Do You Need A CDL To Drive A Ford F-350 Truck?

Understanding the various state and federal laws regarding commercial vehicles can be overwhelming. While the federal regulations are uniform no matter where you are driving in the US, certain states have chosen to adopt their own sets of stricter ones. Knowing the law is extremely important before you begin driving commercially, no matter the vehicle you are sitting behind. Should you be considering the Ford F-350, you'll want to know if a CDL is even required to operate this truck. We researched federal and state laws from various professional sources so that you can be confident about them before you hit the road.

The Ford F-350 only requires a CDL by federal law if the gross combination weight rating exceeds 26,001 pounds. As the curb weight (weight of an empty vehicle) of the F-350 is far less than 26,001 pounds, you will not need a CDL for normal, everyday driving. All states adhere to this federal regulation.

Now that we know that certain circumstances will require you to have a CDL license, we'll take a closer look at them. You might also be wondering if you need a CDL for personal use or how large of a truck can you get without a CDL. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what our research has discovered.

When are you required to have a CDL?

Whether or not you need a CDL will most commonly depend upon two things: how much weight you are operating with and what you might be hauling. CDLs are broken into three separate classes, which are:

Class A CDL

The most common class of CDL is Class A. In nearly every circumstance that would require a CDL with a Ford F-350, this is the one that would be applied for. Class A CDLs are for operators that are moving 26,001 pounds or more of weight. This weight includes the curb weight of the vehicle being driven and its cargo and the total weight of what is being towed.

What you can tow with a Class A CDL will depend upon what endorsements you've successfully obtained. Generally, a Class A will allow you to operate a tractor/trailer combination, a truck/trailer combination, and a fully loaded flatbed truck.

Class B CDL

This class of CDL is meant for vehicles with a single gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more. It also applies to you if you are towing a vehicle behind you that weighs no more than 10,000 pounds.

Examples of those needing a Class B CDL are those operating passenger buses, segmented buses, and delivery box trucks.

Class C CDL

The last class of CDL is for those operating vehicles that don't fit under the Class A or Class B types of use. Most commonly, passenger vans and HAZMAT vehicles belong under Class C.

For a complete set of federal CDL regulations, you can visit the Federal Department of Transportation site.

Is a Ford F350 considered a commercial vehicle?

Under most circumstances, the Ford F-350 is not considered a commercial vehicle. However, if you are using this truck for business, it might be legally considered commercially used. If so, you will have different insurance requirements. You will also need to obtain a CDL, should you be exceeding 26,001 pounds of gross vehicle combined weight.

How much does a Ford F350 weigh?

How much the F-350 weighs depends on cabin style and engine configuration. Below are the weights of the F-350 by cabin style:

Regular cab

SRW

SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 5,877 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,596 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 5,911 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,305 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,020 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,339 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 5,935 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,6353 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 5,969 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,362 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,077 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,396 pounds

DRW

DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine weighs 6,144 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine weighs 6,896 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine weighs 6,276 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine weighs 6,717 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4L 6.7L engine weighs 7,247 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine weighs 6,713 pounds

Super cab

SRW

SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,238 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,950 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,272 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,666 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,372 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,700 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,295 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,008 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,329 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,723 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 7,429 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,757 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 6,125 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 6,823 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 6,159 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 6,557 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 7,245 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 17 inch wheels weighs 6,591 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,186 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,880 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,220 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,557 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 7,245 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 18 inch wheels weighs 6,591 pounds

DRW

DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine weighs 6,144 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine weighs 6,896 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine weighs 6,276 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine weighs 6,717 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4L 6.7L engine weighs 7,247 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine weighs 6,713 pounds

Crew cab

SRW

SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,513 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,242 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,547 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,940 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,775 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,974 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,570 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,299 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,604 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,998 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,732 pounds
SRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,032 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,286 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,004 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,320 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,707 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 7,424 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 17-inch wheels weighs 6,741 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,343 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,061 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,377 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,764 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 6.7L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 7,481 pounds
SRW 6.75 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine 18-inch wheels weighs 6,798 pounds

DRW

DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.2L engine weighs 6,967 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 6.7L engine weighs 7,678 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x2 7.3L engine weighs 6,963 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 6.2L engine weighs 7,392 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4L 6.7L engine weighs 8,133 pounds
DRW 8 foot box 4x4 7.3L engine weighs 7,388 pounds

Do I need a CDL for personal use?

While CDL stands for "commercial driver's license," it can be required even if you are not using the vehicle for commercial use. Federal regulations state that a CDL will be needed to operate a vehicle under the following circumstances:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, should the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is more than 10,000 pounds.
A single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,001 pounds, or any vehicle towing another that weighs less than 10,000 pounds.
Any vehicle manufactured to carry sixteen or more passengers (including the driver).
A vehicle is required by federal law to be labeled as transporting hazardous materials.

What size truck can I get without a CDL?

You can operate a vehicle that weighs 26,000 pounds or less without obtaining a CDL by federal law. Anything more than this weight will require a Class B CDL. However, remember that CDL requirements are also based on gross combined vehicle weight, as we outlined earlier in this post.

In Closing

The durable Ford F-350 has remained a popular Class 3 pickup truck among consumers. Under most circumstances, you shouldn't need a CDL to operate it for personal use. However, if you are a driver for hire, or are hauling a trailer with heavy cargo, then a CDL would be required for driving it. Before loading your F-350 and getting on the road, learn all state and federal regulations to avoid costly fines and legal penalties.

If you found this post on the Ford F-350 truck to be helpful, we believe you'll enjoy reading these posts about other Ford trucks:

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