Driver license for RV

[Oldman5145]

Originally Posted by thomson

I am a cripple. I am able to drive a rig with an automatic transmission. Sadly, I gave my 73 Vette to my son because it had a manual 4 speed. However, a CDL requires being able to drive manual transmission vehicles. You can't be a cripple, etc.So you sanctimonious people like the truck driver who yelled at me at a gas station believe that we old people should have a CDL or get off their roads. I hope you young snots have never to have to be cripple and realize that we old folks cherise the days we have left to see this grand country. May you never grow old.

AMEN! As for adding license's and laws, as said earlier, they do not fix stupid! Removal of most redundant warning labels is the only thing that might fix it. Like the warning label on my to go coffee cup, HOT.

[hohenwald48]

To me, the biggest reason there is no federal government requirement for an RV license like there is for a CDL (interstate commerce) is that it is unconstitutional and outside the authority granted to the federal government by the states. See Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 and the 10th Amendment in the US Constitution. Too bad they don't teach that stuff in school anymore.

For that reason, the authority and responsibility for private non commercial vehicle operation is in the hands of the states where it should be. That's why some states require it and others don't.

And just a side point to the OP, there is no legal requirement for a SCUBA license. That's an industry standard and not a law. If you want to go buy your own compressor, boat and scuba tanks and dive to 400' you are free to do so.

[BillJinOR]

Originally Posted by thomson

I am a cripple. I am able to drive a rig with an automatic transmission. Sadly, I gave my 73 Vette to my son because it had a manual 4 speed. However, a CDL requires being able to drive manual transmission vehicles. You can't be a cripple, etc.So you sanctimonious people like the truck driver who yelled at me at a gas station believe that we old people should have a CDL or get off their roads. I hope you young snots have never to have to be cripple and realize that we old folks cherise the days we have left to see this grand country. May you never grow old.

I don’t believe a manual transmission is part of a cdl. It was for me because when we started that’s all there was. Nowadays many if not most commercial trucks are automatics and there are quite a few “new company drivers” that can’t drive a stick!
Being a “cripple” as said ( physically handicapped ) enters the picture only if the person can’t control the vehicle or reaction time is impaired . I’m sorry for your condition nobody wants to be in that position or even get old ! life happens but ... if a-person can’t drive well enough to pass a simple test they unfortunately shouldn’t be behind the wheel of anything. Driving is a skills based privilege not a constitutional right . We should all lose that privilege when we are unable to perform as required. Nobody wants to take away from our “golden” years but....... reality
As I said automatics aren’t a limiting factor, they are the norm today. Besides I don’t believe a commercial drivers license is needed .. just some evidence of skills and knowledge of how to operate a large , possibly air brake vehicle. Not the drug tests, every two year physicals and Blood pressure standards I had to meet.

[60sumtin]

A drivers licence of any kind only gives you permission to drive certain vehicles. It does not stop anyone from driving badly or dangerously.

Back in April of this year a truck driver with a load of peat moss on a flat deck ran a stop sign at a rural highway intersection and collided with a bus carrying 29 members of a Jr. hockey team from Humbolt, SK. The impact sliced the roof off the bus. The fully licensed truck driver was 30 years old (not a senior). The roads were good, the equipment was good, visibility was good but despite the truck driver's training and licences 13 people on the bus were injured, 16 killed. So many injuries and deaths because 1 trained and licensed truck driver ran a stop sign.

Many have blamed this accident on a lack of training and poor testing. B.S. My three year old granddaughter on a trike knows what a stop sign means. The driver simply wasn't paying attention.

[egwilly]

I find it odd that here in California, we need a "special endorsement" if we tow a fifth wheel over 10,000 pounds. Under that weight, we're ok with are regular license.

I had to take a written test of rules of the road for RV's. It is a joke. 35 questions and you can miss 8 and still pass. No driving test either.

Point being, did that written test increase my driving skills? Probably not.
Doing it makes it happen. Written tests do not make you back up better into your campsite. Doing it makes it happen. Other drivers giving you the middle finger if you are in the wrong lane teaches you where should be.

[nothermark]

The one thing a reasonable license would do is make drivers aware of the difference between pushing a heavy vehicle with air brakes down the road instead of a car. There are issues about weight limits, clearances and air brakes that make sense for drivers to have a clue and some education about. OTOH there is a lot more in a CDL that just does not apply because there is no schedule to keep. In fact, that might be something to enforce in the education, if conditions are bad get off the road instead of chaining up. ;-) I said education because most or all of it can be a booklet to make folks aware and maybe even a bit of coaching instead of criticizing by the examiner. ( I know, shocking concept.)

[ScoobyDoo]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Practical skills testing is not a good option either as it is hard to standardize, and all too often we hear stories about DMV driving examiners dinging points against RV operators for nonsense items, like crossing the center line on a street with low hanging limbs.

Let me see, the examiners give what 10 tests a day? And once every 3-4 days a RV shows up. For most of the tests she is riding in a truck pulling a trailer 8 1/2 feet wide, 53 feet long, and 13 1/2 tall. When the driver of that 11 ft tall RV ducks for the limb points should be dinged!

On top of this any practical skill test should test for the sort of skills needed in normal operation, not skills borrowed from the CDL test which again seems to be the model the DMV's are using. How often does a RV operator need to back down a narrow alley, or hook up snow chains, ...?

