I own an electrical contracting business and I use my work trucks to pull my boat and my RV. They are professionally lettered with the company name, logo, phone number, etc. I've heard that there are rules against having commercial vehicles in national parks. Does this mean that I can't take my family and RV for a camping trip in a national park if I'm using my work truck as a tow vehicle?Can anyone point me to the regulations governing this? I've been wanting to take a trip out west in a couple years when the kids are older and visit the parks. I've been thinking that maybe I could have a big blank magnetic sheet of vinyl made up that would cover the lettering on the truck if that's the problem.I guess in hind sight I could have had the lettering done magnetically so I could remove it but I didn't think of that.Of course, hiding the lettering doesn't change the fact that it's registered to my business.I'm quite certain there are lots of people out there RVing with their business owned work trucks as tow vehicles. Has anyone else dealt with this before?

Found this:All operators of commercial vehicles must have a special use permit to drive on park roads. Commercial vehicles are defined in 36 C.F.R. 5.6 as vehicles "used in transporting movable property for a fee or profit, either as a direct charge to another person, or otherwise, or used as an incident to providing services to another person, or used in connection with any business."Source: NPS.GOV

I suspect you are okay. They are really trying to limit large trucks and buses. If you want details, look at 36 CFR 5.6. A quote that might help is “The term “Commercial vehicle” as used in this section shall include, but not be limited to trucks, station wagons, pickups, passenger cars or other vehicles when used in transporting movable property for a fee or profit, either as a direct charge to another person, or otherwise, or used as an incident to providing services to another person, or used in connection with any business.”I’d think the key is “when used”. You aren’t using it for commercial purposes in the park.

You would best call multiple parks and try to get consistent answers to your question, and hopefully definitive answers, rather than rely on interpretations and opinions here. If the parks can’t give you a credible answer, maybe they can refer you to someone who can.

I imagine that using your truck for personal use is fine, however, you may be stopped/questioned.The rules are to restrict commercial vehicle traffic, since many national parks are large and have public roads running across them.

I would expect that you'll not have a problem. You won't be the first person to have done that. Mark

Commercial vehicles in national parks | Good Sam Community

azdryheat
Explorer
May 04, 2019
You're not using it in a commercial capacity.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
May 04, 2019
There is no issue. My truck is licensed as a commercial vehicle. That's just the way it is in NY even though it is not used for any commercial purposes. I have seen a great many tradesmen's vehicles in national parks. The restrictions apply to operating a truck in national parks for commercial purposes. The restrictions have nothing to do with licensing or signage.
MARKW8
Explorer
May 04, 2019
I would expect that you'll not have a problem. You won't be the first person to have done that.
Mark
beemerphile1
Explorer
May 04, 2019
I imagine that using your truck for personal use is fine, however, you may be stopped/questioned.

The rules are to restrict commercial vehicle traffic, since many national parks are large and have public roads running across them.
BB_TX
Nomad
May 04, 2019
You would best call multiple parks and try to get consistent answers to your question, and hopefully definitive answers, rather than rely on interpretations and opinions here. If the parks can’t give you a credible answer, maybe they can refer you to someone who can.
jkwilson
Explorer III
May 04, 2019
I suspect you are okay. They are really trying to limit large trucks and buses.

If you want details, look at 36 CFR 5.6. A quote that might help is “The term “Commercial vehicle” as used in this section shall include, but not be limited to trucks, station wagons, pickups, passenger cars or other vehicles when used in transporting movable property for a fee or profit, either as a direct charge to another person, or otherwise, or used as an incident to providing services to another person, or used in connection with any business.”

I’d think the key is “when used”. You aren’t using it for commercial purposes in the park.
GordonThree
Explorer
May 04, 2019
Found this:

All operators of commercial vehicles must have a special use permit to drive on park roads. Commercial vehicles are defined in 36 C.F.R. 5.6 as vehicles "used in transporting movable property for a fee or profit, either as a direct charge to another person, or otherwise, or used as an incident to providing services to another person, or used in connection with any business."

Source: NPS.GOV

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