Okay..so I'll admit right up front...I'm a total idiot. Let's just get that out of the way. Wife and I purchased a Tiffin Allegro Red diesel pusher. We live in the Raleigh area of NC. We take delivery in FL next Friday -- April 10th. Mid last week I just found out I need a non-CDL classified B license. I didn't need one for my pickup and 40-foot 5th wheel I that I drove for several seasons. So this never ever crossed my mind.I was wondering if someone with a vehicle (it can be an RV, a box truck, a flatbed, etc.) that has a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more would be willing to accompany me to a DMV road test and let me use their vehicle for the test. I insist on paying someone for the use of their vehicle and time. This is a very big request that I'm actually embarrassed to even ask...but I'm up against time here and running out of good options. Of note, I took my written test and have my class B permit. I could also look for someone that has a class b/a or cdl class b/a to come to FL with me and hang out in the passenger seat while I drive it back...but I'd rather get my license, if possible.Please...you don't need to tell me I'm an idiot. I already know this. If you have suggestions for me, I'm all ears.Thanks so much,Rob

Have you checked with local Driver/Trainer places for industrial truck training? Lets face it, a couple of hours of training in their rig and you might learn something, then they might let you use their rig for the exam.

Well you can rent a straight truck easy enough - www.ryder.com or similarThey might be able to drive the truck to the DMV for you, let you take your test, then drive it back to their lot.

Are you positive you need this Class of License for a Diesel motorhome that is NOT registered as a Commercial vehicle. I doubt the thousands of Florida or NC motorhome owners have this Class of license. WHO told you that? Most states exclude private registered Motorhomes from the CDL type license. Doug

Remember that the vehicle, or at least in VA and TX (places i tested for my CDL for B and then School bus) has to be a type of vehicle that you are testing for. Thus why you have posted this request. I say that because the typical ryder and other rentals are not air brake trucks, however you might be able to find a rental straight truck that does have air brakes. Of course then you will need someone with the proper license to get it to the DMV. Ryder does rent Class 8 trucks so they are probably your best bet. Anybody you know have a dump truck with air brakes?

The class of truck that a rental place will rent that will quality for my test is referred to as a CDL truck by the rental companies. Ryder has very few that will work for my road test and none available within my region. Penske only has one...about an hour and a half from where I live.I actually had an arrangement worked out with a local truck driving school. But...they only test for a full CDL. So my plan was to return to DMV already having taken the general knowledge test as well as the air brake test. The plan was to add the passenger test and then I could use the truck driving school's bus to take my test. Turns out DMV gave me the non-CDL class b test yesterday...which was correct....but was actually not required to test me on air brakes since that is a CDL license thing. So...to work with the truck driving school...I had to take the CDL class b exam, re-take the cdl air brake exam, and then also take the cdl passenger exam. THEN...I could pay the truck driving school, $950...yes...$950...to have them give me a few hours of instruction and then use their bus for the test. But...it being a CDL test...I had to memorize the pre-inspection booklet which is 16 items, about 60 or so sub-items, and the full descriptions and how to measure each, do that perfectly, and then do the driving test. I just don't have the time between now and Monday to do all that. On the plus side, the DMV said if I can come up with a rig, they will test me as a walk-in without an appointment which was nice of them. Incidentally....there is no air brake non-CDL test...and therefore...any 26,001 lb rig...with or without air brakes...will quality for the non-CDL class b driving test. And even if it DOES have air brakes, they do not do the walk-thru of the air brake system, make you fan out the brakes to check to make sure the lower air warning goes off...and the parking brake pops out when it gets low enough. It's simply a driving test. Get in the RV or truck, don't run over any curbs, stop at stop signs, don't hit anyone...done. I already took an RV driving class before getting my 5th wheel...and have driven that for a few seasons now....with a total length of 61' when I had the bike rack on the front of my truck. So while a motorhome is different, I have experience driving a long rig, backing it up, using mirrors, turning, etc. etc. Just need to take my class b driving test and all this goes away. :)Rob

Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate

ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Apr 23, 2015
Glad you got back on here and let us know how it played out. Thankfully, and something I failed to mention in my earlier post on this, my home state does not require any special license for my DP---yet......Don't know if thats good or bad but this one is over 100k miles now and the last one went over 200k before I sold it for this one....I guess I know how to drive it!
bshpilot
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
DazedNConfused wrote:
bshpilot wrote:
Congrats !

