new dodges with gvwr over 26k CDL required?

Clubbs

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Location
Blounts Creek
Maybe ive heard it wrong, but they seem to be advertising the new ram 3500 with a gvwr of 30k. Doesnt that require the NC driver to have a CDL? Or is there some loop hole i dont know about?

Dave
 
When I was researching my truck and trailer purchase I was told by the DMV, State Highway Patrol, and its also in the state statutes (I carry a copy of these in my truck to read to any missinformed law enforcement officer who pulls me over... just in case he needs to be reminded of how the law reads) states that any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gvwr or combined gvwr over 26k must be opperated by a driver with a CDL regardless of tag weight. Technically I could run a tag on my truck for 30k and not be required to have a CDL even if my gross weight was over 26k. The way the law reads or read the last time I went through this was that the CDL requirement is based solely on the GVWR of the vehicle of combination of vehicles being operated by the driver... I'm just wondering if this has changed or how the dealers are handling this.
 
There's not a 30k GVWR on the door sticker, I can tell you that much. And GCVWR is mostly a made-up number, determined in part by your tag weight and partly by the combined (literally, added-up) GVWRs of the truck and trailer.

I'm not sure what state statute you're quoting, but here's one of the relevant sections:

a. A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds.
Click to expand...
 
shawn said:
There's not a 30k GVWR on the door sticker, I can tell you that much. And GCVWR is mostly a made-up number, determined in part by your tag weight and partly by the combined (literally, added-up) GVWRs of the truck and trailer.

I'm not sure what state statute you're quoting, but here's one of the relevant sections:
Click to expand...
This^ The GVWR is nowhere near 30k, or even 26k for that matter, it's not even half that. 12,300 GVWR on the new 3500.
 
I don't know what the gvwr is, but I just read two articles about the new RAM 3500 behind rated to TOW 30,000 lb's not counting the weight of the truck. Somehow I think that would have to require a cdl.
 
k5-1402 said:
I don't know what the gvwr is, but I just read two articles about the new RAM 3500 behind rated to TOW 30,000 lb's not counting the weight of the truck. Somehow I think that would have to require a cdl.
Click to expand...


It does... if your combined GVWR is over 26k and you're tagged accordingly. I believe there are also exemptions for agricultural use and RVs, but don't quote me on that.

On the other hand, you can buy a dually tandem gooseneck flatbed with a pair of 10k axles under it. The VIN plate on the trailer says 9999, the VIN plate on the truck says 13k, you can title the truck for 26k, and so long as you never get caught weighing more than that, you're fine.

I think where the NCDOT guys might get a little hung up is if the number plate on your trailer says 20k and the truck says 13k, even if the truck is tagged for 26k and you weigh 24k. Really, it shouldn't be a problem... a company I used to work for bought 30k and 33k straight trucks and titled them at 26k. But I can see where they might have an issue. I might be inclined to title the trailer as home-built and declare the GVWR I wanted on it if it came to that.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the GVWR number on the door is also a BS number -- it's arbitrarily set by Federal truck class definitions. A "one ton" truck has to have a GVWR between 10,001 and 14,000 to be considered Class 3. If you add the axle limits, the load-carrying capacity of the truck is significantly higher than that.
 
Do we want to have the cdl or class a license argument again?
If you are not driving a commercial vehicle FOR HIRE you don't need a CDL.
 
Ron said:
Do we want to have the cdl or class a license argument again?
If you are not driving a commercial vehicle FOR HIRE you don't need a CDL.
Click to expand...

Maybe in your hillbilly town.

In NC, the definition of "Commercial Vehicle" is any vehicle that is designed or used to transport passengers or property.

Whether or not you're getting paid doesn't play into it.
 
{QUOTE}I think where the NCDOT guys might get a little hung up is if the number plate on your trailer says 20k and the truck says 13k, even if the truck is tagged for 26k and you weigh 24k. Really, it shouldn't be a problem... a company I used to work for bought 30k and 33k straight trucks and titled them at 26k. But I can see where they might have an issue. I might be inclined to title the trailer as home-built and declare the GVWR I wanted on it if it came to that.
{QUOTE}


This is correct... well so far all of Shawn's comments on this thread have been correct. In my first post I should have asked if anyone knew if the GVWR was 30k or if it was the GCVWR. My 05 Dodge has been great, but I may be upgrading soon, and I bought a dually tandem gooseneck a few years ago that has a "derated" VIN so I can use it to haul my stuff (not commercially) without a CDL. So far all highway patrol, and DMV offices I've spoken too say that if my truck GVWR + trailer GVWR is 26001 or higher I have to have a CDL no matter how much I actually weigh or have the truck tagged for.

So what does the sticker on the new Dodges claim to have for a GVWR?

Dave
 
Clubbs said:
So what does the sticker on the new Dodges claim to have for a GVWR?

Dave
Click to expand...
The highest available GVWR from Dodge on a 3500 is 14,000lbs according to Motor Trend for the 2013 trucks, but by Dodge's site I was only able to see specs for up to 12,300 on a 3500 for 2013.
 
I have a Cdl problem solved lol.
 
The trucks I read about were the 2013 Ram 3500 with max tow package. It was an article in the Sept Oct 2013 Truck Trend. According to them, the 3500 with Max Tow has a GVWR of 14,000lb's; so that wouldn't leave much room on your trailer's gvwr to go with out a cdl. not saying it is impossible, but most goose necks I think would be higher than that, and if they are not, then why get a truck made to tow that heavy?
 
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