D.O.t. laws in Michigan?

junior barns · 03-05-2016, 05:34 PM

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

voltdr · 03-05-2016, 06:12 PM

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

junior barns · 03-05-2016, 07:51 PM

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.?

ironside68 · 03-06-2016, 10:47 AM

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.

Another Friendly Racer · 03-06-2016, 11:18 AM

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.

voltdr · 03-06-2016, 12:03 PM

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

03-05-2016, 05:34 PM	#1
junior barns Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 541 Likes: 11 Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts	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

03-05-2016, 06:12 PM	#2
voltdr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 705 Likes: 77 Liked 97 Times in 50 Posts	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

03-05-2016, 07:51 PM	#3
junior barns Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 541 Likes: 11 Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts	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.?

03-06-2016, 10:47 AM	#4
ironside68 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 49 Likes: 9 Liked 19 Times in 6 Posts	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. Last edited by ironside68; 03-07-2016 at 01:58 PM.

03-06-2016, 11:18 AM	#5
Another Friendly Racer Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 152 Likes: 0 Liked 19 Times in 6 Posts	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.

03-06-2016, 12:03 PM	#6
voltdr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 705 Likes: 77 Liked 97 Times in 50 Posts	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