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CDL question for Kansans

D

DejaVu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
506
Location
Kansas
A few months ago, DOT stopped me and I was ticketed for not having a CDL.
I was going to a local salebarn to pick up some calves I'd bought. They were coming back to the farm. I was 60 miles from home. I own the truck, it is tagged for Farm Use. It never travels more than 150 miles from the farm.

Okay. I have the CDL book so I can study for the test. I've found this and am confused.

From the book:

Farmers operating CDL class motor vehicles interstate:

Farmers operating CDL class motor vehicles registered as a farm vehicle and
used exclusively to transport agricultural products and/or farm supplies to or from the farmer's farm, from Kansas into Missouri,Oklahoma or Nebraska, but within 150 miles of the farmer's farm, are exempt from the CDL requirements, except the state of Nebraska requires drivers operating truck-tractor semi-trailer combinations to possess a class A CDL.

This contradicts what DOT told me. What is right?
 
I don't know about Kansas but in Missouri the DOT boys think they regulate everything down to a half ton truck if it is pulling a trailer. I have been pulled over enough I just started carying the book in the big trucks, and showing them the paragraph that you quoted. That usually stops the CDL talk, but don't worry then they want DOT numbers, etc, etc, etc. It seems like it is never ending, but in most cases if you do a little reading farmers are exempt. That being said it seems like there are less and less exemptions every day. It won't be long till you have to have E-log on that truck you take to the sale barn 60 miles away 5 times a year! It also seemed to help when I put "Not For Hire" under the name on the door.
Good Luck and Don't forget your book!
 
If you have your own truck and hauling your own product you need a class A drivers license. Which is basically a reagular license with air brake endorsement on it. I had the same thing happen to me about 8 years ago. I had been driving a semi since 17 and never took the time to get the license until I got stopped and got ticket. To get the class A all you need to do is go take the same written test you take to get a car license then you have to take a driving test with your truck. It's way easier than cdl no walk through no backing up just a cruise around town a bit. But I was told if I drove the truck there they would fail me for driving without license so my dad brought my truck to the DMV. Also I think the tru k is supposed to have your name your town and not for hire on the side somewhere. I also think its within 150 miles from home. But my dad went up into Ne to get a grain bin from the factory and he called ahead and they didn't care.
 
Most of the dot boys don't have a flipping clue. Most are guys that can't pass a state patrol test.

I have been told that Kansas is harder on farmers with trucks and no cdl. Not sure if that's true but what I was told.

Here in Colorado if you stay within 150 air miles of your home place they don't care. Been stopped many times and never had a problem. One time one said I needed a medical card and one time they said I didn't :roll:

There is a port in Limon Colorado on I-70 when I would haul hay through there to Elizabeth Colorado I would go thru Limon and skip the port. Did that for 6 years hauling a lot of hay that way in that time period. Finally got stopped one time coming back thru, think it was a $75 dollar fine. So I started to go thru the port, which was easy and never got stopped for a inspection or anything. It was stupid on my part because it made my trip a heck of lot faster.
 
I am thinking they just needed some revenue.... As far as I know, but I'm not from kansas, 8) that it's common law that you can drive 150 miles without a cdl. I would of done the dumb blonde thingy and asked.... :wink: :pretty: You sure don't want to get in there face... :secret:
 
In kansas you have to have a class A because a regular license is only good for I think 25000 pounds and not air brakes. If they wanted to you can get really nailed for not having it. It's the same as driving a car without a license at all. It's a misdemeanor but just below a felony. I got lucky and the county judge let me go with just paying court cost fee and showing him that I got the proper license. Otherwise I think it's a minimum fine of $700 dollars. Most farmers don't have the proper license and they told me if your responsible for an accident without the proper license you better have good liability cause your going to get sued like you wouldn't believe. It is really easy and once you do it once all you have to do to renew it is just like reagular car license. Also the dot guy wouldn't let me drive home my dad had to come get the truck. I was hauling corn from the farm to the feedlot 25 miles away but he made me pull the key until someone with the proper license got there to drive home. At least he didn't give me a ticket for being 3,000 pounds over weight I guess. :) :)
 
Thanks for the replies. This DOT guy checked my fuel tanks for dyed fuel. I never run anything but clear. The ticket cost me $160. Guess I got off easy compared to the $700 3ML&C just quoted.
 
We hauled some grass hay out of around McPhearson about 9 years ago. Dont have a cdl and we where way out of the 150 air miles. Never was pulled over. Guess they really could have gotten me then. Plus I got on the interstate around the Hays area and their was 2 bridges that where 14' 5(If I remember right) and the load was 14'6". Never knocked off any bales but moved 3 straps in the middle of the load. I got on the interstate just for that reasone thinking most of the bridges would be high enough not to cause a problem. Never know what low wires or traffic lights on the side roads going thru town would be.
 
Most overpass height signs aren't accurate with paving, re-graveling, etc. There's only one around here that I can get under and it's marked 15'3". A load barely slips through. I've turned down some loads of hay because they were on the north side of I-70 and I'd have to go too far out of my way to get home with them.

Does anybody remember the poor guy hauling the big crane (out of New Mexico I think) to some construction site around Hays? He forgot about the overpass and went under it. Took out the overpass, destroyed the crane and most of his truck. It was 4-5 years ago. Bad deal.
 
DejaVu said:
Most overpass height signs aren't accurate with paving, re-graveling, etc. There's only one around here that I can get under and it's marked 15'3". A load barely slips through. I've turned down some loads of hay because they were on the north side of I-70 and I'd have to go too far out of my way to get home with them.

Does anybody remember the poor guy hauling the big crane (out of New Mexico I think) to some construction site around Hays? He forgot about the overpass and went under it. Took out the overpass, destroyed the crane and most of his truck. It was 4-5 years ago. Bad deal.
Click to expand...

Ya he had it loaded backwards and didn't have the boom all the way down.
 
3 M L & C said:
DejaVu said:
Most overpass height signs aren't accurate with paving, re-graveling, etc. There's only one around here that I can get under and it's marked 15'3". A load barely slips through. I've turned down some loads of hay because they were on the north side of I-70 and I'd have to go too far out of my way to get home with them.

Does anybody remember the poor guy hauling the big crane (out of New Mexico I think) to some construction site around Hays? He forgot about the overpass and went under it. Took out the overpass, destroyed the crane and most of his truck. It was 4-5 years ago. Bad deal.
Click to expand...

Ya he had it loaded backwards and didn't have the boom all the way down.
Click to expand...

I remember that he probably got nailed for that big time. There used to be pics of that floating around. He sure opened up that overpass
 
I think I was around wakeeny when I hit that one. The next two where low after that they where marked at 14' 5" or 14'6" if I remember right. There was road construction and you know how cars will try and beat you in. So I was watching that and never seen the sign. Sure drove over in the left lane as far as I could go to get as close to the high point as I could on the next ones.
 
Everyone should drive a semi at least once in their life. It would make some think about their stupidity-maybe.
 
DejaVu said:
Everyone should drive a semi at least once in their life. It would make some think about their stupidity-maybe.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. My truck is a real bright green color. You would think it would stick out enough people would look twice and not pull out in front of you when your loaded going down a hill. But it doesn't. :roll:
 

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