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Howdja's avatar
Howdja
Explorer
Feb 04, 2014

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
  • cpmath's avatar
    cpmath
    Explorer
    Feb 04, 2014
    You should be contacting Department of Motor Vehicles not people on RV.Net.
  • Dadio24's avatar
    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…
  • BB_TX's avatar
    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.
  • JimM68's avatar
    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.

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