Need Help Getting Class A Non-Commercial License

[RussOnTheRoad]

Class A Driver License License Pickel

I find myself in a rather unenviable position. I live in the SF Bay Area. I just ordered a 5th wheel from a dealer in Portland, OR where I will go to pick it up. Towing that fiver in CA requires a Class A non-commercial license because it has a GVWR over 15,000#. Getting the Class A license requires not only a written test but a driving test towing a fiver with a GVWR over 15,000#.

It's like a Catch 22: I need a fiver with a GVWR over 15,000# in order to take the road test but I need a license in order to tow one to the road test.

Really what is needed is for me to get a Class A learner's permit which I am working on. Once I have that I need somebody with a Class A license that has a truck and a fiver with a GVWR of over 15K lbs. who will teach me to tow it and go with me to the road test. Then I can go to Portland to get my 5th wheel. (I drove a 30' Class C, full-timing in it for 18 months and I have an F350 dually, so driving big things isn't completely foreign to me.)

It seems I either have to find some kind soul near me who will help me master the skills needed to pass the road test and allow me to take the driving test with his/her truck and 15K+ lb fifth wheel or take the risk of towing my RV unlawfully. I asked the mfr. to derate the fiver from 15,700# to 14,999# in order to fall under the 15,000# threshold that requires the class A license but they wouldn't do it. I am looking for trucking and RV driving schools that might be able to help out.

I am certainly open to suggestions, but meanwhile, is there anybody in the SF Bay area willing to take pity on a fellow RVer and both teach me to tow with his/her setup and accompany me to the driving test?

Thanks.

[packnrat]

best bet.

do a truck driving school. even a fly by night school will do.
i only say that, cause you stated you have some " expearince".

[RussOnTheRoad]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Must be a CA thing as I pony my neighbors commercially registered empty GN trailers for him and her from their place to usually a truck stop/loading yard and back.
As long as I'm not working a commercially registered trailer for bucks my state dot folks say there is no violation. Pay attention to your state dot folks.

We're picking up our RV in Portland then driving to WA. Neither OR or WA have the requirements CA does and we are OK to drive in those states.

[JIMNLIN]

Must be a CA thing as I pony my neighbors commercially registered empty GN trailers for him and her from their place to usually a truck stop/loading yard and back.
As long as I'm not working a commercially registered trailer for bucks my state dot folks say there is no violation. Pay attention to your state dot folks.

[RussOnTheRoad]

cmeade wrote:

RussOnTheRoad wrote:

cmeade wrote:
Russ - do not rely on information from a chp officer unless he is a commercial certified level 1. They wear blue duty uniforms (bdu) and either drive a black and white F-250 (Mobile Road Enforcement MRE)pickup or are assigned to a scale facility. They are the experts that the tan uniforms call for back up when it comes to big stuff. These experts live, eat, and drink combo vehicles, license classes, and are the TRUE WEIGHT POLICE in CA. The pickups are equipped with portable scales (accurate to 100 lbs)and they always have ticket books waiting for your personal info. Press hard four copies!!

That sounds like good advice. Thanks.

Coincidentally, before reading your post I had gone to a local CHP office. The beige uniformed officer at the window referred me to a nearby CHP scale jokingly saying my questions were above his paygrade. I called the scale and spoke with an officer who was one of the blue uniformed officers. He seemed very knowledgeable. He said whomever rode with me while I drove a with a CA Class A learner's permit would need to meet CA Class A license requirements even if they are licensed to tow under a lower level license in their home state. He also suggested that I might be able to rent a flatbed trailer with a GVWR of over 10,000# and use that for the road test--this might be esier to control during the road test than a fiver.

Sorry Russ- but I would be illegal to tow a flatbed over 10k gvwr because it is a commercial trailer and I am licensed for NON commercial recreational trailer towing over 15k. Apples and oranges as they say. A commercial A is required to tow a commercial trailer with a gvwr over 10k gvwr in CA. This would prevent me from towing a trailer with a gvwr of say 30k that is not a recreational trailer by definition for example.

Yes. You are correct. My mistake. It looks like I cannot use a flatbed trailer for the road test for a non commercial Class A. I misunderstood the CHP officer. It must be a travel trailer with a GVWR over 10,000# or a fifth wheel with a GVWR over 15,000#.

Thanks.

[RussOnTheRoad]

randygk wrote:
I received a class A CDL using "Class A in a Day" in Sacramento. One day program
and cost was around $550. See if they are still around and maybe at other locations closer to you.

Hey thanks... I'll check it out.

[cmeade]

RussOnTheRoad wrote:

cmeade wrote:
Russ - do not rely on information from a chp officer unless he is a commercial certified level 1. They wear blue duty uniforms (bdu) and either drive a black and white F-250 (Mobile Road Enforcement MRE)pickup or are assigned to a scale facility. They are the experts that the tan uniforms call for back up when it comes to big stuff. These experts live, eat, and drink combo vehicles, license classes, and are the TRUE WEIGHT POLICE in CA. The pickups are equipped with portable scales (accurate to 100 lbs)and they always have ticket books waiting for your personal info. Press hard four copies!!

That sounds like good advice. Thanks.

