Commercial Vehicles - FAQ

FAQ: General Information

What is a commercial motor vehicle?

A CMV is:

• Any single vehicle or combination or combination of vehicles having a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR -what the vehicles can carry) or Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW - the actual weight of the vehicle) of 10,001 pounds or more
• Used in furtherance of a business (This does not have to be transportation for money. It can be attempting to win a prize or trading favors for other businesses.)

What are the equipment or maintenance requirements with the vehicles?

The vehicles need to be inspected by a Federally certified mechanic within every 12 months according to FMCSR 396.17.Additionally, according to 396.3, the motor carrier, or the company, is responsible to keep all vehicles under it's control maintained in a safe and proper operating condition.

What type of driver's license is needed?

The State of Michigan requires its residents to obtain a "Chauffeur License" if they are employed for:

• The principal purpose of operating a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more.
• Operating a bus
• Operating a taxi.

The CDL Group 'C' is necessary for operating a vehicle with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) less than 26,001 pounds and carrying hazardous materials on which a placard is required oris designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver.

Do I have to mark my vehicle? What if I only use it for business some of the time?

Michigan Compiled Law 257.723 states:

(1) All commercial vehicles with a single or combination gross weight rating or total gross weight of more than 5,000 pounds and all towing or platform bed wrecker road service vehicles in operation upon the public highways of this state shall have the name, city, and state or the registered logo or emblem of the registered owner of the vehicle, and lessee of the vehicle if the vehicle is being operated under lease, painted or permanently attached on each side of the vehicle in letters of not less than 3 inches in height, not lower than the bottom edge of the door. This information shall be in sharp color contrast to the background.(2) Except for towing or platform bed wrecker road service vehicles, the identification requirements of subsection (1) may be met through the use of removable devices, which meet the requirements of subsection (1). These devices shall be of durable construction and securely attached to each side of the motor truck or truck tractor. The removable devices shall be attached so that the identification is in a horizontal position.

What is the company required to do to have a "qualified" driver?

FMCSR Part 391 covers these requirements in detail. In short, the driver file must have:

• A "driver's" application. Note this has different questions than a standard employment application.
• A copy of the driver's road test certificate.
• Annual copies of each States' record inquiry, noted by the driver.
• Annual copies of the driver's report of violations.
• A copy of the driver's medical certificate.

A CDL 'B' license is required for operating a single vehicle over 26,001 pounds.

The CDL 'A' license is required for operating a vehicle where the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) is over 26,001 pounds and the trailer gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is over 10,000 pounds.