Monday-Friday around home then Saturday I used the SAME truck to take a camper across state lines or anywhere for that matter would I still be subject to fmcsa rules?
Sorry for the tardy reply. Once a vehicle stops being used for a business purpose, you no longer need to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. In your example, once your 1 ton truck stops being used for the construction business, you don’t need the DOT # (or to comply with the FMCSRs) at that point.
Hi Eric,
Piggybacking off of Derek’s question, If I use my 1 ton pick-up for business with a DOT# on it and on the weekends pull my camper out of state, do I need to enter the weigh stations due to the DOT# displayed on my truck? How will they know I’m not transporting in for $$.
I have a class A CDL. I haul RV’s with a truck that is licensed for 26,000.I also have a DOT number. Am I legal if my gross combination weight exceeds 26,000?
Probably not. If I understand the question, you’re paying the State for a registration which allows your vehicle to weigh up to 26,000 lbs? But your overall weight exceeds 26,000 lbs.? I’d check with the State, but they might say you have the wrong registration. You have the right CDL class, but you have to pay for the correct registration, which costs more depending on how much weight you’re carrying.
Sorry for the tardy reply. No, you do not need to enter weigh stations. You are not subject to the rules when not in commerce. How do they know you are not ‘in-business’ on the weekend? You could cover up the DOT number. You could put a magnetic sign on the vehicle which says “not-for-hire”. Neither of these is required. You could just leave it the way it is. If they chase you down, just tell them the truth; this is a personal trip, which has nothing to do with your business. Hope that helps.