(ii) has 3 or more axles; or

(iii) is used in combination with another vehicle and has an operating or registered gross combined weight that exceeds 26,000 pounds.

(2) “Commercial motor vehicle” does not include:

(i) a privately owned antique truck that: 1. is registered as a historic motor vehicle under § 13-936 of the Transportation Article; and 2. displays appropriate registration plates that the Motor Vehicle Administration issues;

(ii) a commercial motor vehicle that is operated: 1. by a state or a subdivision of a state; 2. by the United States; 3. by a joint unit of: A. this State and the United States and other states; or B. this State and another state; 4. by or for a state, political subdivision of a state, or private school as a school bus; 5. by a volunteer or paid fire department or rescue squad as fire or rescue equipment; 6. by a licensed vehicle dealer during a road test for sale, if the vehicle displays dealer registration plates that the Motor Vehicle Administration issues; or 7. by a person as a privately owned bus used only in the transportation system of a county, municipal corporation, special taxing district, or other political subdivision to transport the public on a regular schedule between fixed termini as those terms are defined in the Transportation Article;

(iii) a multipurpose passenger vehicle as defined in § 11-136.2 of the Transportation Article;

(iv) a multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck that does not exceed 3/4 ton capacity when towing: 1. a camping trailer as defined in § 11-106 of the Transportation Article; or 2. a travel trailer as defined in § 11-170 of the Transportation Article; or

(v) a farm truck as defined in § 13-921 of the Transportation Article or a farm area motor vehicle as defined in § 13-935 of the Transportation Article that has 2 axles and a registered or operating gross or combination weight of less than 40,001 pounds.

(c) (1) “Motor carrier” means a person who operates or causes the operation of a commercial motor vehicle on a highway in this State.

(2) “Motor carrier” includes:

(i) a lessor of a commercial motor vehicle who provides or buys the motor fuel used to operate the vehicle or pays for it as a part of rental or other costs; and

(ii) a lessee whose lease entitles the lessee to receive a credit or refund for motor fuel that the lessor buys.