Coincidentally, before reading your post I had gone to a local CHP office. The beige uniformed officer at the window referred me to a nearby CHP scale jokingly saying my questions were above his paygrade. I called the scale and spoke with an officer who was one of the blue uniformed officers. He seemed very knowledgeable. He said whomever rode with me while I drove a with a CA Class A learner's permit would need to meet CA Class A license requirements even if they are licensed to tow under a lower level license in their home state. He also suggested that I might be able to rent a flatbed trailer with a GVWR of over 10,000# and use that for the road test--this might be esier to control during the road test than a fiver.

Sorry Russ- but I would be illegal to tow a flatbed over 10k gvwr because it is a commercial trailer and I am licensed for NON commercial recreational trailer towing over 15k. Apples and oranges as they say. A commercial A is required to tow a commercial trailer with a gvwr over 10k gvwr in CA. This would prevent me from towing a trailer with a gvwr of say 30k that is not a recreational trailer by definition for example.

[randygk]

I received a class A CDL using "Class A in a Day" in Sacramento. One day program
and cost was around $550. See if they are still around and maybe at other locations closer to you.

[RussOnTheRoad]

cmeade wrote:
Russ - do not rely on information from a chp officer unless he is a commercial certified level 1. They wear blue duty uniforms (bdu) and either drive a black and white F-250 (Mobile Road Enforcement MRE)pickup or are assigned to a scale facility. They are the experts that the tan uniforms call for back up when it comes to big stuff. These experts live, eat, and drink combo vehicles, license classes, and are the TRUE WEIGHT POLICE in CA. The pickups are equipped with portable scales (accurate to 100 lbs)and they always have ticket books waiting for your personal info. Press hard four copies!!

That sounds like good advice. Thanks.

Coincidentally, before reading your post I had gone to a local CHP office. The beige uniformed officer at the window referred me to a nearby CHP scale jokingly saying my questions were above his paygrade. I called the scale and spoke with an officer who was one of the blue uniformed officers. He seemed very knowledgeable. He said whomever rode with me while I drove a with a CA Class A learner's permit would need to meet CA Class A license requirements even if they are licensed to tow under a lower level license in their home state. He also suggested that I might be able to rent a flatbed trailer with a GVWR of over 10,000# and use that for the road test--this might be esier to control during the road test than a fiver.

[cmeade]

Russ - do not rely on information from a chp officer unless he is a commercial certified level 1. They wear blue duty uniforms (bdu) and either drive a black and white F-250 (Mobile Road Enforcement MRE)pickup or are assigned to a scale facility. They are the experts that the tan uniforms call for back up when it comes to big stuff. These experts live, eat, and drink combo vehicles, license classes, and are the TRUE WEIGHT POLICE in CA. The pickups are equipped with portable scales (accurate to 100 lbs)and they always have ticket books waiting for your personal info. Press hard four copies!!

[RussOnTheRoad]

momentum rv wrote:
When I was getting my Non-comm class A the DMV guy wanted to see my Reg. and ins. for both truck and trailer. I asked what would happen if I was using a friends 5er for test if I didn't have one. He said he didn't know cuz he wanted to see that the reg. matched the driver. I then asked how I would get a lic. if I had no trailer yet... got a blank look.

I agree, try to be legal but if the system won't let you do the best you can.

The DMV told me you can take the road test with any fifth wheel with a GVRW in excess of 15,000#. That only makes sense. What if you want to tow a friend's fiver or trade yours? Think of driving cars for example. You can take a road test in any car or drive any car with the proper license. Driver licenses are attached to people, not vehicles.

[momentum_rv]

When I was getting my Non-comm class A the DMV guy wanted to see my Reg. and ins. for both truck and trailer. I asked what would happen if I was using a friends 5er for test if I didn't have one. He said he didn't know cuz he wanted to see that the reg. matched the driver. I then asked how I would get a lic. if I had no trailer yet... got a blank look.

I agree, try to be legal but if the system won't let you do the best you can.

[RussOnTheRoad]

F-TROUP wrote:
I didn't get a learners permit and one was not offered when I got a CDL with doubles endorsement. What LEOS look for that they can see is a 3/4 ton pulling a triple axle trailer. Just do it, towing double now for 6 years and not one LEO in the southwest has given me a second look.

I don't know anything about the process of getting a CDL but it wouldn't surprise me if learner's permits were not issued for that.

It may be that many peope drive or tow without the proper license but IMHO either doing so or advising people to do so is, IMHO, stupid, extremely foolish. What happens if there's an accident where an improperly licensed driver has his insurance claim denied because he is driving out of his class? He could be bankrupted and someone who needs medical care may not be able to get it because there isn't money to pay for it... for example. Lives could be ruined and it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

[F-TROUP]

I didn't get a learners permit and one was not offered when I got a CDL with doubles endorsement. What LEOS look for that they can see is a 3/4 ton pulling a triple axle trailer. Just do it, towing double now for 6 years and not one LEO in the southwest has given me a second look.

[Dtank]

Russ - I like your plan!
Don't think WA or OR would be a problem (no matter what).

However - just for the heck of it - stop by your local Chippy Office and ask
them about "The Plan" - in CA.
Gee Whiz value! No harm no foul - no matter what the cop on the desk tells you.

Often the CA DMV and the CHP do *NOT* see eye-to-eye on rules and regs, and interpretation of same.

Soooooooo.......
Remember - the LEO (whatever agency) guy or gal behind the badge - is the "Authority Having Jurisdiction", at any time or place.....whether he/she is correct or not.

Hope "The Plan" works!

.