OK...I WILL GO THERE. It is early in the year, might as well get it started. I added the color, but the quote is from the PA DOT site.CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds). I found it interesting the an RV was the example. I am "in the business", as they say, I don't recall this example the last time I looked. Most of us will stay under the 26,000, making it a mute point. However, I know there are some big rigs out there.

I would hazard a safe guess, somewhere else in the statute or compiled law that you extracted that tidbit from, it is explained that the rule applies to commercial or "for hire" operation of that example vehicle combination, for example a transport driver towing a new fifth somewhere. there's a lot of similar language in Michigan's motor carrier code (commercial trucking), that does not apply to private citizens operating a vehicle for recreation purposes.

GordonThree wrote:I would hazard a safe guess, somewhere else in the statute or compiled law that you extracted that tidbit from, it is explained that the rule applies to commercial or "for hire" operation of that example vehicle combination, for example a transport driver towing a new fifth somewhere. there's a lot of similar language in Michigan's motor carrier code (commercial trucking), that does not apply to private citizens operating a vehicle for recreation purposes.Many will ASSUME that as well, yet I took it from the NON-COMMERCIAL section. If you would like to see for yourself....click here

Makes me glad I still live in Indiana. So far, no confusion on driving an RV of an type. Standard operator license is all you need. When tow vehicle has a DOT license, then everything changes.

Texas has that same class A (non commercial) requirement and very nearly the same wording, except the statutes do not throw an example as you noted in red.

BB_TX wrote:Texas has that same class A (non commercial) requirement and very nearly the same wording, except the statutes do not throw an example as you noted in red.Many states have license requirements for 26K+ vehicles.PA is just catching up with others.CA has had that requirement for years.Even have it for 5th wheels 15K+ and TT 10K+

Is PA "warning" Rvers. (license). | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Feb 15, 2017
I would hazard a safe guess, somewhere else in the statute or compiled law that you extracted that tidbit from, it is explained that the rule applies to commercial or "for hire" operation of that example vehicle combination, for example a transport driver towing a new fifth somewhere.

there's a lot of similar language in Michigan's motor carrier code (commercial trucking), that does not apply to private citizens operating a vehicle for recreation purposes.
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Feb 15, 2017
GordonThree wrote:
I would hazard a safe guess, somewhere else in the statute or compiled law that you extracted that tidbit from, it is explained that the rule applies to commercial or "for hire" operation of that example vehicle combination, for example a transport driver towing a new fifth somewhere.

there's a lot of similar language in Michigan's motor carrier code (commercial trucking), that does not apply to private citizens operating a vehicle for recreation purposes.

Many will ASSUME that as well, yet I took it from the NON-COMMERCIAL section. If you would like to see for yourself....click here
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Feb 15, 2017
Makes me glad I still live in Indiana. So far, no confusion on driving an RV of an type. Standard operator license is all you need. When tow vehicle has a DOT license, then everything changes.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 15, 2017
Texas has that same class A (non commercial) requirement and very nearly the same wording, except the statutes do not throw an example as you noted in red.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 15, 2017
BB_TX wrote:
Texas has that same class A (non commercial) requirement and very nearly the same wording, except the statutes do not throw an example as you noted in red.

Many states have license requirements for 26K+ vehicles.
PA is just catching up with others.
CA has had that requirement for years.
Even have it for 5th wheels 15K+ and TT 10K+
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Feb 15, 2017
Just remember.. if you are leagal in your "Home" state you are legal. Period.
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 15, 2017
I'm not in the least surprised at the example. There are not many other situations one would encounter that exceed the class A weight limitations yet do not require a commercial license (a CDL).

Several states have noncommercial license classes that mirror the commercial license classes. I don't mind that my home state is not one of them. It is a moot point for me anyway, as for many others, since no vehicle or combination I drive comes anywhere near 26,000 pounds.
csamayfield55x
Explorer
Feb 15, 2017
Just another way to "TAX" you either before getting pulled over or after

Chris
srt20
Explorer
Feb 15, 2017
DutchmenSport wrote:
Makes me glad I still live in Indiana. So far, no confusion on driving an RV of an type. Standard operator license is all you need. When tow vehicle has a DOT license, then everything changes.

DOT numbers go with the owner, not the vehicle. That said, if you have DOT numbers displayed on your truck thats towing your camper and you skip a weigh station you might have some explaining to do.
Use magnetic numbers that you can take off when not driving commercially.
srt20
Explorer
Feb 15, 2017
wa8yxm wrote:
Just remember.. if you are leagal in your "Home" state you are legal. Period.

X2.

WI doesn't require CDL for RVs no matter the size, used for recreation. Could be a class 8 towing a huge 5er. And Im good throughout USA.