Licensing RVers---is it time?
Is it time to insist that a special license be needed for driving/towing larger recreational vehicles. I once asked a DOT complaint officer why a person renting a GVWR 26,000 (26' box) truck could ...
Forum Discussion
I think there are some fundamental misunderstandings here and some bad assumptions:
The CDL is a FEDERAL license, tested, administered and issued by the STATES. You drive and operate under FEDERAL rules and Hours of Service regulations.
Your CAR license is a STATE license. NO federal rules apply.
A class B license is for vehicles that weigh 26001 LBS or more. This is why vehicles that have a GVCWR of 26000 lbs are exempt from FEDERAL rules.
An air brake endorsement is required if the vehicle has airbrakes.
The CDL class B Or A is COMMERCIAL. RV's are private vehicles and the RV Lobby has been successful so far in keeping additional training and license laws off the books.
Do we have too many rules...maybe. But I am sure we have too many of the WRONG rules. Requiring people who drive oversize and heavy vehicles with clearly different handling and stopping characteristics seems to me to be a no-brainer. I see way too many people who are driving their motorhomes and TT's who cant back up, cant stay in their lanes, dont know how to bring that vehicle to a safe panic stop and dont know how to drive it on snow and ice or mountain roads.
YES additional training and a state ENDORSEMENT is a good idea for everyone. It doesnt need to be special license and if you can afford $250k to more than a million dollars for a MH or up to $90k for a fifth wheel TT then please save your bleating about added cost for someone at the country club.
And for those of us mere mortals who drive $50 Thousand Dollar pickups with a modest TT worth 12 to 20K if we can afford the RV we can afford the license. Period.
It's a good rule, long overdue, especially as rigs get bigger and bigger and heavier. (and we live longer and longer healthier lives and drive longer)
The CDL is a FEDERAL license, tested, administered and issued by the STATES. You drive and operate under FEDERAL rules and Hours of Service regulations.
Your CAR license is a STATE license. NO federal rules apply.
A class B license is for vehicles that weigh 26001 LBS or more. This is why vehicles that have a GVCWR of 26000 lbs are exempt from FEDERAL rules.
An air brake endorsement is required if the vehicle has airbrakes.
The CDL class B Or A is COMMERCIAL. RV's are private vehicles and the RV Lobby has been successful so far in keeping additional training and license laws off the books.
Do we have too many rules...maybe. But I am sure we have too many of the WRONG rules. Requiring people who drive oversize and heavy vehicles with clearly different handling and stopping characteristics seems to me to be a no-brainer. I see way too many people who are driving their motorhomes and TT's who cant back up, cant stay in their lanes, dont know how to bring that vehicle to a safe panic stop and dont know how to drive it on snow and ice or mountain roads.
YES additional training and a state ENDORSEMENT is a good idea for everyone. It doesnt need to be special license and if you can afford $250k to more than a million dollars for a MH or up to $90k for a fifth wheel TT then please save your bleating about added cost for someone at the country club.
And for those of us mere mortals who drive $50 Thousand Dollar pickups with a modest TT worth 12 to 20K if we can afford the RV we can afford the license. Period.
It's a good rule, long overdue, especially as rigs get bigger and bigger and heavier. (and we live longer and longer healthier lives and drive longer)