I'll give you the chains, but backing down the alley? Cesus Jhrist on a Crutch man! Have you not seen the threads about how to park, or having folks get out of your way? Or "I got to the bridge, and was over the limit, or too tall"? Backing up is a pretty important skill to have.
On other site I started a thread like this when had a string of posts "My trailer came un-hooked, what did I do wrong?"
Of course, passing laws will not solve all the problems, but I'm sure that if ones on the books where enforced people would learn. Example, posted on the 'net; "My marker lights don't work, need to fix because I removed one to mount a camera." What education it would be if like a CDL driver, the RV stopped for a random safety check, LEO, says "Sign here, swearing you will take care of the ticket. And BTW, you are a pedestrian, the vehicle is impounded until the light you removed is working" No you will not fix your stuff after vacation, unless the rest of vacation is backpacking.

[Dutch Star Don]

A mandatory license for driving an RV is a terrible idea for many reasons. Many young people, who are physically fit, seem to think that everyone should pass a physical before they drive. I expect a commercial driver, who's driving many hours a day for a living, hauling heavy loads or transporting people, should be regulated. But, should that be applied to the guy with diabetes, high blood pressure, an amputee or other physical ailments....no. Many work their entire life to retire and see the country. During that 30, 40 or 50 years of hard work, their bodies have broken down. They know their limitations and drive accordingly, maybe only 2-3 hours a day. They can still SAFELY drive, just not in a commercial setting. Mandatory physicals will eliminate a LOT of capable drivers. Keep in mind that we ALL get old and when someone starts to talk about taking away your freedom of driving, because they think they're better at it than you are, you'll have a different attitude.

Testing is also difficult...most people testing you, or creating the test, will have never driven an RV. So some baloney test is created. Does the test make you any safer.....no, it only makes you liable for information you were suppose to know.

Lastly, it can be both a financial and time nightmare. In California, if you want to drive something over 40', you have to take the test in a coach that was driven to the facility by another. For those trying to do the right thing and get the license before their coach purchase, you now have to hire someone with a coach to get you there and take the test.

Maybe there could be a written test ONLY for RVer's that would provide you with a certificate or a code added to your license that you passed the test. California is now requiring all NEW boaters to have a boating card. The test is taken on online.

Sooooooo…...a happy medium could be achieved, but Government interference and testing is really the last thing people want. Heck, we can't pass a bill in congress, how you going to come up with a reasonable test.

"JMLifecation".....Just because YOU don't like the way someone passed you or drove by you, really isn't a justification to make everyone take a test. You're required to take a test to drive a car, yet the current generation feels that laws don't apply to them!

[ScoobyDoo]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

A mandatory license for driving an RV is a terrible idea for many reasons. Many young people, who are physically fit, seem to think that everyone should pass a physical before they drive. I expect a commercial driver, who's driving many hours a day for a living, hauling heavy loads or transporting people, should be regulated. But, should that be applied to the guy with diabetes, high blood pressure, an amputee or other physical ailments....no. Many work their entire life to retire and see the country. During that 30, 40 or 50 years of hard work, their bodies have broken down. They know their limitations and drive accordingly, maybe only 2-3 hours a day. They can still SAFELY drive, just not in a commercial setting. Mandatory physicals will eliminate a LOT of capable drivers. Keep in mind that we ALL get old and when someone starts to talk about taking away your freedom of driving, because they think they're better at it than you are, you'll have a different attitude.

I have to agree about the physical deal. But just like I think everybody should weigh their rig. I don't care if they are over their ratings, but they need to know they are over. A large % don't even know what a rating is. But if somebody has a health issue that might affect their driving the should know it.

Testing is also difficult...most people testing you, or creating the test, will have never driven an RV. So some baloney test is created. Does the test make you any safer.....no, it only makes you liable for information you were suppose to know.

IMHO, it is that liability that will make things safer. The way things are now, a trailer gets loose, rolls into a playground. Everybody cries, insurance company writes a check, Driver makes sure he hooked right next time. But if the driver A) has past a test to prove he can hook up, and B) knows that if that trailer comes loose he will be prosecuted just like he was drunk that trailer will be hooked up right. If he has a light or brake problem he will not go...

You're required to take a test to drive a car, yet the current generation feels that laws don't apply to them!

Once again, it's all the kid's fault. You tell your son he should respect and obey the law. 2 Days later he's in the back seat while you are trying to convince the officer you really did stop for that stop sign. What does he remember? You think a first grader does not know that 50 on the dash is bigger than 45 on the sign?

[Lisablue85]

Originally Posted by thomson

I am a cripple. I am able to drive a rig with an automatic transmission. Sadly, I gave my 73 Vette to my son because it had a manual 4 speed. However, a CDL requires being able to drive manual transmission vehicles. You can't be a cripple, etc.So you sanctimonious people like the truck driver who yelled at me at a gas station believe that we old people should have a CDL or get off their roads. I hope you young snots have never to have to be cripple and realize that we old folks cherise the days we have left to see this grand country. May you never grow old.

I've had a CDL license for 32 years & although I can drive "manual transmission vehicles" & DID take my CDL test on a manual, it's not a requirement now. The CDL Physical is still required.

[Isaac-1]

It is that potential requirement for a stringent physical that is the show stopper here, ask yourself who would pay for a $300,000+ diesel pusher knowing that if they get diagnosed with any of the common health issues associated with aging that they would then no longer be allowed to drive it.

[aether_one]

I'm wondering if that limo driver in New York that killed all those people was required to have a special license? Yeah, he was. Didn't stop him from driving that limo incorrectly and killing everybody.

[Mr_D]

Well, I'm almost 72 and driving a 45', 650 hp, $750,000 mh with over 50 years of RV driving experience. Have yet to wreck one or have a blowout. Why? Guess I'm careful and drive defensively.

[Lisablue85]

Originally Posted by tfryman

I'm wondering if that limo driver in New York that killed all those people was required to have a special license? Yeah, he was. Didn't stop him from driving that limo incorrectly and killing everybody.

He was SUPPOSED to have a special license, unfortunately he didn't have the required license to operate that limo.