Truck Drivers: Will a CDL issued in one state be honored in another state?
Yes, a commercial drivers license issues to an Interstate Tractor- Trailer driver can travel with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or "GVWR" of 26,001 lbs. or more, given that the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000lbs. This entails any combination of vehicles, provided with proper endorsements, if more than one trailer. All Commercial Driver Licenses or "CDL" issued as a Interatate Driver is accepted in all 50 states, as long as the driver maintains an active, up-to-date medical card, issued after a proper Department Of Transportation, or DOT, physical has been performed, in accordance to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, or " FMCSA." Any driver that is solely driving within state line limits, would be considered an Instrastate CDL, which is only valid in the state it is issued, and is not accepted in all 50 states. Any person(s) applying for a Instrastate Commercial Drivers License may be between the ages of 18-20. Whereas to obtain a Interstate Commercial Drivers License, the driver applying must be 21 years of age. Any Instrastate CDL holder, once reaching the age of 21, is automatically converted to a Interstate Commercial Drivers License, and is accepted in all 50 states. Even if the driver chooses to drive within states lines, known as a Regional Driver or " Local Driver."
Do I have to stop at weigh stations?
It depends on how the truck is rented and what state you are in. When a vehicle is rented in a business name then the CDL classification could be a factor. Here in Florida they have been known to impound rental trucks which are by a company but moving personal goods due to the driver not having a CDL. We are not the only state to do that. Many people lack understanding of the weight classification and CDL requirements as well. Most seem to apply the 26,001 pounds and up. In fact, USDOT has authority of weight down to 10,000 pounds - which could be a half ton truck towing a trailer. Then each state has their own DOT regulations. At the border of Florida and Georgia the Florida Department of Agriculture requires all trucks, trailers and explicitly "rental trucks" to stop for an agricultural inspection. In several parts of New Mexico, Arizona and California rental trucks are required to stop for immigration check points. Florda and South Carolina require all rental trucks to stop. While Ohio, Kansas, Maryland and Georgia only require it for those 10,000 pounds and up. Yet, Arkansas only requires rental trucks hauling commercial goods to stop. As a rule - when in doubt pull in. If they don't want you then they'll pass you through. No harm no foul. If you should have stopped and they come after you odds are against you having a good day. Last thing you want is an upset DOT officer inspecting a rental truck for violations....
Do I need a special license to drive a bus for personal use?
This will likely vary depending on country and state/province.In Alberta, Canada, to be a bus driver you need a Class 4 license. A class for is a professional drivers license. It applies to people being paid to drive a vehicle that does not meet the standard for other special licenses like semi-trucks or motorcycles. It would apply to vehicles like a taxi, bus, or ambulance. The license does not refer to the vehicles themselves specifically, but the fact that one is being paid to drive it, or is carrying paying customers.In addition, if the passenger count of the bus exceeds 24, then you would need a Class 2 license.Most buses do not fall into any requirements to fall into any of the truck categories, which are largely based on the number of axles a vehicle has. In general, a bus only has 2 axles (1 steer axle and one drive axle), so they fall into a regular class 5 category without paying passengers or being paid to drive it.So, for personal use, in Alberta, you would not need a special license to drive a bus for personal use. You could drive your kids around in it, or convert it into a camper, which is not an uncommon use for old school buses.One important caveat is if the bus has air brakes. If it has air brakes you will need to take an air brakes course and have the endorsement added to your regular license. This mostly limits what kind of bus you can drive, for personal use, with a regular license. Most school buses do not have air brakes, while most modern city or commercial buses do.Its best, however to look up you local laws regarding this, or ask at you local DMV/registries/licensing office.
Is there a penalty for driving without a physical license?
I was driving a car with an expired registration, and expired inspection (you have to get the inspection to get the registration, to help force people to keep registered). It was a Saturday morning, and I was going to get inspected. No really.I manged to leave my wallet at home. No really. When I was pulled over, I provided the name, address and DOB of the owner (not me), and my name, address and DOB. Last name of the driver and owner matched, as did the addresses. After what felt like an hour (when you are stressing), he came back for a ticket or no insurance (it was in the wallet too), and no license. Presenting them both at the police station within two weeks got both dismissed. He could have towed and impounded the car, but didn't. I went home, got the wallet, went back out, and got inspected and registered.So long as you are not otherwise interesting to the police, you shouldn't have trouble. If you are interesting to them (I'll leave out the obvious reasons), then they can do lots to you. So carry it at all times.
In New York State Do you need drivers ed to get your permit?
No, but to get your license you must either have drivers ed or be 18 or older. The NYS driver license classes include: •Operator, Class D: Issued to drivers age 18 or over, or to drivers age 17 with Driver Education. Valid for passenger cars and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,000 lbs. or less. A Class D driver can drive a vehicle that tows another vehicle (for example a trailer) that has a maximum gross weight of 10,000 lbs. or less. A Class D driver can tow a vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs only if the combined weight rating of the two vehicles is 26,000 lbs. or less. See the important information about changes for Class D drivers that result from a law that eliminates the Non-CDL Class C license. You will also get lower insurance rates if you have the certificate.
What do i need to know/do to move a 10x45 ft. mobile home myself?
you need a special permit, you do not have enough truck to move it, you may get it going, but the weight will overload the pickup over 5 mph and put you in a ditch, I had a freind using a dually one ton, he could barely move one around the rv park, and only did so by keeping the speed low. Please do not attempt this in your ford, you need a semi truck to do this right, you do not say how far you have to go, but if you roll your pickup in the ditch and have mobile home scattered all over the freeway, the cops will fine you for everything they can find from overloaded vehicle, to blocking highway access for traffic. use your head, you are close, its no longer a free deal get the right tow rig.