Licensing questions

[rolling_rhoda]

1. If I am licensed to drive my RV in my home state, I am licensed when I go to other states, true or false? So I can't be pulled over and fined for lack of air brake endorsement, for example, if it's not required by home state, true or false?

2. Try this: personal pickup pulling personal livestock trailer, no CDL required in home state. Crossed into Iowa, and hipo says that livestock trailer is commercial here, due to its length, regardless of use. Driver must have CDL. vehicle must have commercial inspection stickers. None of that is required in our home state. Can they do this?

3. I know some will say find an attorney. Suggest one to call and I will, thank you.

[Executive45]

We are still waiting for the OP to come back. The Iowa DOT has asked that he contact them regarding the situation. When, ( IF ?) that happens, we can get some clarification.....Dennis

For those still interested...below is a copy of the email I sent to the Iowa DOT, followed by their response. It's up to the OP now to follow up......D

To: Iowa DOT Farm Safety Division

Ok...a friend of mine was traveling in your State and received a citation for towing a livestock trailer without a CDL. Here are the facts:

1. Driver was a properly licensed resident of South Dakota holding a valid non CDL license for that State.

2. Vehicle and trailer were legally registered to the driver and carried current South Dakota tags.

3. Driver was operating a single rear axle pickup towing a 35' goose neck livestock trailer holding 4 calves plus some equipment such as fans, haters, feed and grooming supplies.

4. Driver was simply traveling through Iowa enroute to a livestock show in Ohio.

5. Driver was pulled over and cited for not having a proper license, no vehicle inspection stickers etc.

It is my understanding under MAP-21 that he should have been exempt from the CDL requirements of the State of IOWA. Am I wrong in this assumption? We have many instances of drivers from our State that travel to other States for livestock shows. We certainly don't want to avoid traveling through the State of Iowa, but if your State is going to require special licensing to do so, we will have to boycott coming through Iowa. I'm looking for some answers to take back to our Co-op. Can you help?

Thanks for your time...

This is their response:

Enforcement, Vehicle DOT

10:33 AM (30 minutes ago)

to me

Good morning,



Please have your friend call us, at the number below, to review the inspection. He should have his inspection report available when he calls.


Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement

Commercial Vehicle Information

6310 SE Convenience

Ankeny IA 50021

800 925 6469
omve@dot.iowa.gov
http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/omve/index.htm

[The_Texan]

Lot's of misinformation in the thread about licensing and federal laws. I have NEVER seen any federal law that said every state MUST recognize another states laws and the last time I checked the interstate motor vehicle reciprocity compact, there were only 40 signers to the pact, even though all 50 currently abide by the pact.

[okgc]

Commenting and subscribing to this thread as we have horses and a horse trailer.
Non of the drivers have ever had a CDL or stopped at a weigh station.

Over the last 15 years our horse trailer has been towed around the midwest and as far south as Florida. I do not remember ever taking horses to Iowa. NEVER any issues thou I know the trailer is less than 10,000 lbs if that makes a difference.
I have noticed that more horse trailers are getting lettered with "NOT for HIRE"

[mvpmich]

License of home states are all you need however equipment is another story. Having said that, I think you have a case regarding the interoretation of your personal equipment as being commercial and you should consult an attorney.

[AllegroD]

Do not confuse legal to drive with thetype of rig you are towing. Just because you can double tow in some states does not grant you the right to do so in all states. Checking with a lawyer in that state is really the only answer.

[randallb]

A lot of states are clamping down on licensing requirements. 3 or 4 years ago, possibly longer, Florida notified all NHRA Gatornationals participants that the state police would be conducting random vehicle and license inspections. The state had had enough of "sportsman" racers driving on the highways with Toterhomes (an RV based on an OTR chassis) pulling extremely large trailers. These vehicles were allowed to be registered as private vehicles. This allowed them to skip the weigh stations and all of these guys traveled heavy. These over weight vehicles were hell on the highways and Florida had had enough. They were nice enough to warn the operators of these "legal" vehicles that the state was going to start enforcing their laws. Other states are not being this nice. Just wait until Iowa starts following the Kansas tax model and see how tough they will enforce their licensing laws.
Randy

[tatest]

#1 about licensing a driver for a RV, and #2 about what vehicle/trailer/load combinations are treated as commercial in each state, are two different questions.

Driver's license reciprocity usually holds for RVs and other private vehicles, but for vehicle licensing there is a big gap between what each state considers private/noncommercial, and what the DOT mandates as commercial, and some states apply very low weight limits, while oters give private use exemptions for some vehicles well over the 26,000 GVWR the DOT wants to see uniformly licensed.

For state by state details, you may not need a lawyer, but you need to see the law books, and not rely on opinions of those of us who don't know the details.

[Executive45]

Well, I fired off an email to the Commercial Vehicle Division of the Iowa DOT trying to get clarification on this issue. I received the following response:


Enforcement, Vehicle DOT

10:33 AM (30 minutes ago)

to me

Good morning,



Please have your friend call us, at the number below, to review the inspection. He should have his inspection report available when he calls.


Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement

Commercial Vehicle Information

6310 SE Convenience

Ankeny IA 50021

800 925 6469
omve@dot.iowa.gov
http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/omve/index.htm

Please have your friend contact them as requested and then post the results here...thanks...Dennis

[rolling_rhoda]

Executive wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Farm vehicle

But that seems to apply, but it refers to an exemption...:h

To the OP..what State was your friend licensed in, and was the combo plated in the same state?

Thanks...Dennis

Drivers, truck and trailer licensed in South Dakota.

[Executive45]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Farm vehicle

That seems to apply, but it refers to an exemption...:h

To the OP..what State was your friend licensed in, and was the combo plated in the same state?

Thanks...Dennis

[Executive45]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Farm vehicle

But that seems to apply, but it refers to an exemption...:h

To the OP..what State was your friend licensed in, and was the combo plated in the same state?

Thanks...Dennis

[rgatijnet1]

According to Iowa CDL requirements if your livestock trailer had a gross vehicle weight rating GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more, you need a CDL.
I guess it could be equivalent of driving a bus without a CDL, even if you did not have any passengers.
Here is a link to the Iowa rules concerning a CMV, which I thnk applies to your livestock trailer. It also mentions that CMV trailers must have a special license plate. Farm vehicle

[rolling_rhoda]

OP here. Our friends were required to park in a lot and not move without a CDL licensed driver or face $25,000 fine. Yes, patrolman asked them to get the alcohol out of the suitcase that was in the truck box and then he dumped it on the road.

Where does one go to learn about vehicle length and CDL requirements? Apparently it doesn't matter how the truck or trailer is titled, used, or whether it was carrying anything for commerce. X length = commercial according to patrolman. I'm getting frustrated trying to find it online. Finding lots of info but not that stuff.

You all have been quite helpful. Thanks so much.

[xctraveler]

msmith1199 wrote:
What is Hipo?

Guessing "highway Patrol Officer" "Highway Police Officer" "A large fat animal with bad eyes and a mean temperament (badly spelled)"

Take your choice 🙂