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Under 26K with Air Brakes??

11K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  cumminsdude2001 
#1 ·
The state of Massachusetts has me confused...Right now Im working on ordering a diesel/fuel oil delivery truck that is under cdl or under 26000. In ma you cannot have endorsements (tank/hazmat) on a regular class D license. So you have to get a class C cdl which is only a paper test and no road test. However under the class C it states a if you want an air brake endorsement you need to take a road test. My question to the registry was if my truck is under 26K and I have a class C CDL do I need an air brake endorsement?? What do other states do?
 
#2 · (Edited)
#3 ·
I went through the same thing about a year ago with my 1982 S1900 IH single axle with air brakes. It had a Davey Tree sticker saying it was rated 19960 GVWR while the title had a GVWR of 37499 lbs. The line setting ticket was not 100% legible, but looked like 12K front axle with 9K brake and 28K rear axle and 19K brake. The IH metal plate near the door was not stamped in the area of GVWR. I had the truck registered at 26K pound to be just under CDL. I was nervous of driving illegally. I called every place I could think of - the drivers licence centers, different police stations and Penn DOT. I got different answers from every one. The police said I couldn't drive the truck without a CDL. Penn DOT said I didn't need a CDL only an air brake endorsement, but they didn't know how to give me the endorsement without getting a CDL. That's why I think maybe you are correct in that if it is not over 26,001 pounds the air brake is a non issue. I finally registered the truck for 30,000 pounds, got fuel tax stickers and took and passed my CDL class B. Not knowing drove me crazy.
 
#4 ·
The answer is that you DO NOT need an air brake endorsement unless the vehicle REQUIRES A CDL for another reason (GVW, Combination, Hazmat etc).

When I worked for Rollins Leasing we would get this concern ALL the time because EVERYTHING we owned was air if available in that model. We had "non-CDL" rentals with GVWs of 26,000 and under and most had air brakes.

We had a letter from our legal department and the US DOT stating that you DO NOT need a CDL to operate a vehicle JUST BECAUSE it was equipped with air brakes. We would provide a copy to everyone that rented a non-CDL truck with air brakes.
 
#5 ·
I have a International 4300 with air brakes and suspension, no CDL required because it is a 26K truck. You are however required in the state of IN to have a Chauffers license and DOT physical. John G is right about the letter, we have one in my truck and it keeps the rookie LEO's off my back from differant states. Apperantly air ride and brakes on a car carrier are not common, so I get hassled quite often.

Tony
 
#6 ·
Just because it has air brake doesnt mean anything IF you are licensed for under 26001lbs AND you actually weigh under it, you dont need a cdl or air brake endorsment. How many penske trucks have air brakes. If you however go overweight (over 26001 lbs) then they can nail you to the wall overweight, no cdl etc.
 
#7 ·
Good point, yes the laws read "the greater of: GVW, GCVW or actual weight".
 
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