Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License (Read 7604 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Yahoo Message Number: 23943
Anyone in Texas ever obtained the Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License? It's required to drive vehicles with GVWR over 26,001 pounds...which is most of the Country Coach Motorhomes...
Advise...the worst part is finding somone with a Class A license to drive your coach to the DPS office so you can take the driving portion. Kind of like when you were in high school and had to go get your first drivers license... ;-)

David Cole

2002 Allure #30682

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23947
David

We obtained a non commercial Class "B" license in Texas upon moving from California .
It was necessary to take the vision test, then if you passed the written test, and then if you passed we made an appointment for the driving test. Since we had a California license there was no problem with having a licensed Class B or A Texas driver with us.
We also had to "show" our Social Security card. Just giving them the number would not suffice, had to have the actual card.
Not sure why you would need the non commercial Class "A" license unless you are towing a large trailer with the rig. I don't remember the weight requirements but did run into another camper at Livingston with a 5th wheel rig that needed a non commercial Class A license because of the weight of the two units.

I might add the DMV in Livingston was very helpful.

Bill & Judy Claypool
158 Rainbow Drive #5843
Livingston, TX 77399-1058

bill@... Intrigue 2004 42' 11696

530 957-7789

location of Bill & Judy http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=3035

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23953
I find that you are exempt in Tx just like most other states:

From the Texas Department of Public Safety:
The law does provide provisions for some exemptions, using the CDL 2, Exemption form required. If the driver meets one or more of the criteria listed on the following page, he/she will not be required to have a CDL. However, the driver will be required to have a Class A, B, or C Non-CDL License.

Exemptions:

A vehicle that is controlled and operated by a farmer; and used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm; and not used in the operations of a common or contract motor carrier; and used within 150 air miles of the person's farm.
A Fire-fighting or emergency vehicle necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions, whether operated by an employee of a political subdivision or by a volunteer fire-fighter.
A recreational vehicle that is driven for personal use.
A military vehicle, when operated for military purposes by military personnel.
A vehicle that is owned, leased, or controlled by an air carrier, as defined by Texas Trans. Code (TRC) section 21.155.
A vehicle used exclusively to transport cotton modules or cotton burrs.

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23955
Advise...the worst part is finding somone with a Class A license to drive your coach to the DPS office so you can take the driving portion.

Kind of like when you were in high school and had to go get your first drivers license

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23957
Don,

I think I'm reading that I'm exempt from a normal CDL, but not exempt from a NON-COMMERCIAL Class A license. If I read the License Handbook correctly, if the vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 or greater, the Class A Non Commercial license is required. It's clearance lights, widths, lengths, stopping, etc. About 35 review questions in the back of the DPS Handbook. Still a pain because a driving test is required (I think).
I've never known anyone who has actually obtained one of these rare licenses. If it wasn't such a pain to go and wait in line at the DPS, I'd go and talk with someone there (Trooper, not the clerks in the front).

David

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23977
David...we have a Class B noncommercial license to drive anything over 26,000 in TX (not for hire). That's the license you're looking at getting. You don't need a medical exam, etc. Just the written (all about pole trucks...really useful info...yeah.) and then the driving test. We drove our rig under our existing NC license to the testing site, took the test, then turned in the license (NC) for our new TX ones. Driving test was just like in a car...go around a block, making correct signals, back up in a straight line for x feet, etc. Livingston is great to do it in...only two ladies in the DMV and they are very helpful. Not a big deal.

Enjoy your new coach...
Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23984
Hello David;

The licenses are NOT rare, but the knowledge that they are required by more than 50% of the states IS. It was about 5 years ago that the new federal licensing guidelines were published, and to-date, more than 27 states have adopted these new licensing guidelines.
Anyone driving a vehicle at 26,001 pounds or greater OR towing a trailer 10,000 or greater is required to have a "special license".
MOST states are not requiring a CDL to meet this new requirement (although some are). MOST states are requiring a "special non-CDL license" (ie. a license other than that required to drive a automobile).

If you want to see a list of the states now requiring a "special license" to drive a coach exceeding 26,000 pounds, the FMCA attempts to publish an accurate list each year in the January issue (although their attempt is flawed by errors). I suggest you contact a knowledgeable person at your DMV to determine what is required in your domicile state.

