Need advice on a Texas drivers license

Well, because of this tread I realized I need the class A non commercial mentioned. We have one of the Texas DPS super centers just a few miles from the house.

Went there the other day to find out what I needed to do got the paper work and filled it all out.

Went back this morning strated the process and took the knowledge test on section 14 of the CDL handbook and passed. They said they would call me to set up the drivers test.

When she called she said she just got an Email from Austin that said I needed to take and pass the combination test before I could take the drivers test. The combination portion of the test is covered in section six of the hand book.

I read the material and went back this afternoon to take the test and nearly every question on it was related to air brakes. Although I passed the test it was very frustrating and none of the questions had anything to do with any RV I have ever seen. I guessed at a few and for sure having a little past experience with trucks was helpful.

All of this to say that effective today, you will be tested of the combination chapter of the book if you are after a class A.

Good luck and happy camping.

Bill.Satellite wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you are going to become a TX resident then you will need a Class B license. Period. Nothing CDL based, just a standard drivers license with a Class B "add-on". .........

You need a standard class A license (non commercial)if the truck/trailer GCWR is over 26,000 lbs and the trailer GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. The class B license is only good if the trailer GVWR is 10,000 lbs or less.

From the handbook and state web site for class A license;
2. A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.

And for class B;
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more and any such vehicle towing either a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs.

Since I am driving a 40,000# RV and the DMV says that's what's required for anyone driving an RV that weighs 26,001# or more I will stand by my post. You DO NOT need ANY kind of CDL to drive an RV for personal use.

If you are a Texas resident, you are correct in NO CDL but still need the non-commercial A or B driving any motor vehicle or combo over 26001 gvwr

mowingman wrote:
No, you do not need any type of class A non CDL license. The handbook says you only need the non commercial class A, if you drive a vehicle that could be classified as a commercial vehicle. A recreational vehicle should be exempt unless you are pulling it with something like a 5th wheel semi tractor.
The fact that you are over weight on CDL limits is not a reason to need the higher class licenses.
However, I would call Austin directly and ask about your specific situation. Then, get the name of the person who you talk to. Personnel at the various Texas DPS drivers lic. stations are very often not very knowledgeable, and may give you incorrect info. I know from experience.

You need to read the EXCEPTIONS to the EXEMPTIONS in the commercial handbook.
OP after becomeing a Tx resident will either get his Kansas CDL changed to a Texas CDL OR get the Texas class A non-CDL . OP's rv is over 10K GVWR so it is the A needed. Test should be a " piece of cake " . Also only certain DL offices do the exams for the non-commercial A/B license.

Sorry for the misinformation. It appears that the A and B licenses are the same and have the same requirements but are assigned based upon the ownership of a motorhome or 5th wheel.
As mentioned, neither are CDL and neither require air brake add-ons or CDL testing but each is specific to the type of RV being used.

Bill.Satellite wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you are going to become a TX resident then you will need a Class B license. Period. Nothing CDL based, just a standard drivers license with a Class B "add-on". .........

You need a standard class A license (non commercial)if the truck/trailer GCWR is over 26,000 lbs and the trailer GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. The class B license is only good if the trailer GVWR is 10,000 lbs or less.

From the handbook and state web site for class A license;
2. A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.

And for class B;
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more and any such vehicle towing either a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs.

Since I am driving a 40,000# RV and the DMV says that's what's required for anyone driving an RV that weighs 26,001# or more I will stand by my post. You DO NOT need ANY kind of CDL to drive an RV for personal use.

The OP did not ask about your MH. He asked about towing his 5th wheel with a GVWR of 13,750 lbs behind his dually pickup.
A class B license is good for your MH (as long as you are not towing anything over 10,000 lbs).
But his heavy 5th wheel trailer pushes him into the class A requirement. If you towed a trailer in excess of 10,000 GVWR behind your MH you would also need a class A non-CDL license.
And I specifically stated it was for a non-commercial license.

Bill, you were not paying attention. No one needs a CDL of any type for an RV. We all said that. What you have to have is a Class A exempt for truck and trailer if the trailer is more than 10,000#. Also if you pull a trailer behind your motorhome and it weights more than 10K# you need a Class A. We have a DP and while she tops out at 32K# (and she has a GCWR of 43K), she has a hitch that would allow her to pull a >10K# trailer. We have Class A licenses, simply because the place where we got ours allowed that while Class B covered us for what we were currently doing, Class A would cover all contingencies.

BB_TX wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you are going to become a TX resident then you will need a Class B license. Period. Nothing CDL based, just a standard drivers license with a Class B "add-on". .........

You need a standard class A license (non commercial)if the truck/trailer GCWR is over 26,000 lbs and the trailer GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. The class B license is only good if the trailer GVWR is 10,000 lbs or less.

From the handbook and state web site for class A license;
2. A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.

And for class B;
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more and any such vehicle towing either a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs.

Since I am driving a 40,000# RV and the DMV says that's what's required for anyone driving an RV that weighs 26,001# or more I will stand by my post. You DO NOT need ANY kind of CDL to drive an RV for personal use.

The practical result of the way the classes are defined for the RV user/ owner is that the Class A non-commercial license is for a truck pullling a heavy trailer.

The Class B non-commercial is for a motorhome, no matter if it is pulling a toad or tag-along trailer or not pulling anything.

Some gas Class A coaches and most Class C rigs do not need a Class B non-commercial license because their GVWR is under 26,001 lbs.

In either case - a person obtaining that license for the first time has to take a written test with a few questions about operation of a heavy rig. Also if you have air brakes on the vehicle, there is a supplementary set of questions on air brakes.

Then you must take a road test in the vehicle. This will include a parallel parking requirement. (The allow you plenty of room to back up the rig and move it over to an imaginary curb. I think the purpose is to demonstrate you can backup the rig, turn it and straighten it out.)

From comments on this and other forums, the reason I see most folks complain about failing the road test is swinging into other lanes while making a turn., especially left turns.

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you are going to become a TX resident then you will need a Class B license. Period. Nothing CDL based, just a standard drivers license with a Class B "add-on". .........

You need a standard class A license (non commercial)if the truck/trailer GCWR is over 26,000 lbs and the trailer GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. The class B license is only good if the trailer GVWR is 10,000 lbs or less.

From the handbook and state web site for class A license;
2. A vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 lbs.

And for class B;
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more and any such vehicle towing either a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs.

No Bill, for pulling a trailer over 10,000#, you need a Class A license. Still not a CDL, but there is a slight difference between the Class B and Class A. The written test is the same, and the driving test just about the same.

Barb