Texas CDL question ...Again

Ok, YES I have searched, read, and searched some more. I have tried to find definitive info on the Texas DPS website. There is conflicting info regarding the legal requirement for a Class B license in TX for RV's over 26,000 GVR. The only document I was able to find is Chapter 522 of the Transportation Code.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.522.htm

This is what it states regarding RV's. I have deleted non pertinent areas of the document to shorten the copy:

____________________________________________________________________
"TRANSPORTATION CODE

TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

SUBTITLE B. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS

CHAPTER 522. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 522.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Texas Commercial Driver's License Act.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 522.002. CONSTRUCTION. This chapter is a remedial law that shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety, and welfare.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

DELETED

Sec. 522.004. APPLICABILITY. (a) This chapter does not apply to:

DELETED

(4) a recreational vehicle that is driven for personal use;

DELETED

(b) In this section, "recreational vehicle" means a motor vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel use. The term includes a travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, and motor home.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1061, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 357, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 424, Sec. 4, eff. January 1, 2008."
___________________________________________________________________

Now, according to this document, motor homes are exempt from the license requirement. So, understanding that if I contact the DPS office, I may or may not find someone familiar with the law, I have not done so yet.

So, does anyone have definitive official documentation as to the requirement of a special license for an RV in the state of TX?

Thanks,
Bruce

Class A

JimM68
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
No answers in 2 hours? wow. Not a Texan and dint stay in a holiday inn express last night, but....

A motorhome is not a commercial use, ever.
Most states that require a special lisence for an over 26k motorhome require a class B non CDL, that is, they have a special classification for heavy non commercial vehicles.

Noplace(to the best of my knowledge) requires a Commercial Drivers License to drive a private motorhome.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 04, 2014
From the code:

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.

So yes, if you are over 26,000 lbs you need a non-commercial class A or Class B depending on details noted above.
Dadio24
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
I am in the same opinion; the TxDPS are making it difficult to tell what license, if any, we need to drive our MH. Personally, I have never known of someone receiving a citation for not having a class B, but I bet the Highway Patrol Troopers are out there waiting for us…
cpmath
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
You should be contacting Department of Motor Vehicles not people on RV.Net.
wolfe10
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
BB has posted the correct answer.

And the issue is NOT whether a trooper will pull you over for the incorrect license. The issue is if you are involved in an accident and do not have the appropriate license for your weight class vehicle, you had better have a very good lawyer.
mlts22
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
Here is another link that might help.

I wouldn't worry about the DPS nearly as much as I would worry about the insurance company not bothering to pay should a wreck happen. Texas roads are very good, but the drivers and the hogs are the obstacles.
afrescopXx
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
Driving an RV over 26,001 pounds in Texas you must have a Class B Non-Commercial drivers license. Written and driving tests required but the test is not as strict as the Class B CDL. wolfe10 is spot on.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
Dadio24 wrote:
I am in the same opinion; the TxDPS are making it difficult to tell what license, if any, we need to drive our MH. Personally, I have never known of someone receiving a citation for not having a class B, but I bet the Highway Patrol Troopers are out there waiting for us…

Page 4 of the Driver's Handbook. How is that being difficult? It is really simple and a quick search on this forum (or most any other RV forum) would get you multiple threads on the issue.

Barb
Dufus
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014
The total weight of my rig (Truck + Trailer) is over 26000 and I had to get a Class A Exempt.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 05, 2014
Dufus wrote:
The total weight of my rig (Truck + Trailer) is over 26000 and I had to get a Class A Exempt.

A pickup towing a trailer over 10,000 lbs and the two having a combined vehicle weight rating of over 26,000 lbs would require a non-commercial class A license.
But a 45' tag axle DP MH pulling a toad or trailer under 10,000 lbs would only require a non-commercial class B license. Even though the combined weight rating could easily be in excess of 35,000 lbs.
Go figure.