The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Big Bolts in California licensing and weight issue

Well today I went to my local California Highway Patrol office in Chico CA. To get more information with regards to my California Drives License requirements and the issues governing weight and smog.

There have been some major changes in both license requirements for the individual and for vehicles in the last few years.

This is especially true for vehicles ranging in the GVWR 10,000lbs to GVWR 26,000lbs even if only 2 axles.

If you license your truck as a classic or antique you are exempt. But you can not carry a tooth pick in the back or even your spare tire on the bed of the truck, nor tow another vehicle, boat or trailer.

If the trucks GVWR is over 10,000lbs you have to get a commercial license. California now has a Class "C" commercial license, which requires a yearly physical, drug testing and EPN (Employee Pull Notice) enrollment. Which allows the CHP to come to where the vehicle is parked and drug test "on demand" the driver of the vehicle.

Plus, you have to get a "CA number" and a minimum of $750,000.00 liability insurance. Regardless of whether or not you are a business or private individual.
If you are a private individual and not a business, yet you are hauling your own materials or trash, you have to have the same license and insurance as any commercial hauler.

Although a "CA number" is free, you have to list the drivers who will be operating the truck even if it is the owner only. Where the truck is to be parked/stored, insurance company info, miles driven, safety inspection logs, list of repairs, maintenance files and etc....

Then you have to contact the local Air Quality Control Board to verify your smog requirements and see if you are exempt or not.

Also, if you will be hauling or carrying building materials, which includes sand and/or gravel, dirt or rocks, you have to apply for a CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission)permit to haul dirt.

Violations can cost into the thousands of dollars in fines.

They (California DMV and CHP) are treating the private individual collector as a commercial enterprise. They want the old stuff off the road, I was told. Their intention is to make it as hard as possible on the individual. The officer I spoke with told me that 3 local trucking companies have quit business because they can not keep up with the continuing changing rules and raising expenses.

Also, California is coming out with more smog rules for big rigs. Which will include most Big Bolts as well.

Sounds like a real big hassle for those folks buying a new one ton and pulling a fifth wheel camper as well. Here in SC we don't have near those restrictions, but we do have to have USDOT number and a health card for anything over 10k GVW. This is new in the last 12 months. This doesnt apply to trucks with "farm" tags. This also doesn't apply for vehicles used for your personal use, like the camper guys. I guess this is all part of owning one of these older big trucks.
Scott

anyone that thinks a change in government will bring a change in regulation of a bankrupt, overpopulated, polluted, unsustainable area is dreaming, and that doesn't just apply to one state, so ultimately your 'moving' options are limited

Bill

Although CA has some regulations that are stricter than the FMCSA requires. Most of their regulation of drivers is mandated by federal law.



A commercial vehicle is defined here.



These are some good questions and answers to read concerning RVs.

Government gone wild!

I have never liked the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia, trouble is once they get it started there it will spead to the rest of the country.

im reading this
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/commercial/cvra.htm

it says
This law affects:

Commercial motor vehicles with a declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) or combined gross vehicle weight (CGW) of 10,001 lbs. or more.

Declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the weight that equals the total unladen weight of the vehicle plus the heaviest load that will be transported on the vehicle.

All commercial motor vehicle owners/lessees must declare the gross operating weight when:

The vehicle is first registered.
The vehicle is purchased (new or used).
The operating weight changes.

Using only the GVW/CGW listed on your vehicle

The GVW/CGW listed is the manufacturer's maximum weight at which the vehicle can safely operate. You must still determine whether or not the vehicle will be operated at the maximum.

what it basically says is that you can declare the GVW!

Use of the declaration form if your vehicle will not be operated at a weight of 10,001 lbs. or more GVW or CGW.

You must complete, sign, and return the declaration form indicating your vehicle will not be operated at 10,001 lbs. or more GVW/CGW. Once DMV receives this information, your vehicle will continue to be assessed fees based on the unladen weight.

the way i read this, is that if your truck weights, say 6,000 pounds, then you can only carry 4,000 pounds. The Commercial Vehicle Registration Act (CVRA) wont apply.

now reality is another thing entirely. i will let everybody know how it goes when i try and register my bigbolt at the dmv.

This topic has some good information for everyone, but there were two fellers that jumped off the cliff and I had to delete those specific posts.

Please keep opinion/editorial comments to yourself when it comes to what you think of the job various elected officials are doing.

You all didn't mention the UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) that you must have also. Oh yes, I just found this out when I was stopped at the scales and received a big fat ticket. Here is the link on some information pertaining to the UCR. http://www.dotauthority.com/ucr.htm

I personally didn't have to do any of that with my truck, 47 chevy 2 ton. I just registered it...with that being said, my Papa did have it on non-op so I just had to pay a registration fee of $172. I doubt he had to do any of that run around with declaring weights because he isn't the sort of person to put up with crap like that. I did have to have a commercial vehicle license plate number, something about the way the plate is numbered. I will also have to stop at all scale, loaded or not, but since I can only go 45 mph I cant go on any roads with a scale anyway. I can only have a cgw of 10k but I have a 2 ton truck that is registered at 4800 so I'm safe (even though it actually weighs more than that but they never asked me about weights only told me my limit). Every dmv office is crazy in their own way, but I figured I would share my own experience.

Yes and I have a good friend that has a 1952 Chevy 7200. He lied about the weight also. But be warned CHP is checking trucks that are questionable.

The CHP officer in Chico CA, told me they are on the look out for vehicles that do not have "CA" numbers posted on the side of the trucks, new and old alike. She has a list of vehicle GVWRs by make and model going back to 1941.

Also, your GVW is on the door post serial plate. It is not a moving violation, but it is a fix it ticket to correct the registration.

Regular CHP officers in Squad cars a not the problem, it is the officers driving the Black & White pickups with portable scales.

They are the Commercial enforcement officers.

They know the differences in vehicle classification.

She told me it is a $1200.00 ticket for the first citation.

My next door neighbors just quit driving a big rig as a married team with their own truck. To many regulations, to much money for fees, and not fun anymore.

My fees were $487.00.

I do not know who your insurance carrier is, but mine knew the difference when I called to add the truck to my existing truck insurance.

You can go to your local DMV and get a commercial hand book or down load it from the DMV web site... or you can just ignore it and hope it just goes away. You never have a problem.

But my philosophy is; "If it can happen, It will happen" ...chaos theory and KARMA play a hand too.

Just got my 64 P/U licensed in Ca. What a shame! I have a truck that is now classified as commercial-even on my title. That infuriates me to no end. I am willing to pay a "sin tax" to be able to drive my truck....but holy cow, to make my vehicle classified as a commercial just because it has a "bed". Wish I had read this post before I went into the Dmv, I would have been forewarned and would have just worked thru to get it registered in My home of record, Arizona!

I'm glad I moved out of Commiefornia in 1980 and went back to America!
Jerry