It this legal?

No, not in a commercial capacity the CGVW exceeds 26,000. That is what they go by.

 

The power unit can be plated/registered for 26k meaning the truck and trailer can't weigh more than 26,000 actual as it rolls over a scale, but that is not what determines whether a CDL is required for the driver. It's the GVWRs of the truck and trailer combined that determine it. For example with your 16,500 lb rated truck, you would only be able to pull trailer rated at 9,500 lbs to stay under the CDL threshold. This is why large 2-axle box trucks are usually never rated higher than 26k GVWR.

 

Almost, but not quite. He can still pull a 10,000lbs trailer and still not need a CDL.
Read what is required. It's over 26K truck + 10k trailer. You can actually run 36K GCWR without a CDL, but 1 pound over 26K for the truck or 10k on the trailer triggers CDL requirements.

 

That’s not true. You need to go back and read your regulations. For a class A CDL it is GCWR over 26,000 pounds. Truck and trailer.

For a class B it’s over 26k single unit and a trailer no more than 10,000 pounds.

You trying to be smart with your word play is going to get someone confused or even worse jammed up with a ticket. If they get on a scale with 35,000 they are most certainly about to have a #### day. All because you are trying to look smart.

 

I am quite certain you have to stay 26.000 lbs or less in a straight truck or a combination. If you are over 26,0000 lbs you need a CDL. If you are a combination over 26,000 lbs and your trailer weight is over 10,000 lbs you need a CDL Class A. I could be wrong on the trailer GVW requirement, but a class A is required for a combination set up

 

One of use needs to learn to read and it's not me. But as we know you can never be wrong, no matter how wrong you are, I'm not going to respond to you as below I've proven I'm right.

Let's both look at the regs and a state flowchart to see what I'm saying is correct.
From Federal Register :: Request Access
Combination Vehicle (Group A) - having a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds), whichever is greater; or
(2) Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B) - having a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater; or

Now lets look at a state Pennsylvania , because it's the first google hit and it follows federal rules.
https://www.psp.pa.gov/law-enforcement-services/Documents/CVSD/CDL Flowchart 5.29.14.pdf
!. Is this a combination vehicle - YES.
2. Does the trailer have a GVWR of 10,001 or more pounds? - NO (Remember I limited it to 10k lbs and even said 1 lb more triggers CDL)
3. Does the power unit have a GVWR of 26,001? - No
4. Is the vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver? - NO
5. Does the vehicle transport placardable amounts of hazardous material? - NO
- No CDL Required

Yes I know California is convoluted, but even their flowchart shows the same thing....
Here are a few more flowcharts directly from the states DMV (or equivalent) site to show it.
Connecticut - https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DMV/CV_Bulletins/CDLFlowChartpdf.pdf
Arizona - https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2019/07/CDL-Med-Cert-flowchart.pdf
California (Who's is probably the most complex) - https://www.chp.ca.gov/CommercialVehicleSectionSite/Documents/Driver License Flowcharts.pdf

 

I’ll say it again. You are playing word games. Yes technically you are correct. There I said it. See I’m not above saying you are correct. However. For you to be correct and for the OP to be able to technically load 36,000 and not need a cdl he would have to have a power unit that is loaded to 26,000 and a trailer that is loaded to 10,000. So basically a box truck and a uhaul trailer. So while you are correct, you are not offering any helpful advice. Because you know full well that that isn’t common combination except in the uhaul rent a truck world.

 

How is reading the law a technicality?
Oh wait, it's not!

And yes, knowing the law is useful. Sorry you can't admit that.