Regards,

Bob Kumza

driving a 2003 Intrigue

with a Non-CDL Class B license

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23985
just checked the Class B. That's the one I need. I have to risk driving the coach to the DPS office without the proper license because I don't know anyone who has the correct license... ;-) I have to get the coach inspected in Texas first.

Thanks.
David

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23989
David,

If you are bringing the coach into Texas, you will need to get it weighed in order to register the title for Texas plates. Go LIGHT to the weigh scales, as your fees will be based on empty weight. I used a CAT scale at at truck stop to get my weight. Since I have a rare, no-slide model, I came in at around 24,000lbs. Thus, no need for special license.
Dave

2000 Allure 36'

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23993
Dave,

the license requirement is based on GVW (gross vehicle weight) not EMpty weight..... If your empty weight is 24K, I guarantee your GVW is over 26K.

Mikee

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23998
GVWR is 33,200. Empty weight is 27,400. guess I'm stuck...

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24000
Yup. . .

The chance of getting caught by a Trooper is pretty slim, but the insurance company will probably deny coverage if you wreck it, as you are technically an unlicensed driver.... and your policy does not cover unlicensed drivers.... And the other person's Attorney... well nuff said

Mikee

Quote
GVWR is 33,200. Empty weight is 27,400. guess I'm stuck...

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24004
Mikee,

You are quite right. What I was trying to convey relates to the tax issue, not the drivers' license issue. To get my plates I had to submit an actual vehicle weight. They were not interested in GVW.

Dave

2000 Allure 36'

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24005
I went by the DPS today and picked up the Commercial Handbook. A lot of it I already know (or knew).

I'm in a Catch 22 situation...the drivers seatbelt broke on the trip in from Oregon (won't extend far enough to buckle around me). I can't get that fixed until August 15 with Buddy Gregg, and can't get the State Inspection, which is required for License/Registration and BOTH are required to take the Class B License exam. I have to talk my way through why I won't have the coach registered within 20 days of purchase or fines start).... At least, I do know someone with a Class A license who can drive the coach over to the DPS so I can start the testing.

Geesh...never thought it would be this involved... ;-)

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24009
David

When we had our coach licensed in Livingston we had to first have it inspected (that was a real joke - they didn't check anything expect the mileage and registration), then provided the tax dept (not the DMV) a copy of our GVWR. Made a photo of the one inside the bathroom mirrorJ. We did not have the coach weighed. Our cost for plates for the first year was about $390 and next year I believe it will drop to $300. In comparison, renewal on my plates in California were going to be $1600 L.
My understanding was we had to have both the inspection sticker and the registration when we showed up at the DMV for the test drive.
To get our license we first took a vision test, then a written test (did have to study the dam book) and since we didn't have the coach with us, we made an appointment for us both to come back and take the driving test. This was all for the non commercial CDL Class B.
One question she did ask that I wasn't prepared for was about the air brakes. She wanted to know if I knew how to test them for leaks? When I didn't reply right away she went ahead and gave me the explanation on how to do it.
Remember I do suffer from CRS, but I believe the instructions we something like this:
Start engine and build air pressure up to 120lbs, pump brakes three times and hold after the third time for 30 seconds. From that point pressure should not drop more than an additional three pounds.

At any rate both the wife and I passed and are now paper Texans J.

Bill & Judy Claypool

158 Rainbow Drive #5843
Livingston, TX 77399-1058

bill@... Intrigue 2004 42' 11696

530 957-7789

location of Bill & Judy http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=3035

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24013
Bill,

Thanks. I have the Commercial License Manual and have started marking it up.

I did read about how you test air brakes...but I'll be darned if I know where the water drain is on the air tank?

I did find out the exact difference between a CDL Class B and Non-CDL Class B license...(drum roll)... $24 vs $60 for CDL and if you get a ticket, a Non-CDL license holder can still take Defensive Driving to get the ticket waived. Other than that, the Written Test and Driving Tests are the same. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with DPS Austin License Issuance Bureau Technical Support...took 2 different people and a lot of talking with someone else in the background... LOL.

