CDL License in the Mail

[Devoir]

I recently took the written Class B exempt exam and passed it. They issued a temporary paper license good for 90 days

I haven't taken the road test I scheduled that 2 weeks from now in Bryan Tx.

To my surprised I received my CDL license in the mail without taking the driving test. This license expires in 4 years. It looks similar to my regular driver license.

Is this normal to get your CDL without performing the Driving test?

If this is a real license can I skip the driving test?

Devor.

[Jon_C]

Hmmm i have an exempt class a and didn’t receive mine till after the written and driving test. Sounds like a glitch in their system.

My license doesn’t have CDL anywhere on it, just the A next to the dl class, Its not a cdl.

I would contact the office and see what they say.

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by Devoir

I recently took the written Class B exempt exam and passed it. They issued a temporary paper license good for 90 days

I haven't taken the road test I scheduled that 2 weeks from now in Bryan Tx.

To my surprised I received my CDL license in the mail without taking the driving test. This license expires in 4 years. It looks similar to my regular driver license.

Is this normal to get your CDL without performing the Driving test?

If this is a real license can I skip the driving test?

Devor.

Not knowing for sure is risky. As suggested, call the DPS office and let them tell you. My guess is that something inadvertently got checked wrong and that you will have to take the test. Only they can tell you for sure.

Let us know what you find out. Others may learn from your question.

[TXiceman]

Frist thing is the Class B is NOT a CDL. I would suggest you call the DPS office and check on the license status.

Ken

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by Devoir

.......Is this normal to get your CDL without performing the Driving test? If this is a real license can I skip the driving test? ....

This is a question for the Department of Motor Vehicle..........call them to confirm.

[Devoir]

Many thanks for the input. I plan on taking the Driving test, my luck they would finally realize their error and send me a nice letter in the mail to finish this part of the requirement.

Devoir

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Frist thing is the Class B is NOT a CDL. I would suggest you call the DPS office and check on the license status.

Ken

I would not want an actual CDL unless required, far too many restrictions and requirements for compliance.

[Lt Dan]

They did the same thing to me six years ago. I specifically asked for a Class B operator's license and they sent me an exempt CDL which meant I wasn not licensed to haul commercially and exempt from the physical exam. When I renewed, I filled out a form and had it changed to a Class B Operators.

[Keith55]

Yeah if you got an actual CDL then that was for sure a glitch. As an RV owner in my state you get a non-commercial license (class B) which allows me to drive with air brakes over 26,000 ponds but under some other weight.

I wouldn't hold onto it with the plan being to plead "it wasn't my fault - they sent it to me"

[wolfe10]

Yup, need to know if you got a CDL or "Class B exempt" license.


VERY different beasts.

[theroc]

You said in your opening post that the license you received in the mail "looks similar to my regular driver license" but yet you refer to it as a "CDL." Why do you refer to it as a CDL?

Texas, as in most states, will have "COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE" prominently displayed across the top if it's a CDL. Does yours have that?

Texas driver licenses will also have the word "CLASS" followed either one or two letters ...A, B, C, or M

Did the one you just received in the mail actually have the words "COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE" across the top?

Your old license most likely had the letter "C" after the word "Class" --? unless you have a motorcycle endorsement and then it probably has the letter "M"

If you do actually have what you refer to a "Class B Exempt" license, I believe it will have the words "DRIVER LICENSE" across the top with the letter "B" after the word "Class" instead of "C" what I assume you had before.

A CDL can either be a Class A or B also. Semi truck drivers, etc. will have a Class A CDL and bus drivers, etc. will have at least a Class B CDL.

This is my understanding from talking with friends in Texas. I'm not a resident of Texas and never have been so I'm not an expert. This is just my understanding and residents in Texas please correct me if my understanding is incorrect.





(attached are samples of each from the TX DPS)

[Devoir]

I'm glad to see there are a lot of active folks to jump on topics to keep things aligned..... This whole Texas CMV hand book is unclear, about the Class B process. You can't even get a straight answer from the DMV testers it takes a supervisor to assist the agent. The supervisor shared Filling out the form CLD-2 exempts your as an RV private owner from a CMV license.

I wanted to post a follow-up on the process of obtaining this Non Commercial Class B License.

When I passed the written exam in Dallas I was issued a paper temporary permit good for 90 days. I also receive a new license within 5 days, see photo.

I had a driving test Scheduled in Bryan Texas last Monday. It happen to coincide with a Texas A&M football game weekend.

As I stated earlier I had received a Class "B" license in the mail. Not wanting to risk the uncertainty of this new license, I kept the Driving appointment. When I was called to the counter for assistance the staff member informed me according to their records i had already passed the written test and had passed the driving test. The card I had received in the mail was legit...... it's also in black & white no longer color photo and it had the "Real ID" logo now required for airline tickets.




