Non-CDL setups
Non-CDL hotshot dispatch that never books you over 26,000 lb
Running without a CDL means every load is a weight problem first and a rate problem second. Our non-CDL hotshot dispatch checks each load against your door-jamb sticker and trailer VIN plate before it reaches you, then negotiates the rate. Find out where your setup stands below.
Your weight budget
Where 26,000 lb goes on a non-CDL rig
The truck's rating and the trailer's rating share one 26,000 lb budget. Whatever the trailer weighs empty comes out of what it can carry. Slide your own numbers.
Non-CDL limits explained
The rule, read the way an officer reads it
A combination needs a Class A CDL when its gross combination weight rating is 26,001 lb or more and the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb (49 CFR 383.91(a)(1)).
"GCWR" is the higher of two numbers: the GCWR the manufacturer prints on the door-jamb certification label, or the truck and trailer GVWRs added together. Actual scale weight counts too when it is higher (49 CFR 383.5). So a light load doesn't make a heavy-rated rig non-CDL.
Non-CDL still means commercial. At 10,001 lb or more in interstate commerce your rig is a commercial motor vehicle (49 CFR 390.5): USDOT number, MC authority for hire, medical card, hours of service. The full list is in our non-CDL hotshot requirements guide.
| Setup (EXAMPLE ratings) | Combined | CDL? |
|---|---|---|
| 14,000 truck + 12,000 gooseneck | 26,000 | No |
| 13,000 truck + 10,000 bumper pull | 23,000 | No |
| 19,500 truck + 10,000 trailer | 29,500 | No: trailer not over 10,000 |
| 14,000 truck + 14,000 gooseneck | 28,000 | Class A |
| 14,000 truck (label GCWR 30,000) + 11,000 trailer | 30,000 | Class A |
Rules checked against eCFR on October 21, 2026. Some states set their own rules for intrastate trips. This is general information, not legal advice. For the details of reading stickers and plates, see hotshot weight limits and GCWR.
Non-CDL hot shot loads
Freight that fits a non-CDL setup
Single machines
Skid steers, mini excavators, compact tractors, light towers and attachments, one at a time.
Light, bulky materials
Trusses, panels, insulation, PVC and HDPE pipe, tanks and empty containers.
Hot parts and partials
Pallets of parts and expedited partials that weigh little and pay for speed.
Vehicles
One or two cars, pickups or UTVs on a car hauler, depending on their weights.
Ag and oilfield parts
Implements, pumps, valves and fittings when the weight fits the deck.
Two light loads
Two partials going the same way can beat one heavy load you can't legally take.
How we find them
How we find non-CDL hotshot loads
- 01
Search by weight first
We filter postings by weight under your trailer's payload, not just by trailer type, so heavy loads never reach you.
- 02
Work partials and expedited freight
Brokers moving small, urgent freight are the natural fit for a light setup. We know which ones post it.
- 03
Pair light loads
Two partials on the same lane, booked so both fit the deck and the weight, can pay more than one full load.
- 04
Confirm the scale weight
When a posted weight looks close, we ask the shipper for the real number before you commit.
EXAMPLE load and rate, not a quote.
Growing
When a CDL starts to pay
If you keep passing on heavy loads in your lanes, a Class A and a higher-rated trailer can open them up, at the cost of IFTA, DOT drug testing and usually higher insurance. We dispatch both, so you can switch without switching dispatchers. See CDL hotshot dispatch.
Fee and onboarding
Same 7%, no contract
Non-CDL setups pay the same 7% of gross, 6% per truck from 2 trucks (limited-time). No setup fee. Read the pricing or the onboarding steps, or start from the hotshot dispatch overview.
Check your rig in the GCWR checkerFAQ
Non-CDL dispatch questions
How do you get non-CDL hotshot loads?
Look for partials, single machines, light building materials and expedited freight, and filter every search by weight under your trailer's payload. Brokers who move small urgent freight post most of it. Or let our dispatchers do the searching and the weight math for you.
Can a non-CDL hotshot pull a 40 ft gooseneck?
Yes, if the ratings add up. A 14,000 lb GVWR truck with a 40 ft gooseneck rated (often derated) at 12,000 lb totals 26,000 lb and stays non-CDL. The trade-off is payload: after the trailer's own weight, there may be only a few thousand pounds left for freight. Check yours with the GCWR and CDL checker.
Will you ever book a load that puts me over 26,000 lb?
No. Every load is checked against the ratings on your door-jamb sticker and trailer VIN plate before it reaches you, and if a posted weight looks close we ask for the real one. A load that would need a CDL is a load we pass on.
Do you dispatch non-CDL car haulers?
Yes. Vehicle moves suit non-CDL setups as long as the vehicles plus the trailer stay within the trailer's rating and the combination stays at or under 26,000 lb.
Is the dispatch fee different for non-CDL hotshots?
No. It's 7% of gross for one truck and 6% per truck once you run 2 or more (limited-time), CDL or not.
Next step
Put a dispatcher on your non-CDL hotshot
7% of gross for one truck, 6% per truck for 2+ trucks (limited-time). No haul, no pay. No setup fee, no contract, cancel with 30 days notice. You approve every load.
Start with your setup: