Pennsylvania (PA) Class A Driver's License

[Columbus J]

Hey all,
In PA, anyone driving a combination truck/trailer with a a GCVW rating of over 26,001lbs must pass the Class A Non-Commercial driving test.

The catch is that you must have someone with you who has that class of license or higher, which in this case, would be a CDL - Class A.

Is anyone near Chambersburg, PA, that could help me out by joining me for the test?

[jeveler]

This is for residents of PA, correct?

[Columbus J]

Originally Posted by jeveler

This is for residents of PA, correct?

Yes, residents of PA must have this endorsement on their license.

[johnsent]

The penndot website says this applies to commercial vehicles which do not include RV's used for personal use only.

[RJShiflet]

Originally Posted by johnsent

The penndot website says this applies to commercial vehicles which do not include RV's used for personal use only.

I believe you are mistaken. The following quote is directly from the Pennsylvania DMV website (under NON Commercial Licenses):

• CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds).

Doesn't that say "Recreational Vehicle"??? I believe that is non-commercial.


https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Servic...s/default.aspx


Same rules apply here in Texas - and I got my Class A Non-Commercial license a couple of months ago to pull our 16,300 pound fifth wheel with our F-350 dually.

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by johnsent

The penndot website says this applies to commercial vehicles which do not include RV's used for personal use only.

Very common mis-interpretation.
It is true you don't need a CDL...
But you do need a non-commercial DL
One has to include the regs in total and not take snippets out of context.

[johnsent]

Here is a cut and paste from commercial license faq's on penndot website:

Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
implements of husbandry;
any motor home or recreational trailer operated solely for personal use; or
motorized construction equipment, including, but not limited to, motorscrapers, backhoes, motorgraders, compactors, excavators, tractors, trenchers and bulldozers.

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by johnsent

Here is a cut and paste from commercial license faq's on penndot website:

Commercial motor vehicles do not include:
implements of husbandry;
any motor home or recreational trailer operated solely for personal use; or
motorized construction equipment, including, but not limited to, motorscrapers, backhoes, motorgraders, compactors, excavators, tractors, trenchers and bulldozers.

I don't understand your post?
It's true COMMERCIAL regs Do Not apply to Rec vehicles... that doesn't mean you don't need ANY DL!!!
skip CDL stuff and go to the NON COMMERCIAL DL requirements others have quoted to find what does apply.

[johnsent]

I stand corrected.

I had not seen the non commercial requirements. Good thing my total rating is just under 25000.

[1960C182]

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

Very common mis-interpretation.
It is true you don't need a CDL...
But you do need a non-commercial DL
One has to include the regs in total and not take snippets out of context.

So true. An example is our Tx commercial regs, the NON-CDL "A" requirement for RV's over 26001 gvwr is buried in the Exceptions to the Exemptions in the CDL handbook with no mention of the requirement in the regular handbook when I got my A.
It is enforced here as the guy building my new shop was telling me he was recently stopped by Tx DPS and he had to drop his trailer on the shoulder along with the ticket. He had to get a friend with a CDL to come get his rig.He never said why he was stopped.

[Columbus J]

Originally Posted by RJShiflet

I believe you are mistaken. The following quote is directly from the Pennsylvania DMV website (under NON Commercial Licenses):

• CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds).

Doesn't that say "Recreational Vehicle"??? I believe that is non-commercial.


https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Servic...s/default.aspx


Same rules apply here in Texas - and I got my Class A Non-Commercial license a couple of months ago to pull our 16,300 pound fifth wheel with our F-350 dually.

You are exactly right and that is why I asked if someone with either the non-commercial or commercial Class A would be located near my testing center to join me. Guys in the past were offering to help each other out, since there are so few people with this license endorsement, but, I didn't need it back then with my travel trailer. The new 5th Wheel is now a combined weight of 27,500lbs and so I need it.

[1960C182]

I'm retired and & not busy Thursday or Friday . Just get me a 1ST Class rt airline ticket & will drive you to the test.

[Jshopes81]

Sorry but im way over south of pittsburgh. I believe youre about 3 hrs away.

[Columbus J]

Thanks, all, found a licensed person to ride-along!