Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

https://protecttheharvest.com/news/its-tricky-hauling-livestock-in-california/

Typical government.

Let�s pass laws

https://calcattlemen.org/2019/07/30/cca-keeping-watch-on-for-hire-transportation-regulations/

After reading links and other links, I�m still confused if I can tow a trailer that can carry 15,000 lbs behind my truck that weighs 7500+ pounds.

It sounds like I can haul only 10,000 (includes trailer weight) behind my truck with just a regular license.

quickly read that link.  Your second statement is true.  Any trailer over 10K GVWR and you would need a restricted A, which would allow you to travel 150 air miles. In MD any Combination GVWR of 26,001 would require an A license.

DOT laws are tricky and are interpreted differently by each and every DOT cop.

looks like non-commercial class A license is the way to go. (on the other hand, the restriction is 150 miles within farm)

you only have to drive the vehicle type you are going to drive, not other bigger rigs, i.e. tractor trailers like commercial class A


seems like the commercial truckers have lobbied so one can't buy cattle more than 150 miles from the ranch and transport them yourself.

elite and wilson.

if i were to get a featherlite, i would upgrade the axles from 3500 to 4500#.  they seem to really be the lighter ones, although their carrying capacity might suffer compared to wilson/elite.

it seems an underserved market is finding the sweet spot of staying at 9950 GVWR and the lightness of the trailer.

it's not clear who will downgrade their trailers from say 14,000 to 9950. those trailers would weigh about 3500-3700 (wilson/elite), the dealers say they will do it (the dealer, not necessarily the trailer company).

i would say if carrying weight is most important while still staying under 9950#, pay attention to axle rating, cross-member spacing and thickness, doors, aluminum sheeting thickness, and flooring quality (for corrosion as well).

for over 9950#, the constraints are much less, but then you need a class C license, yearly renewal, drug tests, maybe a log, etc.

some states, i think Iowa, are notorious for stopping trailers, especially with out of state tags.

seems with the law should be changed to allow 14,000# trailers as a cap as the newer trucks can easily handle this rating and the trailers can as well compared to when the law was written.

the law, seems written to force a larger proportion of the population to class C license for a typical animal transport, say to a show, a purchase out of state, etc. for smaller producers.

The 150 mile "AG" restriction is from the 1950's when it would take you all day to go that far. Today that restriction is ridiculous. Should be 750 or 1000. And it doesn't matter if you go over a stateliness they will call it interstate commerce and require a CDL (and all the permits & paperwork that go with it).

The GVWR should go to actual weight. I liked a nice 28' Elite with aircraft tires on 8K torsion axles. Gave a better ride for the show cattle and lasted longer on the poorly maintained roads. But the government knew better and in 2012 came up with the labyrinth of regulations we have now.

And with the varied levels of enforcement depending on which state you're in and then what DOT cop you get, it is a true mess. And you guessed it, its not about safety, its about revenue...
JMHO
 
SD

Should have asked for a 10,000 GVWR.  With a towable over 10,000 lbs you are required to have a Class B CDL regardless of the GVWR of the combination.  The uniform traffic code applies in all states that receive Federal Funds, it's their way of twisting your arm for compliance.

While the FMCSA rules are hard to get through. The 150 "Farm Us Exemption" covers most all trucks for a 150 mile radius, where this radius starts has rules to- it is not always your home.

Outside of the 150 mile radius you can utilize what they call "Occasional Personal Use", but the GVWR has to be less than 26,001. This will get you to shows without falling into a CDL.

I do have a class A CDL with Airbrakes, and I don't have the "No manual transmission" restriction.

But, if you are going to use the exemptions in FMCSA 390.39, you should read up on them, and keep a copy of it. DOT officers do not like being recited the laws. But if you follow the exemptions, you can go anywhere in the USA if it is under 26,001 GVWR, without all the CDL requirements. And you are always going to a show....