Nationwide requirement for CDL when driving/towing over 10k?

"Imagine the embarrassment of the owner of a Prevost when he was ticketed and his MH was towed to the impound lot because he didn't have an air brake endorsement on his Illinois "Class D" drivers license."

More internet folklore. I have an Illinois class "B" license and have never heard of an air brake endorsement for RV's.

Francesca Knowles wrote:

rk911 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
From: Illinois D of L

yes but Illinois still requires the proper classification of license:

I know- I was just responding to the "impound 'cause of no air brake endorsement on his Class D" post.

We had this discussion on here a few weeks ago and it was pointed out there was no such thing as an airbrake endorsement anyway. The deal was if you took your CDL driving test in a vehicle that did not have airbrakes you would have an air brake restriction put on your license, but otherwise if there was no restriction you were good to go with airbrakes.

rhagfo wrote:

Roundtwo-40 wrote:
Wanna see the RV market dry up? Make you pass a CDL to pull it... There will be alot of new 9900lb trailers hitting the market..

Don't think so, didn't happen to motorcycles when endorsement was required. Sorry but an endorsement for towing a 10,000# 5er makes more since than an endorsement for a motorcycle!

You're probably right if it's just the endorsement, but the original rumor as reported by the OP was the requirement of a CDL. That means getting a medical too and lots of people who are RVers may not pass that medical. However, I don't think any law makers either Federal or State are seriously considering requiring a CDL for recreational motorhome use.

But I should also note that I did see one of the requirements in one state for getting the non-commercial Class A to drive a motorhome was you had to parallel park it as part of the test. I wonder how many people could do that. When I pull mine in front of my house I actually have to parallel park to get between two trees that overhang the road, but I have plenty of room between the trees. Other than that, I can't think of any other time I've ever parallel parked my motorhome.

jk31668 wrote:
But its the fed dot that mandates cdl drivers to submit to random drug/alcohol testing plus cdl physicals every 2 years

That is if your state requires you to have a CDL. NO CDL, no tests, no logbook, no downtime for rest.

rk911 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
From: Illinois D of L

yes but Illinois still requires the proper classification of license:

I know- I was just responding to the "impound 'cause of no air brake endorsement on his Class D" post.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
From: Illinois D of L

yes but Illinois still requires the proper classification of license:

Although the following vehicle operators are not required to obtain CDLs, they are required to hold the proper driver's license classification for the type of vehicles they are operating.

•Class A — Combination of vehicles with a GCWR* of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the GVWR of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

•Class B — Single vehicle with a GVWR* of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

•Class C — Single vehicle with a GVWR* of at least 16,001 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds.

•Class D — Single vehicle with a GVWR* of less than 16,001 pounds.

here in the land where our governors are limited by law to two terms...one in office and a second in the pokey...they call this type of license (and I kid you not) a non-commercial CDL.

camperpaul wrote:

On most holiday weekends the Illinois State Police will have an "enforcement weekend" where they are looking for seat belt usage, DUI, proof of insurance, etc.

One year, on one of those weekends, they set up shop at the entrance to one of the state park campgrounds and when they heard the telltale sound of air brakes, checked the operator's licenses for the proper classes, endorsements and restrictions.

Imagine the embarrassment of the owner of a Prevost when he was ticketed and his MH was towed to the impound lot because he didn't have an air brake endorsement on his Illinois "Class D" drivers license.

I'm trying...but since Illinois exempts RV's from that requirement I just can't picture it.

Illinois DMV wrote:
Recreational Vehicle Operators — Illinois waives CDL requirements for drivers of a recreational vehicle primarily operated as family/personal conveyance for recreational purposes. This includes motor homes and travel trailers.

From: Illinois D of L

flyinguy68 wrote:

I have no way of proving this but I would be willing to bet that there are more improperly licensed RV drivers than there are properly licensed drivers. Most States do little when it comes to enforcing the licensing laws when it comes to driver classes or endorsements, and even less in providing RV education about the law, driving safety etc.

On most holiday weekends the Illinois State Police will have an "enforcement weekend" where they are looking for seat belt usage, DUI, proof of insurance, etc.

One year, on one of those weekends, they set up shop at the entrance to one of the state park campgrounds and when they heard the telltale sound of air brakes, checked the operator's licenses for the proper classes, endorsements and restrictions.

Imagine the embarrassment of the owner of a Prevost when he was ticketed and his MH was towed to the impound lot because he didn't have an air brake endorsement on his Illinois "Class D" drivers license.

rhagfo wrote:

Roundtwo-40 wrote:
Wanna see the RV market dry up? Make you pass a CDL to pull it... There will be alot of new 9900lb trailers hitting the market..

Don't think so, didn't happen to motorcycles when endorsement was required. Sorry but an endorsement for towing a 10,000# 5er makes more since than an endorsement for a motorcycle!

I agree with your statement in theory, but most of the states don't care. They only wanted to mirror the FEDS. I have no way of proving this but I would be willing to bet that there are more improperly licensed RV drivers than there are properly licensed drivers. Most States do little when it comes to enforcing the licensing laws when it comes to driver classes or endorsements, and even less in providing RV education about the law, driving safety etc. I looked couldn't find anything. But if you want to get a motorcycle there are all kinds of programs every where.

Roundtwo-40 wrote:
Wanna see the RV market dry up? Make you pass a CDL to pull it... There will be alot of new 9900lb trailers hitting the market..

Don't think so, didn't happen to motorcycles when endorsement was required. Sorry but an endorsement for towing a 10,000# 5er makes more since than an endorsement for a motorcycle!