Trucking: Hours of Service with Pick-ups over 10,001lbs., emergency response vehicle, cdl license

Question
Greetings.  I work for a company where our transportation compliance group has taken the stance that DOT Hours of Service regulations cover an employee operating a company pick-up truck over 10,001-lbs (combination or not).  They say however, if we were to remove the receiver, we would not have to "DQ" our drivers because they could NOT (in-theory) operate a vehicle over 10,000#.  However redicilous this appears, it is none the less, the stance taken internationally, and is affeting all my employees because they can now only operate a pick-up under the 70hr - 8-day ruling and we are a 24hour emergency response company!

QUESTION:  Where can I get info to put this to bed once and for all?  I have been unable to find info that does NOT contridicte itself trought the Dept of trans, etc.

Thanks,
Bob

Answer
Hi Bob, The DOT Regulations, 383.3 (d)  Applicability for Commercial Driver's License Standards, makes an exception for "farmers,firefighters, emergency response vehicle drivers.." from being required to have a CDL License IF THE STATE AT ITS DECRETION EXEMPT INDIVIDUALS. Therefore, he would not be required to be under the 'Hours of Service".
J P Long,