Texas Class B Licensing - Catch 22

[Johndb]

Any Motorhome over 26000 lbs requires the Class B license.

[Hunt n Fish]

Had an "A CDL" for years, but finally decided I wouldn't be driving anything needing a CDL anymore. Went to Texas DPS and they simply changed it over to an "Class A Non-CDL" and waived all the tests (written & driving). I guess they thought if I could "parallel park" a tractor with a 53' trailer I was good to go. Cost dropped to $38 and no Homeland Security stuff anymore.

Now if I can get the IRS out of my hair and find the "right" MH I'll be good to go!

[AggieDad]

Hah!

This Catch 22 reminds me of my dad telling about getting his driver's license in Pennsylvania in the early part of the 20th century. There was no test.

He drove to the local police office and signed off on having driven at least x number of hours. Then he was ticketed and fined for driving without a license and also charged for a new license. Then he drove home - legally!

Maybe things haven't changed as much as we think.

[RickO]

Originally Posted by AggieDad

Hah!

This Catch 22 reminds me of my dad telling about getting his driver's license in Pennsylvania in the early part of the 20th century. There was no test.

He drove to the local police office and signed off on having driven at least x number of hours. Then he was ticketed and fined for driving without a license and also charged for a new license. Then he drove home - legally!

Maybe things haven't changed as much as we think.

Thanks. THAT's funny!

Rick

[Old Radios]

Originally Posted by hawk57

You are wrong! Unless being paid or operating in commerce Texas does not require anything but a regular drivers license.

Wrong. Driving anything over 26,001 pounds needs a B or higher class license. Does not matter whether you are driving it commercially or not.
Read here - page 10:
www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/DL-7.pdf

[phranc]

Texas is not alone in having confusion in the licensing regulations . Up here in NY we too share your pain . CDL holders have had a few issues now , with the state DMV keeping track of the medical certificates. Heard a rumor the other day. Said spring was coming north of the Mason Dixon line

[FlyingDiver]

Originally Posted by phranc

Texas is not alone in having confusion in the licensing regulations . Up here in NY we too share your pain . CDL holders have had a few issues now , with the state DMV keeping track of the medical certificates. Heard a rumor the other day. Said spring was coming north of the Mason Dixon line

I wouldn't say that Texas has "confusion in the licensing regulations". The regs are very clear and unambiguous. I do agree that there's a lot of people who get confused about the regs, but that's because they keep looking at the CDL regs instead of the regular license regs.

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

I wouldn't say that Texas has "confusion in the licensing regulations". The regs are very clear and unambiguous. I do agree that there's a lot of people who get confused about the regs, but that's because they keep looking at the CDL regs instead of the regular license regs.

I agree ... they are quite clear.

[Dwd40]

I believe that Hawk57 might be correct. I was stopped by Texas Highway Patrol for not changing lanes to avoid passing too close to his unit while he was parked on the hiway shoulder. He checked my license, which is a regular license with no additional provisions, and voiced no problems. Issued warning and sent me on my way.

2014 Entegra Aspire 44U

[Sapd1098]

I'm am a current San Antonio Police officer and the information on here is correct about needing a class A or B for over 26,001 pounds. We just don't come accross this and the average officer does not know. The weights and measures officers who deal will commercial trucking know the rules on this. I even had to ask one for clarification. I will be taking the test to up grade my license.

Art

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by phranc

Texas is not alone in having confusion in the licensing regulations . Up here in NY we too share your pain . CDL holders have had a few issues now , with the state DMV keeping track of the medical certificates. Heard a rumor the other day. Said spring was coming north of the Mason Dixon line

yeah we had the same rumor south of the Line then the next day the low was 25 degrees

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by AggieDad

Hah!

This Catch 22 reminds me of my dad telling about getting his driver's license in Pennsylvania in the early part of the 20th century. There was no test.

He drove to the local police office and signed off on having driven at least x number of hours. Then he was ticketed and fined for driving without a license and also charged for a new license. Then he drove home - legally!

Maybe things haven't changed as much as we think.

I remember when I was in the service I bought a motorcycle. When I returned to Arkansas the next time I got a new drivers license. I asked the lady what I had to do for a motorcycle endorsement she asked if I knew how to ride one I said I did and she said she would add it to my drivers license. I also asked how to get a commercial drivers license ( in those days to driv semi trailer trucks or anything) She said it would be ten dollars more. I said ok so I received a commercial license with motorcycle endorsement on it. After I got out of the navy the company I worked for moved me to Virginia so I had to get a Virginia license. Virginia had a pretty comprehensive motorcycle test and commercial driving test. Both written and practical. I went in to get my license and told her I wanted a commercial license with motorcycle endorsement. I showed her my license from Arkansas and she just issued the Virginia license based on my having the Arkansas commercial with endorsement. I had a commercial license all the way up until they changed the laws for CDL testing and I never had to take a test of any kind. Once they changed the law I went back to the standard license with motorcycle endorsement.

[Old Radios]

Originally Posted by Sapd1098

I'm am a current San Antonio Police officer and the information on here is correct about needing a class A or B for over 26,001 pounds. We just don't come accross this and the average officer does not know. The weights and measures officers who deal will commercial trucking know the rules on this. I even had to ask one for clarification. I will be taking the test to up grade my license.
Art

I would suspect that in any state with those weight regs if you get pulled over in an RV, the officer will not wait around for a weigh unit to show up to see if your rig is heavy enough to require a class B license. Especially if he can ticket you for something else.

Here in NY we have weigh stations and I always wondered if a non-commercial RV is required to pull into a weigh station when they are operating.

[jwyoming]

Left DPS License Station in Rosenberg Texas April 17, 2014. Went to get the B license. WAS TOLD I DID NOT NEED IT