CDL Required to Drive Class A?

Texas had a Class A Non-Commercial License and a Class B Non-Commercial license available.

Not specifically for RVers, but it is good for those who that type RV.

No physical, or tests on logging requirements. Otherwise is the same written tests as for a CDL, including an available air-brake endorsement. There is also a road test.

A couple of things about the road test. They want you to take it in the vehicle you will be driving. More than one person I know has tried to take the test with someone else's 5th wheel, and been told no.

Also, they check the weight stickers on the truck and the trailer. If they do not add up to more than 26,000 lbs, they say no.

If driving a motorhome, that is a class B unless you tow a trailer over 10,000 lbs.

The Class B road test includes parallel parking the rig. Which really is not that hard, unless you get upset about it. (You cannot take the road test with the toad attached.)

mobeewan wrote:
Some states require a CDL, some states require a Specialty License the rest only a regular DL. All states outside your home state honor your home state License regardless of the type, i.e. if your home state only requires a regular DL and you are driving in or through a state that requires a CDL you are good to drive in that state.

No state requires a CDL for any RV used for personal, noncommercial use. "Commercial motor vehicles" that require a CDL are defined at the federal level, and thus are consistent across all states; and RVs used for personal, noncommercial uses are specifically excluded in the definition of a commercial motor vehicle. If you're driving an RV for hire, that's a different situation, and you'd need a CDL if it's over the weight limits defining commercial motor vehicles.

(A few states do have more lenient licensing requirements for commercial motor vehicles operated in-state, such as looser requirements for certain situations such as farm trucks or intrastate commercial licenses that have lower age limits than federal CDLs. Those exceptions do not apply to interstate travel.)

Grey Mountain wrote:
I checked Oklahoma's requirements, and it just confused me. I have a text to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation asking for clarification.
If I need a commercial license or any type of idorsement, I've been driving illegally for 20 years. Only endorsement I have on my regular license is for motorcycles and horses.

GM

Good idea to contact DOT. I would be sure to mention that your RV has air brakes. Better to get the word from the horses mouth IMO.

In NC, anything over 26001 you have to have a Class B. If diesel you need air brake endorsement. I had both when I had my 40 foot dp.

As already stated, check with your state requirement.

Your millage may vary (Laws vary from State to State)
A CDL is required to drive it for commercial reasons
For example Delivery from factory to dealer

For RV use you may need a standard operator's license or you may need a special endorsement. and another factor is the number often 24,000 or 26,000 OVER that number of pounds you need the endorsement. Under you do not.

There is a movement to require special licensing for all Large RV's.
I report the movement without comment as ... I have no comment to make.

OP might look carefully at the Ok CDL handbook for " exceptions to the exemptions " . That's where here in Tx you find out about our A & B endorsement. The noncommercial handbook here just says RV's exempt from CDL. Confusing for sure.
Per our close friend that does commercial truck safety compliance for TxDPS the non-CDL licenses is part of states signing on to the Fed FMCA rules.

Grey Mountain wrote:
I'm sure this has been covered; however, I searched the forums and came up with nothing.
I drive a 39' Class A pusher with air brakes.

Some sources say I am good to go with my Oklahoma Class A license.

Clarification and informed comments welcome.

GM

One thing that I have not seen mentioned so far is in regards to the airbrakes itself. Some states do not require an endorsement to operate an air brake equipped vehicle. The problem is that this is an equipment regulation not a drivers license requirement and so it is not covered by reciprocity between states or provinces.

I’m not going to say it’s aggressively enforced, but, it would certainly ruin a trip to be told you can’t drive any further when you’re thousands of miles from home.

I watched exactly that happen in a random spot check, the driver was not a happy camper.

How many people do you know or have heard of that were cited for wrong class of license (who were operating an RV for leisure) ??

What states don't have reciprocity with other states in licensing (non-commercial vehicles?? I don't think you will find Joe from any state getting shut down in any other state because he has a MH with air brakes and that state requires a special license to drive with air.

my standard drivers license clearly states that it is good for me to drive vehicles under 26,000 lbs. and if I am ever in a wreck with a RV over that weight, which is basically all diesel pushers, the first question I have for the investigating officer is " is the driver legally licensed to drive that vehicle".
bumpy

Horsedoc wrote:
How many people do you know or have heard of that were cited for wrong class of license (who were operating an RV for leisure) ??

What states don't have reciprocity with other states in licensing (non-commercial vehicles?? I don't think you will find Joe from any state getting shut down in any other state because he has a MH with air brakes and that state requires a special license to drive with air.

On another rv forum about a year ago there was a guy gripping about being cited for wrong license driving a big MH pulling a Jeep here in Tx. So it can happen, very rare but with tax revenues down might be " easy Pickens " for revenue
As long as You have the CORRET license for your state your good . If I was stopped in say California my Class A nonCDL is valid. All the other rules such as length or chains on ball hitch's etc. still apply within each state.