This document provides a summary of rules and regulations regarding commercial vehicles in Iowa. It defines what constitutes a commercial vehicle and outlines different types of vehicle configurations and commerce. The document cautions that it only provides a high-level overview and is not a substitute for applicable laws. It includes examples to demonstrate how the definitions would apply in different scenarios involving weight thresholds for determining if a vehicle is commercial.

1. Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement
Iowa Department of Transportation
Agriculture Outreach

2. DISCLAIMER
This slide module is intended to summarize commercial Vehicle rules
and regulations and is not intended to be used for legal guidance or as
a substitute for applicable local, state, and federal statutes.
While every attempt has been made to ensure the completeness and
accuracy of the information contained in this presentation, it is not a
detailed explanation of all applicable local, state and federal statutes.
The module is part of a larger presentation and as such is only part of a
summary of regulations that may or may not apply to you.
By use of this resource, the user agrees the Iowa Department of
Transportation assumes no liability or responsibility for the user’s
understanding and compliance to the rules and regulations

3. Commercial Vehicle (CV)
When is it a CV?

4. Definition of commerce
The furtherance of any
business interest.

5. Commerce types
Transportation of persons or
product within a single state
for financial gain or in
furtherance of a
private business.
Intrastate commerce

6. Transportation of persons or product
across state lines for financial gain
or in furtherance of a
private business.
Interstate commerce

7. Transportation of
persons or product
belonging to another
and receiving
compensation to do so.
Commerce types
For-hire carrier

8. A person or business that provides
transportation of persons or
property that is either used or
produced by the carrier or
business that operates
the vehicle.
Commerce types
Private carrier

9. A self-propelled vehicle such as,
but not limited to, a:
› Car
› Pickup
› Straight truck
› Semi-tractor
Vehicle types
Power unit

10. A vehicle being pulled and not
operating under its own power.
Could be a trailer or any of the
vehicles listed above not operating
under its own power.
Vehicle types
Towed unit

11. Vehicle types
A power unit towing another unit
or units.
Combination vehicle

12. A CMV is:
A single motor vehicle’s weight
or weight rating is 10,001 lbs or
more in intrastate/interstate
commerce.

13. A combination vehicle weight or
weight rating of 10,001 lbs or
more in interstate commerce.
7,000 lbs + 7,000 lbs = 14,000 lbs
A CMV is:

14. A combination vehicle with a
weight rating of 26,001 lbs or
more irrespective of the power
units weight or GVWR while
engaged in intrastate
commerce.
7,000 lbs + 20,000 lbs = 27,000 lbs
A CMV is:

15. A vehicle of any size is used to
transport hazardous materials in
a quantity requiring a placard.
A CMV is:

16. Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?
Weight: 6,000 lbs GVWR: 8,000 lbs
Review
Used by farmer to buy and haul seed
from co-op to farm

17. Weight: 10,000 lbs GVWR: 11,000 lbs
Review
Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?
Used by farmer to buy and haul seed from
co-op to farm

18. Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?
Power unit Trailer Total
Weight 9,500 lbs 11,000 lbs 20,500 lbs
GVWR 9,000 lbs 15,000 lbs 24,000 lbs
Hauling feeder calves from sale barn in Missouri
to farm near Winterset, Iowa
Review

19. Power unit Trailer Total
Weight 9,500 lbs 11,000 lbs 20,500 lbs
GVWR 9,000 lbs 15,000 lbs 24,000 lbs
Hauling feeder calves from farm outside Decorah,
Iowa, to another farm outside Independence, Iowa
Review
Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?

20. Weight 9,500 lbs 16,600 lbs 26,100 lbs
GVWR 9,000 lbs 15,000 lbs 24,000 lbs
Hauling feeder calves from farm outside Decorah,
Iowa, to another farm outside Independence, Iowa
Review
Power unit Trailer Total
Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?

21. Weight 9,500 lbs 14,600 lbs 24,100 lbs
GVWR 10,001 lbs 15,000 lbs 25,000 lbs
Hauling feeder calves from farm outside Decorah,
Iowa, to another farm outside Independence, Iowa
Review
Power unit Trailer Total
Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?

22. Power unit
Weight 15,500 lbs
GVWR 22,000 lbs
Hauling corn from field to co-op in Marshall
County, Iowa
Review
Weight
GVWR
Single
vehicle
or
combo
Intra- or
interstate
Is it in
commerce?

23. Review
You are a Commercial Vehicle
You are in furtherance of any business interest and
A single vehicle over 10000 lbs weight or gvwr in
either interstate or intrastate commerce or
A combo vehicle over 10000 lbs weight or gcwr in
interstate commerce or
A combo vehicle over 26,000 lbs weight or gcwr in
intrastate commerce or
A combo vehicle under 26,000 lb weight or gcwr but
the power unit is over 10,000 lbs weight or gcwr