what defines a "commercial vehicle" in the state of michigan?

Answer 1

Any Michigan resident who intends to operate the following commercial vehicles is required to have a commercial driver license:

Single Vehicles - Having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)* of 26,001 pounds or more.



Combination Vehicles - Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more when the gross combination weight rating (GCWR)** is 26,001 pounds or more.



Vehicles:

Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver)
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding
*Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the recommended maximum total weight of the vehicle and load as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. The GVWR label is usually found on the driver side door post of the power unit and on the front left side of the trailer. The GVWR should not be confused with the elected gross vehicle weight (GVW) which is declared by the vehicle owner for registration purposes.



**Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a combination vehicle. In the absence of a label, the GCWR can be calculated by adding the GVWR of the power unit to the GVWR of the vehicle(s) or trailer(s) being towed.



Exemptions



The following people do not need a CDL:

Active Duty Military (including National Guard): With military licenses operating military vehicles.



Police Officers and Firefighters: Meeting approved training standards and operating authorized emergency vehicles.



Farmers: Operating vehicles within a 150 mile radius of their farm.

An F-endorsement is needed by farmers operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. A knowledge test, but no skills test, is required to obtain the F-endorsement.
However, farmers who carry hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding while operating combination vehicles whose towing vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, need a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.


Individuals: Operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members, for non-business purposes.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

The Michigan Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1963 defines a Commercial Motor Vehicle or CMV as any self propelled or towed vehicle designed or used on public highways to transport passengers or property, except for a bus exempted in subdivision (b), if the vehicle is 1 or more of the following:

Has either a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or an actual gross weight (GW) or

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) or an actual gross combination weight (GCW) of 10,001 or more pounds.

Is designed for carrying 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

Is used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity that requires the vehicle to be marked or placarded pursuant to 49 C.F.R. parts 100 to 180.

What this basically means is that if,

You drive a vehicle that the manufacturer specifies (GVWR) can carry over 10,000 pounds by itself or actually weighs (gross weight) with load over 10,000 pounds you fall under the regulations.

You drive a combination of vehicles that when the two vehicles weight ratings are combined, they exceed 10,001 pounds. An example of this would be a pick up truck which has a manufacturers rating (GVWR) of 8,000 pounds pulling a trailer which has a manufacturers rating (GVWR) of 3,000 pounds. When you combine (GCWR) the two 8,000 + 3,000 = 11,000 you fall under the regulations.

You drive a vehicle or combination of vehicles that actually weigh (including load) over 10,001 pounds; you fall under the regulations.