p38fln
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2009
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
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- 0
- Location
- Superior, WI
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.5 L GTDI
- Transmission
- Automatic
The thing is there are TWO definitions of Commercial vehicles - I posted one (49 CFR Part 390.5) and TomB1269 posted another (49 CFR Part 383.5)
One is the definition that requires a CDL (Which is the ABC thing) and generally doesn't apply to vehicles under 26,001 pounds or that seat less than 16 passengers.
The other is the definition of a CMV that the FMCSA is allowed to regulate - this includes any vehicle over 10,000 pounds used for a commercial purpose, and any vehicle that holds more than 8 people that is being used "for-hire" (A large taxi, for example).
Under federal law - if your vehicle isn't being used in commerce, its not a commercial vehicle.
State law muddies the waters up a bit. Every state sets their own laws, some duplicate the federal laws, some add their own variation. Several states require personally owned vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds to register for a DOT number. These private vehicles don't need to display the number, they just have to register for it. And its a free number, so no idea why they require it.
So...if you want to know for sure, call your state DOT. Each state has its own crazy rules.
One is the definition that requires a CDL (Which is the ABC thing) and generally doesn't apply to vehicles under 26,001 pounds or that seat less than 16 passengers.
The other is the definition of a CMV that the FMCSA is allowed to regulate - this includes any vehicle over 10,000 pounds used for a commercial purpose, and any vehicle that holds more than 8 people that is being used "for-hire" (A large taxi, for example).
Under federal law - if your vehicle isn't being used in commerce, its not a commercial vehicle.
State law muddies the waters up a bit. Every state sets their own laws, some duplicate the federal laws, some add their own variation. Several states require personally owned vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds to register for a DOT number. These private vehicles don't need to display the number, they just have to register for it. And its a free number, so no idea why they require it.
So...if you want to know for sure, call your state DOT. Each state has its own crazy rules.