Texas non-commercial Class A drivers licinse

[Texas_Two_Stepp]

Has anyone taken this test recently? I have been unable to get through to my local Beaumont DMV and am interested in starting to read the handbook material. I am currently traveling in NM and unable to go by their office now. Is the study material in the commercial handbook or the regular drivers handbook? What sections do you study? I understand that the handbooks on their site may not be up to date. Can you direct me to the url for the proper study material?

[avvidclif1]

Ok, looked up the FMCSA rules:

§ 383.91Commercial motor vehicle groups.

(a) Vehicle group descriptions. Each driver applicant must possess and be tested on his/her knowledge and skills, described in subpart G of this part, for the commercial motor vehicle group(s) for which he/she desires a CDL. The commercial motor vehicle groups are as follows:

(1) Combination vehicle (Group A)—Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

(2) Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B)—Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) GVWR.

(3) Small Vehicle (Group C)—Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor that of Group B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purposes of the hazardous materials as defined in § 383.5.


From all that reading it boils down to the GCVWR of the truck, under 26,001 no special license needed. If the GCVWR is over 26,001 then the weight of the trailer determines Class A or B.

[avvidclif1]

sayoung wrote:
Where Texas gets you as I have posted before,its the exceptions to the exemptions that get you.In the Commercial rules on page 1 it states RV's exempted from the commercial rules,then a few pages over it says IF your rv gvwr or combined GVWR goes over 26000 ,a class A non-comercial required.Its been this way since Tx adopted the standardized Fed Hwy requlations.
we hang out with a couple that both work at TX DPS and when I got my new dually last year they showed me the rules as I had allways been told by RV dealers NO special license needed for rv's,they dont know anything about required licenses.

Yep, there's that "gotcha" I was talking about. The book says GVWR not GCVWR. That would catch the new Dodge duallys with a GCVWR of 30k.

[lanerd]

Go to this site and search on "non-commercial class A license" and you should be able to find what you need.

Ron

[sayoung]

Where Texas gets you as I have posted before,its the exceptions to the exemptions that get you.In the Commercial rules on page 1 it states RV's exempted from the commercial rules,then a few pages over it says IF your rv gvwr or combined GVWR goes over 26000 ,a class A non-comercial required.Its been this way since Tx adopted the standardized Fed Hwy requlations.
we hang out with a couple that both work at TX DPS and when I got my new dually last year they showed me the rules as I had allways been told by RV dealers NO special license needed for rv's,they dont know anything about required licenses.

[sayoung]

I took mine a year ago.study the rules sections,required equip,light requirements,driving safety/technique etc.
The driving test is easy except for the parallel parking,you have to back it and move the trailer over to the right, which my "tester" made difficult with the narrow width I had to turn my dually in.
You must do a walk around,adjust mirrors,have parking brake set,dont skip anything.come to complete stops and use the turn signals,especially when doing the parrallel parking.If the trailers tires ever run up on a curve its over.
The commercial book is availible on line from the State.I'll look over my old book and see if I can remember the exact sections,wont need airbrakes(unless you got them),hazmat,doubles.I remember a question about slow moving farm equipment required equipment.

[avvidclif1]

I read thru the handbook and boiling it all down to English it appears;
The prime factor in needing a Class A or B is the GVWR of the tow vehicle. If it's under 26,001 lbs no special license needed. If it's over 26,001 lbs and the trailer GVWR is under 10k a Class B, if the trailer is over 10k, Class A. Neither of those licenses are Commercial drivers licenses.

To me it says a Class A or B is needed if the GVWR is over 26,001 lbs. That would be where they get the big motor home drivers, over 26,001 lbs GVW.

Now if they come back and say "Oops we meant to say GCVWR (tow vehicle and trailer) in place of GVWR that would cover the newer 1t duallys rated over 26,001.

Kinda confusing.

If my guesses are correct then I wouldn't need anything. The PU has a GVWR of 11k and a combined of 23k.

[BB_TX]

I can't answer your question directly, but here are a couple of interesting discussions.
from Forest River forum
from Family Motor Coach web site