Non commercial Class B license Calif

[Almondjim]

I just obtained my Class B non commercial license allowing me to drive a motorhome
in excess of 40' in California. Thankfully, I had the good sense to enroll in a training class to prepare for the driving exam. In addition to normal over the road driving of surface streets and freeway driving, I was tested for specific skills. The skills test included backing 200' in a straight line, right angle dock parking, and the capper was parallel parking. I highly doubt I would have passed the skills test without taking the training class. My testing far exceeded anything I have ever heard or read about.
So, my advice to all is come to the DMV expecting a very thorough exam....

[xctraveler]

JohnG3 wrote:
Been pulling a 38ft 5th wheel with a 15250 GVWR for about 5 years. A retired motor officer at a rally this past April told me I need a non-commercial class A to legally pull our trailer. Went in and took the written, then made the appointment to take the skills. Was informed that I needed a person with an equal or better license to accompany me to the test. They even checked his license!!!! None of the skills were difficult.

I too believe California does regulate and tax unnecessarly.

I certainly won't dispute your last sentence.

As to the requirement for an equally licensed driver to accompany you; if your show up without that requirement, you have broken the law, thus failed your test, before you even got there, just by driving in without the required license.

When we took the test in TX (Cl B for heavy motorhome) we drove to the exam center with our supposedly valid NYS licenses so no locally licensed driver needed to be with us.

Details, details!

[Crespro]

azdryheat wrote:
California wants to regulate, license, or tax every part of a person's life.

We Californians are quite progressive and patriotic. As a business owner, I have opportunity every year to show just how patriotic I am!
:B

[JohnG3]

Been pulling a 38ft 5th wheel with a 15250 GVWR for about 5 years. A retired motor officer at a rally this past April told me I need a non-commercial class A to legally pull our trailer. Went in and took the written, then made the appointment to take the skills. Was informed that I needed a person with an equal or better license to accompany me to the test. They even checked his license!!!! None of the skills were difficult.

I too believe California does regulate and tax unnecessarly.

[2gypsies1]

Some public campgrounds we've been in have a roadside parallel site. Due to their curvature many times we've had to do it as parallel parking and backing in rather than just pulling into it.

[PCarnathan]

I just passed the behind-the-wheel test to get my Class B Non-Commercial license. In California, if you're driving a vehicle in excess of 40 feet in length you have to have the proper license. Is it a big deal? No. You take a written test that a fourth-grader could pass on the first try. You then make an appointment for the behind-the-wheel test. The closest Commercial DMV facility (for me) is in Fontana. Be careful - There are TWO DMV facilities in Fontana!

The examiner was very nice and we chatted about the test. We did the air brake tests but I wasn't graded on it. We then did some maneuvers on the course. Pulling forward, backing in a straight line, then the 90-degree back into a parking space. I picked up two points because I misjudged and had to pull forward once. The on-road test was just a leisurely drive around the teeming metropolis of Fontana, California, including a quick entry and exit onto Interstate 10 eastbound.

Interestingly, I asked the examiner how many of these tests they administer in a week. I said "Two, five, ten?" He laughed and said maybe two, five or ten in a year!" He said most folks come to get their licenses after they receive a ticket from a law enforcement officer. I chose to get the proper license before that happens.

I also spent a Saturday with an instructor from RV Basic Training before I took the behind-the-wheel test. Even though I've driven large vehicles all my life I got a ton of good information from my instructor. No, I don't work for them or receive a commission. PM me for more information.

Pat in Menifee, CA
www.patcarnathan.com

[djedgar]

Within the last few years, CA DMV started requiring medical form 546A for drivers with non-commercial class B licenses (to drive over 40' "housecars"). This form requires a physician to complete it. The non-commercial class A still only requires the medical form 546, which is the driver self reporting their physical condition.

Both of these forms must be updated every two years and are filed with DMV, not necessary to carry any medical card with the driver.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/forms/dl/dl546a

[strudeau]

There are a couple of exceptions to the non-commercial B license. The obvious ones, Commercial A or B, or the following which is obscured unless you dig a bit. Read the Cal DMV paste below for non-commercial A, which everyone assumes just covers trailers.


A Noncommercial Class A license is required if you tow:

a travel trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) which is not used for hire.

a fifth-wheel travel trailer weighting over 15,000 lbs. GVWR which is not used for hire.

a livestock trailer that is not for hire, weight over 10,000 lbs. GVWR but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, and is operated within 150 miles of the farm by a farmer to transport livestock.


A Noncommercial Class B license and endorsement is required if you operate:

A housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet.

Exemptions: Holders of a commercial Class A or B license, a noncommercial Class A license, and all fire fighter license classes.

I currently own a 43 foot tag and posses a non-commercial A license. At one point I had a non-commercial B, but started towing a 43 fifth wheel. When applying for my non-commercial A license, the DMV clerk asked me if I wanted to keep my non-commercial B, to which I told her I would. She informed me that I would not need both as the Non-commercial A would cover it. She handed me this print out (above) and I keep it in my Coach to this day. Having had both the test it is essentially the same and the medical is as well.

