Moving to Mass, Camper/Dually, Commercial License Required?

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Well after 35+ years of living everywhere but near where we grew up in the northeast the wife and I decided it was time to be around family again. We will be relocating to Cape Cod. On our recent visit I was informed my dually is now classified as a commercial vehicle because the GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. Ok, I don't like it, but will live with it until we decide it's time to go from the camper to a trailer (wife is tiring of the climb into the bed). I have searched all of the online information on the RMV sites and could not find a definitive answer on whether I will also have to get a CDL to operate my truck. So my question to Massachussetts residents is if you have a dually do you also have a CDL? Also, how bad is it going to be to insure the truck versus a SRW? Will they allow me to have a veteran plate too? Just trying to get ahead of things as there is a lot of changes between WA and MA. And yes, it was a hard thought decision, but we are out here on the west coast with no family. Kids have moved elsewhere and with aging parents and siblings now is the time to be there with them.

Doug

[mkirsch]

You asked a question on an international forum. The odds of finding someone from Massachusetts, let alone someone with in-depth knowledge of MA's DOT laws, is slim. Of course you're going to get answers that don't exactly answer your question to your satisfaction, and here's one more:

Don't complain. In NY, you need commercial plates if the vehicle is something like 6200lbs unladen. Years ago, if it wasn't a car, you needed commercial plates. 1/2 ton pickups, Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers & Suburbans; all were licensed as commercial, period. I don't know if it cost anymore because I was too young to care about such things, but I never heard the folks complain.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I don't want to be rude, but I am not looking for information about any other state than MA. I have read the online documentation, but it was not plainly clear. What is clear is that MA now considers any vehicle with a GVWR over 10,000 to be a commercial vehicle. That is contrary to the federal laws, but it is what it is. What is not clear in all of the online documentation is if a CDL is required due to the commercial registration. The stuff I read mostly referenced 26,000 and above, 15+ passenger and some other things. It was not clear that those operating 10K to 26K had to have the Class C license and in turn the medical certification.

Doug

[Reality_Check]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Check with local DMV or better yet DOT station as there is lot of misinformation beside different laws in each state.......
....The law has so many variations that even DOT officers don't know each application.

^^^^ true dat. Best answer so far. Go to the source.

Walaby wrote:
OP asks for Massachusetts info, and all he gets is California and Arizona.

Here's a link to Massachusetts DMV info.
https://www.massrmv.com/rmv/license/2diflic.htm

According to this, it looks like you will not need anything more than a Class D license, which according to this part https://www.massrmv.com/rmv/license/5classd.htm
Is like a normal drivers license.

Mike

^^^^lol, and Mike nails it. Specific question, wandering replies.

BTW, weight does not trigger 'medical certificate'. CDL rules do. CDL is triggered by many things; buses, hazardous, air brakes, doubles/triples, etc, and weight...at 26k. And RV pretty much trumps those. But then there's California...lol, but you weren't asking about that screwed up state (don't get panties in a wad...Washington holds it's own trophy).

And all this chat on the different threads about scales, commercial, CDL's, are mixing, confusing and messing up the information.

Wow, Carnation to the east coast. LOL, I forever will know you as the couple where family was REALLY important. Bless the decision...

[Walaby]

OP asks for Massachusetts info, and all he gets is California and Arizona.

Here's a link to Massachusetts DMV info.
https://www.massrmv.com/rmv/license/2diflic.htm

According to this, it looks like you will not need anything more than a Class D license, which according to this part https://www.massrmv.com/rmv/license/5classd.htm
Is like a normal drivers license.

Mike

[Kayteg1]

Check with local DMV or better yet DOT station as there is lot of misinformation beside different laws in each state.
Again, per my knowledge you don't need CDl unless the vehicle is over 26k lb no matter if registered commercially, or for private use and no mater even if you use it for hire.
Same with pulling into scales. The law says all commercially registered vehicles should pull on the scales, but at some stations you will find signs "no pickups" (if you know definition of pickup) at other scales it might be "Vehicles over 20,000 GVW" and so on.
The law has so many variations that even DOT officers don't know each application.

[Trackrig]

If the truck is over 10,000GVW and being used in a commercial applications, the Feds require the driver to have a medical certification. This is why a lot of businesses won't buy a truck over 10,000GVW and why the mfgs, make the same truck with a lower certification. You're not in a commercial application, so the Feds don't care about you.

You don't need a CDL unless you're driving something over 26,000# in a commercial application. You're not over 26,000# and aren't in a commercial application. I don't need a CDL in my state for my tractor and lowboy trailer because I'm using it to haul my hunting toys, not commercially.

Some states might require an air brake certification, but your truck doesn't have air brakes.

Bill

[Golden_HVAC]

You do not need a CDL until the GVWR of the truck is over 26,000 pounds, then you need a medical certificate, ect. However if it is a motorhome, then the weight does not matter, if it is your personal vehicle, it is considered a motorhome, and you do not need a CDL.

Of course if you are hired, say your employer wants you to drive a 35,000 pound motorhome for use as a office, then that would require a CDL.

In California, if the trailer is over 15,000 GVWR (does not matter if it is a 3,500 pound empty three axle trailer, just the GVWR matters) you are required to have a trailer endorsement.

You do not stop at a weight station with a pickup truck. However a flatbed truck over a certain weight has to stop at weight stations, it is not a pickup anymore.

Have fun on your trip!

Fred.

[Kayteg1]

Each state has those laws a bit different, but in CA commercial registration on vehicle is for revenue-getting purpose and has nothing to do with driver licence requirement.
You can register station wagon as commercial vehicle, what will cost you here in $50 range a year and will allow you parking in commercial zones.
I think it is federal law that you don't need CDL on vehicles up to 26,000 lb and trailers up to 10,000 lb.
RV are exempt from CDL requirement all the way.
Good luck on your move.