Being an honest person I informed them I hadn't taken the driving test and wanted to take the test as scheduled.... Well this threw them for a loop figuring out how to retest someone whom had already passed the Driving test who in their right mind would want a do over?


Once we settle on them administering the Road Test the rest was interesting.
The test administrator was nice to work with.

I was surprise at a few things not required according to the examiner.
1. There was not vehicle inspection only required to show Insurance, vehicle inspection, tag and title. He did inspect the Lights, turn signals , flashers, brake lights.
2. There was no brake test so no wheel chocks were required.
3. There was no parallel parking... This part i was pretty disappointed with, I had practiced to the point I'm really good at nailing a parallel spot without any pullouts or hitting the curb. WAF was thrilled to know she wouldn't have to perform that requirement.

Driving test was pretty simple it lasted less than 30 minutes. The only deduction I received was based on how the route was setup for left turns. The instructor informed me the test was setup to preform a left turn from an inside lane not the outside lane otherwise this was my only deduction.

Drove to a warehouse district to perform a backup approx 60' ... last segment drove back to the DMV office concluding the Road Test.

Talking with instructor : a note on instant fail points outside of the usual breaking any driving laws
When turning left or right on any narrow road swinging wide vs the recommended Button Hook maneuver. If you swing wide into an adjacent lane while turning right it's a fail the CMV manual show this Button Hook Maneuver. I made sure to go slow drive smoothly and make those turns as wide as possible per this method. Driving a 45' bus and not hitting curbs is a practiced skill.

I also included an image of the Driving score sheet to let everyone see what they are looking for in a test.
.

I had read that Bryan, TX was a nice easy place to take the exam. I must say the overall experience was as easy as anyone could wish.

I guess now I'll get a second License in the mail.

Hope this helps someone if your looking for an easy place to take the test.


Devoir


Devoir

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by Devoir

I'm glad to see there are a lot of active folks to jump on topics to keep things aligned..... This whole Texas CMV hand book is unclear, about the Class B process. You can't even get a straight answer from the DMV testers it takes a supervisor to assist the agent. The supervisor shared Filling out the form CLD-2 exempts your as an RV private owner from a CMV license.

I wanted to post a follow-up on the process of obtaining this Non Commercial Class B License.

When I passed the written exam in Dallas I was issued a paper temporary permit good for 90 days. I also receive a new license within 5 days, see photo.

I had a driving test Scheduled in Bryan Texas last Monday. It happen to coincide with a Texas A&M football game weekend.

As I stated earlier I had received a Class "B" license in the mail. Not wanting to risk the uncertainty of this new license, I kept the Driving appointment. When I was called to the counter for assistance the staff member informed me according to their records i had already passed the written test and had passed the driving test. The card I had received in the mail was legit...... it's also in black & white no longer color photo and it had the "Real ID" logo now required for airline tickets.




Being an honest person I informed them I hadn't taken the driving test and wanted to take the test as scheduled.... Well this threw them for a loop figuring out how to retest someone whom had already passed the Driving test who in their right mind would want a do over?


Once we settle on them administering the Road Test the rest was interesting.
The test administrator was nice to work with.

I was surprise at a few things not required according to the examiner.
1. There was not vehicle inspection only required to show Insurance, vehicle inspection, tag and title. He did inspect the Lights, turn signals , flashers, brake lights.
2. There was no brake test so no wheel chocks were required.
3. There was no parallel parking... This part i was pretty disappointed with, I had practiced to the point I'm really good at nailing a parallel spot without any pullouts or hitting the curb. WAF was thrilled to know she wouldn't have to perform that requirement.

Driving test was pretty simple it lasted less than 30 minutes. The only deduction I received was based on how the route was setup for left turns. The instructor informed me the test was setup to preform a left turn from an inside lane not the outside lane otherwise this was my only deduction.

Drove to a warehouse district to perform a backup approx 60' ... last segment drove back to the DMV office concluding the Road Test.

Talking with instructor : a note on instant fail points outside of the usual breaking any driving laws
When turning left or right on any narrow road swinging wide vs the recommended Button Hook maneuver. If you swing wide into an adjacent lane while turning right it's a fail the CMV manual show this Button Hook Maneuver. I made sure to go slow drive smoothly and make those turns as wide as possible per this method. Driving a 45' bus and not hitting curbs is a practiced skill.

I also included an image of the Driving score sheet to let everyone see what they are looking for in a test.
.

I had read that Bryan, TX was a nice easy place to take the exam. I must say the overall experience was as easy as anyone could wish.

I guess now I'll get a second License in the mail.

Hope this helps someone if your looking for an easy place to take the test.


Devoir


Devoir

Thanks for the update. Quite interesting.

[B52Rnav]

Wife and I both took our driving test at one of the megacenters in Houston. Similar experience to what you described. Road test took less than 20 min.