I will have to "rent" a Class A/B driver to take my coach to the DPS office or risk a ticket, etc. The test doesn't look too difficult...I had a old commercial license back in school when I drove a delivery vehicle. Would have been a Class C CDL license today.
I might take the coach by the Inspection Place and see if it will pass. The drivers seat belt won't extend far enough (consistently) to connect around me. I might get by. How did you take a photocopy of the sticker in the bathroom? Take the door off? Mine GVWR is 33,200 and Unloaded weight is 27,400.

Yep, you have to have both Inspection and Registration. I'll probably take the written test this week to get it over with.
This group is wonderful...hey, if you were through DFW, I'd rent one of you guys to drive the Allure to the DPS??? might be worth dinner or something? ;-)

David

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24014
David

Not a photo copy, but a photoJ - I took the picture with my digital camera and printed a copy off my ink jet printerJ.
I doubt if you would have any problem with the inspection but I think you would need the seat belt hooked up for the driving test. Why not go to an auto parts store and get a seat belt extension (like the ones they use on the airlines).
Sorry will not be able to help you with the driver test in DFW area as I am in hot Vacaville , CA this week. If it doesn't cool off soon I might have to head to the coast.

Bill & Judy Claypool

158 Rainbow Drive #5843
Livingston, TX 77399-1058

bill@... Intrigue 2004 42' 11696

530 957-7789

location of Bill & Judy http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=3035

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24015
David,

You might consider getting one of those seat belt extenders sold in automotive stores. These are short belts used to accommodate really large people in cars or airplanes.
--Ron

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24016
It was hot in Redding and Bakersfield last week as I passed through coming in from Junction City...getting to Flagstaff was nice...and even Amarillo cooled off at night. Get to the coast...and probably a bit farther north... Bodega Bay sounds nice right now...but even it's 95f there...but going down to a nice 77 later in the week.

Hope your electric power stays on...

David

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24017
Dave,

Many states base the registration fees on the weight of the vehicle for non-passenger cars. You do have to be careful to supply at least the weight that you plan to carry and not exceed it. Technically the vehicle is only registered for that weight. Unloading a vehicle, at least in MA & NH, is not a good idea if you plan to put the load back. While there is currently no state that requires non-commercial vehicles to pull into weighing stations, accidents and insurance coverage is the real issue. Many insurance investigators will look for the smallest out and if they find that the vehicle weighs more than it is registered for then .......If you plan to use the GVWR then register it for that weight. Maybe TX is different but in NH the registered legal weight is printed right on the reg. Another thing is that you cannot CYA for exceeding the GVWR by registering it for more than that weight. Exceeding the GVWR would still be a problem regardless of the registered weight.
Just as a side note I looked at the issue of becoming a Texan at Livingston and decided against it for one main reason. There are about 8000 registered voters living in Livingston while there is, as of the last count that I saw, about 26,000 non-resident registered voters. This makes the residents of Livingston very nervous and rightfully so. For one thing it make the Escapee Park and Headquarters untouchable. While it might be possible although difficult to stop the expansion of the numbers, it would be almost impossible to get rid of the already existing non-resident residents. Federal law requires any town or city to retain a persons as a resident until the person declares residency in another location. The Fed will not let you become dis-enfranchised. I would not want this to happen to my town so I didn't do it to their town. Something is going to break sooner or later.
Also, Texas insurance laws will not allow underwriting full timers coverage. That is basically the insurance that covers your internal household items and liability that is normally covered by your home owners policy. While the fix is easy and only requires picking up umbrella policies to cover it, knowing about it is important. Most insurance agents are savvy and automatically include it but no harm in checking. I also found a big increase in insurance rates over my home state equal to nearly 1/2 of my savings.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24018
Don,

We are not full timers and live in the DFW area, so we aren't faced with the Livingston problems I am a life long Texas resident....we have Homeowners insurance on our existing residence..it covers our non-resident personal property also.
I do intend to go by the Sub-Court house tomorrow (maybe the crowd will have ceased from today) and ask about registering the coach and what is involved.
My daughter is the customer service manager for my local Farmer's Agent and she assures me there is no problem with coverage...even without my proper Class B Non-CDL license, which I will obtain shortly. First priority is Inspection and Registration.
I don't intend to bend any Texas rules...just comply what what I've lived with most of my life. Texas is my home...although I have lived a LOT of other places during my adult life. That "corporate" roaming has provided us the wherewithall to have two pretty nice places to live...here in Hurst and the mobile Greyhound Kennel...aka the 2002 Allure... ;-)

Thanks for the input.

