How Do I Know When I Need a CDL To Tow a Trailer

When towing a trailer its important to know the trailers payload, trailers gross weight rating, vehicle tow rating, and vehicle gross rating.

In Ohio a CDL is required when the trailers gross rating (GVWR) and the vehicles gross rating (GVWR) add up to over 26,001 pounds 

You can find the trailer GVWR on the manufacture sticker near the tongue or on the gooseneck beam and it will look like this:

 As you can see the GVWR of this trailer = 24,000lbs

On the Truck Side you can find the manufacture sticker in the door jam and it'll look like this:

As you can see here the GVWR of the truck  = 11,400lbs

So Truck and Trailer GVWR is 24,000 + 11,400 = 35,400.

35,440 > 26,001 therefore this combination would require a CDL