[lanerd]

mowermech wrote:
However, backing to the dock at the local Albertson's store COULD be considered similar to backing into a camping spot. The aisle is only about 10 feet wide, and maybe 60 feet long. Of course, the access road and parking lot are a LOT larger than any Forest Service Campground access road, so getting properly lined up is a LOT easier! But, that is the only dock I have seen that might be worth backing to. All the others are wide open. I have, however, backed a 16 foot boat down a 50 foot boat ramp with a 29 foot Class C. Of course, it was on a tandem axle trailer, so that made it much easier.

If you go back to the OP original post (and mine) you'll notice that the backing into a docking maneuver is done from a 90 degree (right angle) turn. There is NO room to back straight in or anywhere close to it, annnnd... you only get one pull forward maneuver. Getting a 43' motor home into a tight campground site that is 90 degrees from the access road is no picnic. That's exactly what this skill test maneuver is all about.

Ron

[mpierce]

Playtime II wrote:
Im not familiar with non-comm B but I did just get my commercial B (with full airbrake). However if I am reading the endorsements correctly, I would need a "doubles"endorsement if I want to pull a trailer. Does the non-comm follow the same endorsements?

"Doubles" is two trailers, pulled by a power unit.

Pulling a trailer behind you is NOT pulling "doubles"

"Triples" is three trailers.

[Executive45]

Give it up, Mowermech...it's NOT a boat....:W...Dennis

[xctraveler]

DW and I got our non commercial B's in TX three years ago. The written was tough, who needs to know how to cover a load of gravel? OTOH the driving test was a piece of cake for us. We each have close to 100k miles at the wheel. I used to parallel park behind our townhouse before and after every trip. there was a slot for 5 cars that was just wide enough for the coach, and it was on the outside of a curve no less. I never worry about getting into a camp site, they are easy. NY did not require the noncommercial B, or at least no one knew about it.

[BobGed]

mowermech wrote:
Reality check:
Just exactly WHEN do they think anybody will parallel park a motorhome?
OR, back it up to a dock at right angles?
IMO, if they are going to have a "skills test" it should be a "Real World" test; something on the order of backing the rig into a campsite from a narrow access road (a la Forest Service campgrounds).

Congratulations to the OP for passing the silly, pretty much useless, test.

Actually I think the answer is pretty simple. There are not enough of us for our licensing state to write up driving testing procedures for motorhomes and fivers, so they simply administer the standard CDL driving test.

I have a non-commercial B license and I'm fine with the testing procedures I was required to do. The last thing I would want is for my state to spend tax dollars, that I would ultimately have to pay for, to write RV specific testing procedures, and then have to train the DMV personnel in how to properly administer those driving tests.

The written test was all CDL, so why not the driving test?

[mowermech]

msmith1199 wrote:

mowermech wrote:
Reality check:
Just exactly WHEN do they think anybody will parallel park a motorhome?
OR, back it up to a dock at right angles?
IMO, if they are going to have a "skills test" it should be a "Real World" test; something on the order of backing the rig into a campsite from a narrow access road (a la Forest Service campgrounds).

Congratulations to the OP for passing what is, IMO a silly, pretty much useless, test.

I've never parallel parked mine. On the dock backing my guess is they used a dock because there was no tight fitting campsite available near the DMV.

In the last 10 or 15 years, I may have parallel parked ONCE.
I have never done it in the motorhome, and never will.
So, based PURELY on personal experience, it is a skill that I do not not need in a motorhome. Shucks, it is a skill I don't need in my PT Cruiser Convertible!
However, backing to the dock at the local Albertson's store COULD be considered similar to backing into a camping spot. The aisle is only about 10 feet wide, and maybe 60 feet long. Of course, the access road and parking lot are a LOT larger than any Forest Service Campground access road, so getting properly lined up is a LOT easier! But, that is the only dock I have seen that might be worth backing to. All the others are wide open. I have, however, backed a 16 foot boat down a 50 foot boat ramp with a 29 foot Class C. Of course, it was on a tandem axle trailer, so that made it much easier.
However, since I will never have a coach longer than my present 32 footer, and I will never live in CA, and MT does not (at the present time) require any special license for my 32 foot coach, nor for towing doubles, it is all moot anyway.
I changed my post to show that my opinion of the CA test, is just exactly that, MY OPINION!

[djedgar]

Playtime II wrote:
Im not familiar with non-comm B but I did just get my commercial B (with full airbrake). However if I am reading the endorsements correctly, I would need a "doubles"endorsement if I want to pull a trailer. Does the non-comm follow the same endorsements?

In CA you can pull a trailer with your commercial (or non-commercial) B license as long as the overall length is 65' or less and the trailer/vehicle being towed would also be lawful to be towed with a class C license.

To pull two trailers "doubles", you would need a class A commercial license and a special endorsement. CA does not allow "triples'. Generally doubles would involve a truck tractor, semi trailer and a trailer with an overall length of no more than 75' and the trailers not exceeding 28.5'.