David

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24019
Dave,
 
Throughout this thread there has been this issue of finding a Class B Texas licensed driver to take you coach to the DPS. I am really confused on this one. Why would this be necessary. You are not an unlicensed driver until you surrender you existing license after passing the test. Texas can hardly expect you to hold a class license from a state that doesn't issue that class. I know at this point you would have already registered the coach in Texas as I believe that you have to have a vehicle and all vehicles that you own registered in Texas before you can get the license. That I think is part of the residency thing. Is this an insurance issue?  Since you still own the coach you could carry double coverage for one day on it. To be sure only one policy would pay off but you would be covered.
 
Most states operate under a continuous operating posture. They really only focus on the normal everyday operators of the vehicle. Your driving you coach to the DPS under another state's license is not the norm and has a clear and defined intention, that being to rectify that condition. While it may make some of the Livingston residents nervous, your becoming a Texan has some monetary benefit to both the town, county, and state to say nothing of a possible vote for someone. As others have said, the DPS at Livingston are very helpful and corporative. It in fact looks and operates like a virtual "Become a Texan Factory". Maybe I am way of base but I can't seem to get a grasp on the issue here.
 
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24022
Livingston TX was a relatively simple but time consuming process to upgrade from a standard Texas Class A drivers license to a non-commercial Class B license which is a Texas requirement to drive a motorhome over 26000 pounds. We had moved up from a gas powered 19000 GVW motorhome to a 34000 GVW CC. We had no problem driving to Livingston with our Class A license (just be careful not to get stopped since I don't know what the ramifications would be if they knew you were on your way to upgrade your license.).

The steps that we had to go through included taking the eye test and then the written test. They won't mail you a Texas Driving Manual but you can download the latest manual online. (I don't have that info at hand but you should be able to find it.) We were told to read chapters 1, 8, and 15.
Answer all the sample questions in the back of the book. Review and study your answers. Some of the test questions are worded to fool you. There are multiple tests but they all seem to stem from the sample questions. Lots of stuff about reflectors, lights, hazard warnings, and lots of commercial truck stuff that you don't really need ... but it's on the test. That takes care of the written test. You can then make an appointment for a driving test. We had to wait 2 days to schedule our driving test after we passed the written tests.

Meanwhile (or actually before in case you're lucky enough to get your driving test scheduled right after your written test), have your vehicle inspected if you don't already have a current TX inspection sticker. In Livingston there is an inspection facility right across the street from where you take the driving test. You need a current vehicle inspection sticker before you can take the physical driving test. The driving test involves doing exactly what the testing person tells you to do. But make sure that you exaggerate your head movements so that they can see you looking both ways and looking in your mirrors. Keep both hands on the wheel, don't try to chit-chat with the tester, just turn where she says to turn, use your signals, and as far as we know, they never ask you to parallel park. They'll tell you ahead of time where to park the vehicle before and at the completion of the test. It's a simple pull up to the curb type of park.

With a properly inspected vehicle, the title in hand which in our case was from out of state being switched over from MT to TX, and something that shows the GVW, you can go to the tax office to register your vehicle. What I used to prove the weight was to take a digital photo of the weight certificate inside the bathroom cabinet and printed that out to give to them. That made them happy. This is the weight they use to determine the fee.

Hope this helps.

Steve Bufty, 2002 Intrigue #11382

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24024
Once you take the written test and get yuor "learners" permit you can dirve the coach with a properly licensed driver as your instructor... Did you not need a Class B for yuor current state? If you do not need it you can drive to the DMV on yuor out of state license, if you already have your Texas license that plan will not work.
As far a s the 20 say thing, just say the coach was not in Texas until XX as I have not had time to go get it...

Mikee
Quote
I have to talk my way through why I won't have the coach registered within 20 days of purchase or fines start).... At least, I do know someone with a Class A license who can drive the coach over to the DPS so I can start the testing.

Re: Texas Non-Commercial Class A Drivers License

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24025
David,

The air drains are located on the bottom of each tank. it is a quarter turn valve.

Hope this helps

Mikee
: