Country Coach Owners Forum

> The same ignorance applies to driver licensing laws. Most people > try to tell you that you don't need a special drivers license to > drive a motorhome. The FACT is that's wrong in many states! >

Last I had heard, about 24 states had re-written their driver > licensing laws to follow the new federal guidelines published

3 years ago. I'll use Pennsylvania as a good example...

Under the old law... Several years ago, Pennsylvania had just 3 > types of drivers licenses: A, B, and C. Class C licenses were for > cars, class B for straight trucks over 26,000 pounds and class A

semi-tractor-trailer rigs. Both class B and class A were

called "CDL" licenses. CDL stands for Commercial Drivers

>

Now, under the new Pennsylvania driver licensing laws (that follow > the federal guidelines), Pennsylvania has 2 NEW types of licenses -

Class B NON-CDL (Non-Commercial Drivers License) for non-

vehicles over 26,000 pounds, and Class A NON-CDL for non-

vehicles towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds. Motorhome owners > driving rigs that weigh more than 26,000 pounds are required to

a written test of 50 questions and a driving test in their coach

get a Class B Non-Commercial Drivers License. If the RV has air > brakes, the driver must also take a 25 question written exam on

brakes and pass the driving test including explaining air brakes

their usage to the examiner.

Fifth wheel owners who pull a 5th wheel that weighs more than

pounds are now required to have a Class A Non-CDL.

I can recall the day I call the PA DOT and asked them "If I needed

CDL to drive my 26,000 pound motorhome?" And they told me "No,

are exempt from CDL since they are not used commercially". The > problem is I didn't ask the right question!!!! So I called back

asked "If I could use a class C license to drive a 26,000 pound > motorhome or did I need a special license of some kind?" and the > answer I got that time was, "YES, you do need a Class B Non-CDL".

Just like the 20,000 pound federal axle limitation, many folks

try to ignore the law, stick their heads in the sand, and hope

don't get caught. Since ~50% of the states now have new driver > licensing laws, the wise and prudent RV owner should understand

laws in their state and determine if they are operating their RV > within the law.

When you call your state DOT, be sure you talk to somebody who

the latest law changes regarding RV drivers licenses and be sure

> Well, I was concerned enough to check NJ and apparently the only

I don't need a license for (they're trying to institute a boat > license) is my MH. Just curious... my understanding has been that > relatively few states require an enhanced license. Since there is a > "pretty big" difference between "relatively few" and "almost half", > could you identify the states with a requirement or the source of

statement?

Thanks,
Dave

'98 Allure #30187

[quote author=rvrobert2003"

> From the volume of responses on this web site, it seems like

are lots of people concerned about weight safety, but no one > > concerned if they have the correct drivers license to drive their > > motorhome. With almost half the states now requiring a special > > license (an upgrade from a car drivers license) for coaches over > > 26,000 lbs, I would have expected lots of discussion on this > > important issue.
>

> Doesn't anyone else have a concern on this issue? > >

> Maybe you could check with your state DOT and post your states > > license regulations here so others could learn from your

> Regards,
>

> Bob Kumza
>
>

[quote author=rvrobert2003"
>]
> > The same ignorance applies to driver licensing laws. Most people > > > try to tell you that you don't need a special drivers license to > > > drive a motorhome. The FACT is that's wrong in many states! > > >

> > Last I had heard, about 24 states had re-written their driver > > > licensing laws to follow the new federal guidelines published > > about

> > 3 years ago. I'll use Pennsylvania as a good example...
> >

> > Under the old law... Several years ago, Pennsylvania had just

> types of drivers licenses: A, B, and C. Class C licenses were

> cars, class B for straight trucks over 26,000 pounds and class

for

> > semi-tractor-trailer rigs. Both class B and class A were > > generally

> > called "CDL" licenses. CDL stands for Commercial Drivers > > License.
> >

> > Now, under the new Pennsylvania driver licensing laws (that

> the federal guidelines), Pennsylvania has 2 NEW types of

> > Class B NON-CDL (Non-Commercial Drivers License) for non- > > commercial

> > vehicles over 26,000 pounds, and Class A NON-CDL for non- > > commercial

> > vehicles towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds. Motorhome owners > > > driving rigs that weigh more than 26,000 pounds are required to > > take

> > a written test of 50 questions and a driving test in their

to

> > get a Class B Non-Commercial Drivers License. If the RV has

> brakes, the driver must also take a 25 question written exam on > > air

> > brakes and pass the driving test including explaining air

and

> > their usage to the examiner.
> >

> > Fifth wheel owners who pull a 5th wheel that weighs more than > > 10,000

> > pounds are now required to have a Class A Non-CDL.
> >

> > I can recall the day I call the PA DOT and asked them "If I

a

> > CDL to drive my 26,000 pound motorhome?" And they told me "No, > > RVs

> > are exempt from CDL since they are not used commercially". The > > > problem is I didn't ask the right question!!!! So I called back > > and

> > asked "If I could use a class C license to drive a 26,000 pound > > > motorhome or did I need a special license of some kind?" and

> answer I got that time was, "YES, you do need a Class B Non-

>

> > Just like the 20,000 pound federal axle limitation, many folks > > just

> > try to ignore the law, stick their heads in the sand, and hope > > they

> > don't get caught. Since ~50% of the states now have new driver > > > licensing laws, the wise and prudent RV owner should understand > > the

> > laws in their state and determine if they are operating their

> within the law.
> >

> > When you call your state DOT, be sure you talk to somebody who > > knows

> > the latest law changes regarding RV drivers licenses and be

] > Bob (or anyone else),

Do you know if California requires a "special" drivers license to

Hollick]

]

Haven't been following the DL thread to close but....
At the FMCA rally in Indio last year, a CHP code enforcement

gave a little talk. He stated that no special license is required

drive a "housecar" because of weight. There is the requirement for

special license if the "housecar" is over 40 foot.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

> -

(snip)

]

coaches get bigger and bigger and we get older and older. (snip)