Question about US license levels

"WhiskeyGolf" (whiskeygolf) 07/23/2014 at 12:00 • Filed to: None

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Last night I was watching episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and Aziz Ansari was in one, with his super badass 500 HP tour bus. Jerry hopped into it and took it for a spin, followed later by an 18 wheeler in the parking lot. Now obviously you need a CDL for the big rig on the public road, but how about the bus, which isn't a commercial school bus or anything? Further how do those F350 duallies hauling 30,000 lbs not require a commercial license?

HammerheadFistpunch > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:09

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my wife got her CDL when she was a teacher because she was required to drive a bus. It varies by state but most require you to get a class C CDL.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:09

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According to this excellent article published like half an hour ago:
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tow-me-down-16…

A regular licence in the US entitles you to haul around 26,000 lbs combined trailer and vehicle weight. Also it's rare for a full ton truck to be hauling anything close to 30,000 lbs, with the most extreme rear end you can get on an F350 plus a gooseneck you're limited to 26,700 lbs. but I really wouldn't want to tow that much with a pickup truck.

TurnDownForWatt > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:09

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If it's under 26,001 lbs, no CDL, simple as that. These RV things aren't designed to carry more than 16 passengers, and aren't over that weight, so there is no special license required. As for your F350 example, max tow ratings on those with a fifth wheel range from 17k to 20k lbs. So not quite sure where you're getting the 30k figure.

Cé hé sin > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:09

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Because licensing regulations are rather lax in America. Hauling that kind of weight in the EU requires a truck licence with a trailer extension, not so much in America although it varies from state to state.

For Sweden > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:10

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If the Bus has a bathroom, it is a recreational vehicle, which may be operated with a non-commercial license.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:13

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CDL is a Commercial Drivers License. You only need this if you are being paid to drive in support of commerce.

Otherwise, you just have to take the test with the appropriate weight class. Standard weight class depends on state, but the two I've held (Illinois Class D and Georgia Class C) have limits of up to 16000lbs GVWR for Illinois and Trailer less than 10K, and Georgia Class C is <26001lbs GVWR and trailer < 10001lbs, all recreational vehicles, and due to my M endorsement, all two and three wheeled motorcycles. Class E (Non commercial class B) is 26001lbs GVWR and up, trailer less than 10,001lbs, and Class F (Non commercial Class A) is 26001lbs GVWR and up and trailer more than 10,001lbs.

So if someone is towing a fifth wheel, which isn't an RV (Basically heavy equipment trailer), and the trailer is over 5 tons, they need a separate license.

Not that anyone checks that, of course.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 07/23/2014 at 12:18

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It also depends on the state. GA doesn't care about combined weight, just the weight of the truck.

Class C is up to 26,000lbs on the truck GVWR, E and F are over 26,000lbs GVWR.

Classes C and E are trailers less than 5 tons, and any trailer over 5 tons requires a class F license.

So long as you aren't hauling for a company or making money off your driving, you don't need a CDL (Classes A and B, which correspond to non-commercial classes F and E respectively). So it is possible to buy a Freightliner and box trailer and drive it non-commercially in GA. You tend to see Farm tags on those trucks though, and only one guy has the CDL to take the goods to market.

If you go out of state, you have to do IRP, possibly a DOT number, and apportioned license plates, even for non-commercial use ("Not for hire")

#TheDMVHatesMeForAskingAllTheseQuestions

WhiskeyGolf > For Sweden 07/23/2014 at 12:21

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Now that is an interesting distinction.

WhiskeyGolf > TurnDownForWatt 07/23/2014 at 12:24

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Dually Ram 3500 Tradesman rated at 30k — http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guid… — but you're right, most are in that < 20k range. Basically sounds like it's all a weight class restriction, which I suppose makes sense.

lonestranger > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:26

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As far as I know, each state (and province) has their own requirements. I'm from Canada and have held licences in B.C. & Alberta. I haven't held a Class 1 (CDL equivalent), but I do have an air brake endorsement.

I'm guessing that most states would have similar requirements to B.C. & Alberta, in that the bus would require at least an air brake endorsement. A CDL would not be required if it were operated as a personal vehicle. In Jerry's case, he'd need nothing more than a regular licence with an air endorsement to operate that bus on public roads.

If he was using it for commercial purposes (carrying passengers or cargo in exchange for payment), he would need a CDL.

If he was driving a dually and hauling a trailer, the combined weight was more than 26,000 lbs, and he was using it as part of a business (delivering goods in exchange for payment) he would need a CDL. If he was driving a dually and hauling his personal trailer, even if the combination was well in excess of 26,000 lbs, he wouldn't need a CDL because the vehicle isn't being used for a commercial venture.

Racescort666 > Cé hé sin 07/23/2014 at 12:30

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It's up to a certain point where stuff is more lax. Below 26k, yes more lax. Above that, things get complicated with the different endorsements and what you're allowed to do state-by-state with combinations vs straight trucks.

cabarne4 > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:36

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as others said, towing an RV for personal use you're just limited to what your vehicle can pull (or what vehicle you can buy).

CDL is required for commercial towing over 16,000 lbs.

dinobot666 > WhiskeyGolf 07/23/2014 at 12:53

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I've driven a couple of Prevost coaches without having any kind of special training, other than the owner giving me the basic rundown of operating it. It was pretty easy to drive, and a lot of fun I might add.

Cé hé sin > Racescort666 07/23/2014 at 14:31

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Yes, I recall reading about it someplace.

Here it's just rigid or articulated with a restricted, lower weight option in each case. To drive an artic (a semi in American parlance) you do a medical, theory and test for a rigid and then repeat the process at considerable expense. After all that you have to do professional competence courses.

It follows from all that that not many people haul heavy weights around the place unless they're professional drivers.