Aluminum Livestock Trailers

[knabe]

looks like non-commercial class A license is the way to go. (on the other hand, the restriction is 150 miles within farm)

you only have to drive the vehicle type you are going to drive, not other bigger rigs, i.e. tractor trailers like commercial class A


seems like the commercial truckers have lobbied so one can't buy cattle more than 150 miles from the ranch and transport them yourself.

 

[Doc]

I guess I've been very lucky over the years. I have a 24' Eby and have pulled it from MI to Texas to SC to IN, IL, OH and so forth and have never been stopped. The one state I won't pull to is IA. I've heard too many horror stories on DOT stops there for not having a DOT number posted on your truck.
The only time I've ever been stopped was when I was crossing from Louisiana into Texas with some Quarter Horses we were taking to a sale.

 

[knabe]

elite and wilson.

if i were to get a featherlite, i would upgrade the axles from 3500 to 4500#.  they seem to really be the lighter ones, although their carrying capacity might suffer compared to wilson/elite.

it seems an underserved market is finding the sweet spot of staying at 9950 GVWR and the lightness of the trailer.

it's not clear who will downgrade their trailers from say 14,000 to 9950. those trailers would weigh about 3500-3700 (wilson/elite), the dealers say they will do it (the dealer, not necessarily the trailer company).

i would say if carrying weight is most important while still staying under 9950#, pay attention to axle rating, cross-member spacing and thickness, doors, aluminum sheeting thickness, and flooring quality (for corrosion as well).

for over 9950#, the constraints are much less, but then you need a class C license, yearly renewal, drug tests, maybe a log, etc.

some states, i think Iowa, are notorious for stopping trailers, especially with out of state tags.

seems with the law should be changed to allow 14,000# trailers as a cap as the newer trucks can easily handle this rating and the trailers can as well compared to when the law was written.

the law, seems written to force a larger proportion of the population to class C license for a typical animal transport, say to a show, a purchase out of state, etc. for smaller producers.

 

[vc]

Most of the time you will not pulled over pulling a livestock trailer if it is only 2 axle, add the third axle and they will pull you over for a class A almost every time. Had a friend hauling 2 calves (2000 lbs, plus tack) back from Denver to California, he was pulling a 3 Axle trailer 30ft trailer. He was pulled over and given a warning by the first trooper, he was told to pull off the highway at the next exit and find someone with a class A, he made it 2 exits farther and was shut down. Had to have a friend fly up from Texas to get the calves home. it was his 3 or forth year he had hauled that trailer to Denver. Just happened that the troopers were looking for that type of violation hard and with Cal plates they new he was going over the 150 mile ag exemption.

 

[Show Dad]

The 150 mile "AG" restriction is from the 1950's when it would take you all day to go that far. Today that restriction is ridiculous. Should be 750 or 1000. And it doesn't matter if you go over a stateliness they will call it interstate commerce and require a CDL (and all the permits & paperwork that go with it).

The GVWR should go to actual weight. I liked a nice 28' Elite with aircraft tires on 8K torsion axles. Gave a better ride for the show cattle and lasted longer on the poorly maintained roads. But the government knew better and in 2012 came up with the labyrinth of regulations we have now.

And with the varied levels of enforcement depending on which state you're in and then what DOT cop you get, it is a true mess. And you guessed it, its not about safety, its about revenue...
JMHO
<alien>
SD

 

[764wdchev]

Federal motor vehicle laws state any combination with a combined GVWR of 26,001 and up must have a CDL and meet all safety requirements (vehice inspections, triangles, log book, etc..), but farmers have a 150 mile radius from their farm/field that this doesn't apply to.

I just recently bought a 2021 Wilson 24ft trailer, specifically asked the dealer if it was 14000 GVWR, and they said it was. Bought it, brought it home, and saw the VIN plate said 16,000 GVWR. The trailer had not been titled yet, I called Wilson, told them the story, and they asked "What rating to you want?" I told them 14,000. They made a new plate, and a new Manufacturers certificate. I stopped by one of their shops and the switched VIN plates. They also said they could just mail me the new VIN plate, but I wanted them to put it on the trailer.

You can have a brand new semi trailer plated for 14,000 VWR, but you won't be able to haul much.

Wilson for the win on trailers.

 

[CRS]

Should have asked for a 10,000 GVWR.  With a towable over 10,000 lbs you are required to have a Class B CDL regardless of the GVWR of the combination.  The uniform traffic code applies in all states that receive Federal Funds, it's their way of twisting your arm for compliance.

 

[ai er]

Ohio BMV states:

CDL CLASSES
Class A
Class A license is required to drive any combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, if the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B
Class B license is required to drive any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more or any such vehicle towing a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class C
Class C license is required to drive any single vehicle or combination of vehicles, not considered class A or class B and any one or more of the following:

Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver
Transporting hazardous materials in an amount requiring placarding
Any school bus with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds designed to transport fewer than 16 passengers, including the driver
Where Do I Go?

 

[764wdchev]

While the FMCSA rules are hard to get through. The 150 "Farm Us Exemption" covers most all trucks for a 150 mile radius, where this radius starts has rules to- it is not always your home.

Outside of the 150 mile radius you can utilize what they call "Occasional Personal Use", but the GVWR has to be less than 26,001. This will get you to shows without falling into a CDL.

I do have a class A CDL with Airbrakes, and I don't have the "No manual transmission" restriction.

But, if you are going to use the exemptions in FMCSA 390.39, you should read up on them, and keep a copy of it. DOT officers do not like being recited the laws. But if you follow the exemptions, you can go anywhere in the USA if it is under 26,001 GVWR, without all the CDL requirements. And you are always going to a show....

 

[knabe]

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/non-business-related-transportation-horses