Licensing for medium duty trucks

[William Barrow]

I'm bitten with the 'big truck' bug. I recently spotted some 1.5, 2, and 3 ton ford trucks from the fifties for sale. I would love to have one of these to relieve my 66 f100 of its towing duties. What is different in insurance and licensing for the heavier trucks? Will I need a CDL and/or commercial insurance? Also, what trucks can I expect to have juice brakes vs. air brakes?

William in FL

 

[Anonymous-0]

The best case for you would be if you could get away with farm plates, but if not on those old trucks as long as you are not using them as work trucks hauling stuff you should be able to get collector plates. Those old trucks should all be juice brakes, I think you would have to get up in the 5 ton truck from that era before you start to see air brakes. You need cdl if truck weighs more than 26,000lbs, or has air brakes. But not if its farm.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Jon, 26,001# and over requires a CDL. Makes no difference if it is for farm use or commercial. The exception would be if the truck is never used on a public highway.

 

[Wheat Farmer]

Insurance was an issue for me. I have a 1974 F600, and my normal car/pickup insurance will not cover anything over 1 ton, so the F600 is by it"s self. Even with farm plates it is over $500 a year.I also have a 1963 C60, but no insurance at this time.

 

[Dennis Benson]

I know this is a little newer, but on the CDL issue and air brakes, some IH trucks on the 1980's had electric over hydraulic. Others have air over hydraulic. The way DOT interprets it, if it has air in the system anywhere, it's air brakes even if it's only an air assist, and a CDL is needed.

 

[HY_Moose]

I have a suppervisor at work that was pulled over by a state trooper who asked him if he was hauling the grain home or to the elevator to sell. When he asked why the trooper said if you are hauling anything to sell then you would need a CDL if the total vehicle weight was over 10000 pounds, that includes the trailer. That means if you are hauling a car (2500 lb) behind a ton ford diesel (7000 lbs) on a car trailer (1000 lbs ,Just a guess) then you need a CDL. Or firewood or just a pickup load of grain on a ton truck with 12000 pound plates.
I thought CDL's were a nationwide deal and controled by the feds and not each state?

 

[Dave Olson]

[b:a2adf1312e]Here in Illinois the state issues Antique plates. They cost about $25 for 5 years. We are not required to have the truck inspected!

The state does not have antique plates for trailers. Cost for the 39 year old tri-axle is about $180 per year.

In the picture is a '46 White truck hauling a '30 C Case. The truck has air brakes and weights 13,000 pounds empty. The trailer is a '70 DoMor hauling a '38 CC-3 Case and has electric brakes.

I put on several hundred miles per year with this old truck going to shows and have never been stopped.

Dave Olson East-Central Illinois[/b:a2adf1312e][/img]

 

[mbf]

Here in NY if the vehicle is over 25 yrs old and you have antique vehicle insurance the cost for historical plates is $25 a year, and insurance is about $100 for a vehicle. I just put a 72 Ford L800 with full air brakes on my antique policy. I have a cdl so I"m not concerned about that. A DOT officer that I know said that as long as the vehicle is not hauling anything, and has historical plates you"re not subject to DOT scales or inspections. I think it varies from state to state though.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Here in MI trailers over 10, 000 require the operator to have a CDL, trucks or truck/trailer 0er 26,000 need a CDL. UNLESS it is not for hire, non-commercial operation (like personal stuff toting). Farm use plates take a mini-CDL. Air brakes on anything require CDL.

Might use the forum search on the archives for this, there was a lively discussion about this last year.

 

[Anonymous-0]

in wis. its GVWR and antique/collictor plates are good for 500# loads/and not 12 mon.a year. best is to call dot and tell them what you intend to use it for. the laws are subj to individal trooper interpatation.been trucking for over 30 years.just my expr.