Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Exactly..........clear as mud.

 

I'd suggest making an appointment and taking the rig to the CHP office and having them inspect.  Don't just ask any CHP, even someone in the commercial section.  The CA vehicle code is over 1000 pages and has almost 50,000 codes in it.  You want someone who does those inspections as part of their job and is up on all the current law changes.

 

Because of the weight, you're getting into commercial type capacities, but if you're not using it for business (i.e. driver for hire) a lot of the commercial requirements don't apply to you.  Like the Class A medical cert.  Unless you are employed to drive a commercial vehicle or a driver for hire, you don't need the med. cert.  Its kind of a stripped down Class A for private citizens who haul large rigs.

 

If you can't get a straight answer from CHP or DMV as to exactly what your requirements are, let me know where you are and I'll get you in touch with someone local to you that can help make sure you are hauling within the law.  I can also get you the code sections that apply so that if you do get stopped, you can show the officer.  Believe it or not, they don't know all of the codes from memory. (smirk)

 

abigail

Chico, CA

Dyane Smith <sunibey@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Well, I'll go in and get the Class A license just to be sure.

 

The other part, the flatbed, seems to be confusing for everyone.  I called DMV and CHP and no one knew, until they transferred me to the Commercial vehicle section of the CHP (1-916-445-1865).  Officer Sanchez thought that with a flatbed, the weight (GCVWR of 23,400) would be a consideration and I would have to go the whole 9 yards (log book, weigh stations, etc.), but without a flatbed (with the original pickup bed), none of that would apply.

 

Oh, and according to my dealer (after the sale), if I take the bed off, I have to register the truck by weight and pay an additional $232 to register it.

 

Confusing to say the least.

 

Dyane