Do Class A drivers need instructions before driving

There are those among us that would prefer class A drivers to have a CDL. What about the drivers of the 3/4 ton pickups that are dragging overweight 5th wheels or trailers behind them? What about the farmers that use their pickups to haul large trailers full of hay? Are you going to make them get CDL's?

I bet you fellas that advocate for CDL's probably use Flying J/Pilot or TA to get your fuel. Makes you fell like a "trucker" doesn't it?

The fact is, you don't need to be a genius to drive a class a. However, what you do need is some good old common sense. If you are uncomfortable driving your rig, you shouldn't be driving it. The vehicles are called "recreational" vehicles. We are supposed to have fun with them.

Per the government records.
These are the stats for accident deaths of the occupants per vehicle type.
For the year 1990 and 2009.
The figures represent "Million" except for Buss.

Passenger: 24.1 ~ 13.1
Lite Trucks: 8.6 ~ 10.3
Large Trucks: .7 ~ .5
Buss: Z ~ Z

Z = less than 50

Albeit this is not how many accidents it is occupant deaths resulting as the result of an accident, but it sure DOES prove that the BUSS i.e Class A, Prevost driver is NOT the most dangerous driver on the road........They are the LEAST dangerous vehicle on the road.

IMHO you'all that want CDL's to be a requirement?
Start rallying for Lite Truck drivers to have a CDL judging from the 'increase' of accidents resulting in deaths in a Lite Truck. :B

Let's see........
passenger car deaths 24.1 MILLION
Large Truck deaths .07 MILLION
Buss - LESS than 50

If, as the OP states that EVERY single RV driver on the road in a coach type vehicle is an accident waiting to happen? I'm thinkin there would be more than 'less than 50' accident fatalities PER YEAR involving the buss type RV.

Well, most of your gasoline coaches only weigh around 17K, no more then 20K. Diesels weigh anywhere from 27K to 45K.

But motor homes are not commercial vehicles, so I do not believe that we should have a commercial license.

I worked the highways of Colorado for 29 years. There are quite a few RV's on the road in our state. R.V's are not a problem. Oh sure, there are some who have a problem with their driving, but law enforcement has much bigger problems with road rage (aggresive driving), driving too fast for conditions, DUI, inattentive to driving, driver fatigue, following too closely, texting, etc. Because you do not like what you see, does not mean we should have more laws on the books, that control the people. Many of the unsafe practices we see such as speeding is already being done by licensed drivers that have been "tested". Believe me, law enforcement has alot bigger fish to fry on the highways, than to worry about the shade of a drivers knuckles. But if you want more laws, maybe we'll all feel safer if the government decides what tires we should have on our RV's and everyone should have to go out and buy a TPMS as well. Or if we really feel that unsafe by others, how about just staying at home?

To get a CDL you not only have to pass the written test but you also must pass the drivers test. Atleast that is what was required to get my CDL. I also had top pass a DOT physical.

Many states , perhaps most, DO require a higher grade of license to operate any vehicle with a GVWR greater than 26,000 pounds than the one required to operate a passenger car. Here in Texas it is a NON COMMERCIAL CLASS B if the vehicle is used for certain non commercial uses.. The regular car license is a class C. They may go by other designations in other states. In Texas an RV used for personal use is exempt from requiring a CDL, but not from the non commercial class B if the GVWR is over 26000. A lighter rig may be operated with a class C.

In order to get my class B, I had to take a written test AND a driving test in a vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 26,000. In my case I used my class A RV.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Look how few airplane accidents there are. That is because of regular testing, both medical and proficiency testing. I do it to keep my pilot's license active, but it is a pain.

You should check the data base before you make statements like that, all that expense and time in training and the bi-annual flight review has only dropped the accident rate .02% we still die by the same accidents as we did 25 years ago.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I think proficiency tests for MH are just common sense. If it get's some MH driver's off the road, that should be off anyway, then so be it. It will not kill the RV industry, just like it didn't kill the motorcycle industry when Florida started requiring a proficiency test to have the motorcycle endorsement put on your driver's license.

And that hasn't dropped the M/C rate either

all these endorsements are simply people control, by an over bearing government state and federal.

THe CDL is simply a method of ensuring the state knows you have passed a knowledge requirement to drive a commercial vehicle.

Rule after rule, law after law, we just keep heaping it on until we loose all the freedoms the veterans have fought and died for all these years.

I think we should have a law saying you need training to cook on your BBQ this weekend.

Stupid is as stupid does, and you will not change that with another rule.

I also believe that the government has no right to interfere with gene pool purging or survival of the fittest.

So, get out of my way you stupid little car, I'm on cruise control.

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I feel a special license should be required. What is the basic difference between how our MH handles and a Greyhound bus. I even think the bus may handle better in many cases.

You dont have to have training to get a CDL, you only have to pass a test just as any other DL. There is just more questions on the test.