Truck Drivers License Type

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by srx-6

Then you are required to abide by all of the regulations that come with that Commercial license.
Just get the proper license required by your state of residence and you are covered in every state.

True... but only when operating commercially... Recreational use isn't commercial use therefore commercial operating rules would not apply...

Some of the other rules attached to a CDL can be avoided too by taking exemptions.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by L.C.Gray

True... but only when operating commercially... Recreational use isn't commercial use therefore commercial operating rules would not apply...

Some of the other rules attached to a CDL can be avoided too by taking exemptions.

Correct, don't get hazmat, doubles etc

[docj]

Originally Posted by srx-6

Then you are required to abide by all of the regulations that come with that Commercial license.

If you mean DOT medical cards, that isn't necessarily the case. SD allows me to self-certify that I am not engaged in driving for which a DOT card is required.

As for the "other" regulations, such as a lower blood-alcohol level, I can live with those.

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

Correct, don't get hazmat, doubles etc

Passenger, double/triple and tanker endorsements won't give you any grief as far as parking your CDL on an exemption, you'll still keep them, but HazMat has a shelf life that's got to be maintained to keep it on there. They turned HazMat into a great big ol' mess when they let DHS get a hold of it.

The only downside of having the full on CDL doing non commercial or recreational stuff is if you do get caught doing anything hinky, it's hard to play stupid, they'll know that you should know better.

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by docj

If you mean DOT medical cards, that isn't necessarily the case. SD allows me to self-certify that I am not engaged in driving for which a DOT card is required.

Not sure what all the other states are doing, but Texas has about a dozen exemptions to sort through that will negate the medical card requirement. You can check more than one box on it and have a restricted CDL. You can revert back to an unrestricted CDL at any time by walking in and filing a current medical card with the DPS.

IF you are truly running commercial you need the card and an unrestricted CDL.

[docj]

Originally Posted by L.C.Gray

The only downside of having the full on CDL doing non commercial or recreational stuff is if you do get caught doing anything hinky, it's hard to play stupid, they'll know that you should know better.

But when driving my car I've been given a "pass" a couple of times by LEO's who didn't want to mess up my CDL record with a relatively minor offense. It won't get you off if you've done something serious, but it can help with minor traffic stops.

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by docj

But when driving my car I've been given a "pass" a couple of times by LEO's who didn't want to mess up my CDL record with a relatively minor offense. It won't get you off if you've done something serious, but it can help with minor traffic stops.

Unfortunately I've had the opposite... and so have several friends of mine.

Last time I was stopped, it was for 11 mph over entering a small town and the occifer stuck it to me even after me asking nicely to let it get under 10 because of the CDL. He advised me I should just give up my CDL since I wasn't driving commercially any longer. That was 4 years ago and it had been 15 years prior to that since I'd had a moving violation.

[John U]

Re Tommy Snake, L.C. Gray, and this thread so far

I have been to DPS (State Troopers/Dept. of Public Safety for those non Texans) with a similar issue/? twice this week.

The upgrade issue crossing 26,000 #'s here in Texas is that you have to take the test in the unit that you will be driving if not getting a CDL.

(or lie)
Problem for someone like me taking factory delivery in Nappanee, Ind and heading NE with no plans to return to Texas for 19 months. They give you 72 hours once you return to Tx to take the test but not returning for 19 months is pushing it. So even the State Trooper told me when I told him I did not want to drive over 1,000 miles one way back which is exact opposite direction we are going to DFW just to take a driving test, "Get the comm license, forget the endorsements and you simply drive a tractor with a 28' Pup Trailer to get your CDL license and go on your merry way!" Physical not an issue as have to do one already every other year for my pilot's license/insurance and the same doctor does both. Have been driving a small 24-28 ft gasser motorhome since 1970 but easily fit under my Tx CM D/L regs. Only issue left is finding a driving school that has a high end heavy motorhome to learn to drive in before picking up my new unit.
Do agree that the small town speed trap cops will be harder on CDL's but an argument could be made that you need one if you put your motorhome into a LLC so it is safer if an accident ever did happen to have the CDL and driver training first. IMHO
Thanks for the info shared above by all.
John

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by John U

The upgrade issue crossing 26,000 #'s here in Texas is that you have to take the test in the unit that you will be driving if not getting a CDL.
John

Not entirely accurate.... You only have to test in the same type of vehicle that meets the license requirement, not the exact vehicle you'll be driving. Your license isn't going to be restricted to driving VIN#xxxxxxx pulling VIN#xxxxxx.

You can use a 3/4 ton pickup with a dual tandem or tri-axle trailer and test out for a Class A or Class A CDL. The downside of that is with using the smaller truck it would have a "non air brake" restriction attached. There's nothing that says you couldn't take a regular A test in a full on class 8 semi.

You could also arrange to borrow someone else's 5er on your truck or theirs to to test out in as well. They'd never know the difference, or care.

Now here would be my best advice... Take the A test using a small single axle semi tractor with a short trailer. Once you've done that you would have an A to pull any trailer you want and would be covered if you should ever move over to a medium/heavy duty TV or Motorhome equipped with air brakes.

[L.C.Gray]

Ok, guess I missed first go round that you're talking about a getting a motor home.

Even simpler.... Borrow a straight truck of any kind over 26k with air brakes and take the B test and you're golden.

The A would still cover it all though.