Question for you - did you learn anything from either the written or driving test ?

Funny you mention that. As a Class B license, not a CDL B, you technically do not have to get the air brake certification since that is a CDL thing. The DMV guy didn't know that...so he issued me the Air Brake cert test -- which I passed. In studying for that...that is where I learned the most. The General knowledge section was pretty intuitive. So yes...I did get something out of it as this was my first air-brake equipped vehicle.

Rob

good for you - kinda my point though, if people would just read the book they would easily qualify/pass.
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
bshpilot wrote:
Congrats !

Question for you - did you learn anything from either the written or driving test ?

Funny you mention that. As a Class B license, not a CDL B, you technically do not have to get the air brake certification since that is a CDL thing. The DMV guy didn't know that...so he issued me the Air Brake cert test -- which I passed. In studying for that...that is where I learned the most. The General knowledge section was pretty intuitive. So yes...I did get something out of it as this was my first air-brake equipped vehicle.

Rob
bshpilot
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Congrats !

Question for you - did you learn anything from either the written or driving test ?
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Thanks for the update and congrats! Always nice to have a thread like this wrapped up with the result.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Apr 22, 2015
Congrats for passing your test and doing it right.
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Apr 22, 2015
Most people probably won't really care, but wanted to post up on how this all panned out. The day before we left for FL to pick up our new coach, I got a call from a Penske truck rental place. The guy said they had a "CDL Truck" that he would rent me if I could find a driver that had their CDL A or B to pick it up. As luck would have it, one of my trucker friends was in town and on vacation. We headed straight to Penske, got the truck, headed to the DMV and asked them to give me an unscheduled road test -- which they were happy to do -- and I passed my test. So I was able to legally drive back -- which made me feel a lot better and made the trip much more enjoyable. :)

Rob
willald
Explorer II
Apr 02, 2015
..Here's one more vote for 'Just go to Florida, get your new Motorhome back home, enjoy the excitement of it, and worry about the license part later'.

This is a subject I've researched quite a bit, as has my BIL (brother in law) who owns a large 5th wheel. We have discussed this with highway patrol officers, DMV officials, and RV dealer reps. Bottom line is, like already said: It is very, very unlikely, even if you do get stopped for something else, that any law enforcement officer will ever notice this, let alone cite you for such. Most law officers as well as DMV officials will not know about and/or will not care about just what specific RV type would require a B license and what would not.

Only risk would be in the event of a major accident, where everything about you and your rig would be scrutinized. Yes, in that case, not having the B license could be a problem. Thats why you should probably get the license, eventually, but I don't think you need to just for the 1 trip home with it.

Even RV dealer reps in North Carolina that I've talked to, that drive these rigs as part of their job all the time (to RV shows, etc), in most cases do not have a B license! They do NOT require you to have such license when selling you one, either. They do remind their customers that technically they are supposed to have such license, but thats it.

Go get your Motorhome, and enjoy it. :)

On a sidenote, thats not very helpful but I'll say it anyway: This issue with NC drivers licensing, is yet another of the many reasons we chose and will stick with our gasser MH and its GCWR under 26,001 lbs: I don't have to worry about getting any special licensing to drive it, as DP owners do in many cases.
bshpilot
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
my bet is you can drive it w/out the class b endorsement & you'll never get stopped.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Apr 02, 2015
Thats insane----I have been stopped 2 times in NC in my DP towing a trailer with a combined length over 70ft and nothing ever said about my license.....They just looked at it and thanked me and handed it back.....I also attended a meeting about these things conducted by the NCMA with NC and federal DOT and State Troopers....None of those in attendance could give you a good answer about what license was required.....Just go get your DP, drive it home, and quit stressing about it. I am surprised your local DMV knew what you were talking about.

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Need help with class B road test in NC, will pay/compensate

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