D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

At what point are you required to have a CDL if towing a one car trailer using a 3/4 ton truck? OH forgot, on a dealer plate on the truck?
Thanks in advance

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

I was always under the assumption that a dealer plate on anything meant that you could not haul anything with it. The dealer plate is a temporary plate which means the vehicle has not paid the required state taxes to operate permanently on the highway. I would be interested if that is still the way things are.
Dan

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

Thanks. The trailer had regular plates just used truck with dealer plates. In this situation would the driver be subject to d.o.t laws like a log book etc.?

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

I tow all over in MI with a 3/4 ton and 28ft enclosed. Never had a problem. I don't have any advertising either though. I've also never stopped at a set of scales.

Trying to find DOT info is muddy at best. It's supposed to be 26,001 and above for license, but I do hear of local landscapers getting checked for DOT numbers when they are above 10,000 because they are a business with hired drivers often. Then factor in the retirees with MH and 1-tons right near 30k and they aren't required to do anything additional.

In MI if your setup looks decent and your not driving crazy I doubt the DOT ever bothers.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

You are not allowed to tow in Michigan with dealer plates. The police will not overlook this. As for the cdl, I'm not certain, but if your rig is 26,001 lbs or greater, I would consider getting one.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

I found this online.

Michigan
Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:

Single Vehicles - Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.



Combination Vehicles - Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the gross combination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more.



Vehicles:

Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

This maybe helpful.

http://www.besttruckingschools.com/cdl-requirements/

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

[QUOTE=voltdr;497631]I found this online.

Michigan
Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:

Single Vehicles - Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.



Combination Vehicles - Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the gross combination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more


Local police is saying the 10,001pounds includes the truck used to tow trailer!! This can't be right???

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

[quote=junior barns;497691]


the key word here is commercial vehicles.A dealer plate is commercial.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

[quote=dartman;497692]Gotcha. Thanks!

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

The DOT regulation is a Federal Rule its same for all states.
Here is the kicker it says that ANY VEHICLE COMBO USED IN A Comerical operation with a combined weight of over 10,001 lb (this means truck trailer and towed vehicle) must have a DOT number, once you put this number on the tow vehicle then you must have
A CDL
A medical card
A driver qualification file
A driver test card
A vehicle maintaince file for truck and trailer
And log books
And this is in every state
Just look up the Federal DOT Regulations they are on line

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

390.3 applies. If your stuff is in your personal name, 390.3.f.3 I think it is in the DOT manual which exempts you from DOT. But length is still a state deal. You need to know and be prepared. You can race for money; specifically allowed in 390. And always remember you are not being paid to drive the rig. If your rig, pickup, whatever is in ABC Racing or some company name, you are DOT over 10,001 and subject to everything. Try this. Owner ABC Racing, Leased to Johnny Smith (personal). The end user is the responsible party.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

For the OP. If you drive a commercial vehicle with a combined weight of 26,001 or more, you are required to have a CDL. What constitutes a commercial vehicle has been argued about, and will continue to be argued about, probably forever.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

Sorry, I mis-spoke a little bit. If the manufacturer's combined GVW is over 26,001, regardless of the actual weight, a CDL is required.

Re: D.O.t. laws in Michigan?
 

I just had a nice chat with a Pennsylvania DOT when he pulled me over on my way back from Ohio. We were in a crew cab duallie open trailer with my Superstocker on it. he pulled mw over to say that I was a commercial vehicle because of all the stickers on the car. He asked me where I was going and where I was coming from tld him Ohio chassis shop and showed him the bill and we are going home to my house. He asked me for my license and reg which I handed him my Class A CDL and Medical card and the reg to the truck which is registered in Honda Of Kingston, I did not have the reg for the trailer with me. He started to ask me why I had a CDL and I told him that I would drive for some of my friends trucking Companies. He then asked do I race for MONEY( I waiting for that question) I answered YES and that I get a 1099 at end of year and claim it as Income I do not write this off as this is not a business Entity. Then he commented on the Dealerships names on the car and if I get paid from them. That when my father Ron Sr says "Yea he works for me I own those stores and he get a pay check every week and a W2 form at the end of the year. As the questions kept coming to me I proceeded to recite the 390.3 out of the FMSCA book to them and this is where things started going in my favor. I said to them I understand that I am in a GREY area but what the FMSCA states is that I am excempt from being a CMV because it is for HOBBY only. His next question I think sealed it when he asked if we are making $$$$ racing My Father and I at the same time started to laugh real loud and we said NO. Just then the other DOT trooper pulled over a truck/horse trailer combination I saw in my rear view mirror both the troopers talking and the one comes back and tells me this is my LUCKY day and lets us go. The moral to this situation is I knew about the 390.3 clause had my CDL and Medical card, the trailer had all the proper attachments and I was not rude I just knew enough of what I needed to state my case.