Community Forums

RainCatcher · 05-07-2012, 11:37 AM

I just heard that you need a Class A Commercial License to tow a toad in Texas and maybe other states. Does anyone have any further information on this?

golden · 05-07-2012, 11:40 AM

If you do, that's news to me and I've lived here most of my life.

srx-6 · 05-07-2012, 11:54 AM

You will never be required to have a Commercial Drivers License of any class unless, you are driving for hire.

FlyingDiver · 05-07-2012, 12:21 PM

Sounds like nonsense to me. Where did you hear that?

RustyJC · 05-07-2012, 12:34 PM

Depending on the following circumstances, an upgraded NON-COMMERCIAL driver license may be required for personal operation of an RV in Texas:

Quote:

TRANSPORTATION CODE
TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
SUBTITLE B. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS
CHAPTER 521. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
SUBCHAPTER D. CLASSIFICATION OF DRIVER'S LICENSES

Sec. 521.081. CLASS A LICENSE. A Class A driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate:
(1) a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more; or
(2) a combination of vehicles that has a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, if the gross vehicle weight rating of any vehicle or vehicles in tow is more than 10,000 pounds.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 521.082. CLASS B LICENSE. (a) A Class B driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate:
(1) a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating that is more than 26,000 pounds;
(2) a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds or more towing:
(A) a vehicle, other than a farm trailer, with a gross vehicle weight rating that is not more than 10,000 pounds; or
(B) a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that is not more than 20,000 pounds; and
(3) a bus with a seating capacity of 24 passengers or more.
(b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(3), seating capacity is computed in accordance with Section 502.162, except that the operator's seat is included in the computation.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 521.083. CLASS C LICENSE. A Class C driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate:
(1) a vehicle or combination of vehicles not described by Section 521.081 or 521.082; and
(2) a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds towing a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that is not more than 20,000 pounds.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 521.084. CLASS M LICENSE. A Class M driver's license authorizes the holder of the license to operate a motorcycle or moped.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Rusty

ldprice47 · 05-07-2012, 12:50 PM

There has been many discussions on license requirements for the state of Texas. There are two types of class A and B licenses in the state, them being a CDL Class A and B and a Non-CDL class A and B along with the class C non-CDL license. Basically it boils down to the GVW of your motorhome. If the GVW weight is 26,001 or above you need a non-CDL Class A or B. The factor on which license is the weight of what you tow behind the RV. If the toad is below 10,000 lbs., then all you need is a Class B non-CDL and if over a Class A.
The big difference between the CDL and non-CDL is a CDL will require a physical at certain intervals and if you get a ticket, you cannot take a drivers course to keep the ticket of your record.

I hope I got this all correct, but that is my take on the situation.

FlyingDiver · 05-07-2012, 01:15 PM

All of which still supports that what the OP was told is nonsense. There is NO case where a CDL is required to drive an RV, and the only time you would need a Class A is when the "toad" is 10,000lb. I can't think of many toads that fit that bill. Maybe a big trailer, but not a single toad.

joe

paz · 05-07-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srx-6

You will never be required to have a Commercial Drivers License of any class unless, you are driving for hire.

100% correct. You may need a higher classification of drivers license, but you DO NOT need a CDL to operate an RV for personal use in any state. Furthermore, you must meet the licensing requirements of your home state, not every state you plan to drive through.

RainCatcher · 05-07-2012, 08:28 PM

I was told this by a commercial driving school instructor. He went on to say that there is a move afoot nationally to require a more stringent license for RV drivers. Each state has supposedly been put on notice that they are to consider implementing some form of upgraded license. It is the first I had heard of this and is the reason I asked this forum.

Wayne M · 05-07-2012, 09:51 PM

Ah grasshoppers, there is a Texas Class C CDL.(Just to clear things up)

However, as other have stated, a CDL is not required in the State of Texas to drive a motorhome. The standard class of license, A, B, C is required depending entirely on weight(s).

FlyingDiver · 05-07-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainCatcher

I was told this by a commercial driving school instructor. He went on to say that there is a move afoot nationally to require a more stringent license for RV drivers. Each state has supposedly been put on notice that they are to consider implementing some form of upgraded license. It is the first I had heard of this and is the reason I asked this forum.

Requiring an upgraded (Class A or B) license is NOT the same as requiring a CDL. Many states already require an upgraded license, and all should for larger RVs (IMHO).

joe

Murf2u · 05-08-2012, 10:05 AM

Same up here in Cannuckistan.

The police have started clamping down, mostly just at roadside safety blitz's on holiday weekends, with weight limits, etc, on RV's.

I whole-heartedly agree with the idea!!

I had a first-hand experience that sent a shiver down my spine. I was filling my Class C at a little gas station on a notoriously dangerous piece of secondary highway north of Toronto. A fellow & his wife pulled in with a monstrous 3 axle 5th wheel on the back of a Dodge dually. After about 4 tries to get it up to the diesel pump he parked it at the edge of the parking lot and walked over to me. He asked if I knew anything about 5th wheels since I had a motorhome. I replied I did, why?

He asked if I could do him a huge favour and get the truck and trailer up to the pump for him.

Thinking he was driving someone else's rig, I of course obliged. He was flabbergasted at how fast I parked it at the pump.

When I asked if it was new to him or borrowed he replied "Oh no, we've owned it since new, almost 2 years now. But I never did get the hang of driving it anywhere except the highway."

Wayne M · 05-08-2012, 05:57 PM

Ouch!

gemini5362 · 06-02-2012, 10:23 PM

I would add that the full faith and credit act deals with driving through states other than your home state. This act requires all states to recognize the laws of your home state. If the state your drivers license is issued in requires a higher class of license you will probably not have any probelm any where. The issue might be if your state does not require a special license to drive an RV then you cannot be required by any state you drive in to have a higher class license regardless of what that particular states laws require.