I have been asked if you are required to have a CDL with an air brake endorsement if the vehicle is under 26,000 GVWR a lot lately, and I couldn't find an answer anywhere. So I called the Federal Motor Carrier and Saftey Administration to clarify. The ruling is that license requirement comes before endorsement requirement, and since a CDL is not required for that vehicle, the air brake endorsement is not required. I hope this will clarify this issue.
i have always wondered the same thing...thanks it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me, if you let guys w/o CDL's drive airbrake trucks then why do us with CDL's need to go through all that testing...anyway.... i can't imagine thats the same for HazMat vehicles though...like those pickups that transport fireworks and all, i'm sure they still need a HazMat endorsment
I know... It seems a little backwards to me, and maybe the standard driver's license should offer some of these options to make things a little safer on the roadways. The question was posed to the Federal Motor Carrier and Saftey Administration about requiring a CDL if the vehicle had air brake, but they said that they only handle vehicles over 26,000 GVW and anything under that is not their jurisdiction.
I'm sure i know somebody with a class c and a airbrake endorsement. I can't remember who, it is. I remember seeing it on their license.
Yeah it is strange, how you don't need a CDL for a truck under 26,000 lbs with air brakes. When my son went for his Class A he took one of my friends Pete 6 wheelers under 26,000 lbs with a 20 ton tag. That classified the truck as a Class A truck, but when he drove with no trailer he just needed a Class D license. If you have a Ford F-350 with a 10,500 lbs trailer you need a Class A. But all these people who run around pulling big campers and RV'S don't need a cdl.
Whats the deal with that? I see guys all the time with big 40ft triple axel toy haulers behind 3/4 ton trucks. I know all these guys don't have a CDL, and what about weight stickers. Does it change with a private rig?
you need to have a CDL for anything over 10,000lbs and if the GVCW exceeds what the sticker on your truck says you need to register that with the state...it affects registration costs i believe but i think the rules change if your rig in "not for hire" not sure though...i know i have my class A so i never have to worry about it
I've always wondered that. Also if a guy driving a F-350 tow truck tows a F-350 dual wheel technically you need a Class A because the vehicle being towed is over 10,000 lbs. I know someone who got in trouble because he didn't have a CDL and was driving a loader over 26,000 lbs. I do know there is a restriction on how big of a boat you can tow before you need a CDL.
I've got a F250 and pull the skid steer and mini excavators on our tri axle trailer with 24,000 gross weighted plates on my truck. trailer and skid steer have a weight of about 15-16,000 lbs. Never had a problem with towing that.
Yes... the C in CDL is for commercial . Somebody towing their toy hauler technically needs a non-commercial class A. Likewise, somebody driving one of those big bus-like RVs needs a non-commercial class B. http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLicensePhotoIDCenter/license_classes.shtml Definition of a commercial vehicle is "a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property" per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?section=383.5 Somebody towing their toys to the lake is not involved in commerce. Somebody towing their skidsteer to a jobsite is (you're getting paid). -- Joe
Usually they don't make too many truck UNDER 26K with air brakes. No need for them. Anymore they make sure to keep them with squirt brakes to eliminate any problems.
The reason this has been coming up more often is because more chassis manufactures are offering air brakes on trucks under 26,00 GVW. A lot of people prefer the better stopping power of air and the longer brake life they are getting. I was talking with a Pete dealer about there 19,500 GVW chassis and it has an option for air brakes.
Whats the difference between a commercial and a non-commercial? Besides the obvious. How do they prove your involved in commerce? As long as you own the skidsteer, for all anyone knows you could be hauling it from your house to a friends house to work for free.
here in NY you can drive under 26000 with a class D. but if it has air brakes you do need the CDL B or better. and technicaly anyone towing a trailer with a gvw of 10,000 or better needs an A. those landscapers with a 5 ton trailer behind a 350 series dumper, needs a class A. its not enforced all that much.
do you know if i can take my CDL A driving test with a 3500 and a 10 ton trailer?
you could...you would get a class A but you wouldn't be able to get your air-brake restriction lifted...you had just better make sure your GVCW paper work is up to date before you head to the DMV...they check any and all paper work when you go to take the test, i had to go back a second time to take my test because i didn't have the right papers the first time
you might need a truck with air brakes. you should look into it. and you might be overweight with a 10 ton trailer and a 3500. i believe the 3500 dually is rated for between 16k and 18k on a trailer pull
That's the bad part....you can get your Class A, with restrictions on air brakes. Then you have to take the WHOLE freak'n test over for an air brake truck. Best to get it in all one shot. Our local test station has trucks/trailer to rent. Best $150 to spend to get it over with. Remember, you need to have a CDL holder IN the vehicle for you to get to test station(can't show up without someone else in the cab). Then you can't drive a "commercial" vehicle on the way home, so that person has to drive. Don't ask why? Stupid, but they make you get your printed license before you can drive the truck again. AT least in Ohio.
The best advice is to check your state's specific requirement for CDL testing. The Federal Rule is a minimum guideline that each state can start with and add to. In Alabama, I got my Class A CDL with a 26K GVW truck with air brakes (do not need a CDL to drive bobtail) with a 14K GVW trailer with electric brakes. Crazy, yes but those are the rules here. Upon passing my driving test, I was issued a temporary license and was allowed to drive the truck home. In fact we left the next morning for Ohio to pick up a roll-off truck, which I drove 1/2 of the way back to AL. Just check with your local DMW for the specific rules that apply to your state.
if you passed the test why did you get a temp. license? I got my licnese re-printed with the CDL on it right there while i waited
Our test place is not a DMV, so they can't print a license. It's a privately run test center. The trailer only needs to be plated for +10K lbs, air brakes are not mandatory for it, only the truck.
when i took my CDL road test, i had to wait 7 days go to the dmv with a form that i was given when i passed. got issued a temp license and got my amended permenant license in the mail about a month later.
Here in Ontario there is a separate classification for Air Brakes, it's a 'z' endorsement. It can be added to any class of license, so one can even have their 'g' (basically light vehicles) and their 'z' together. I might actually end up doing that short term, because I can take a weekend course and earn my 'z' for about $300. There's a s/a dump that we're looking at that has air brakes, but I could drive within the weights of my license, so would let me do so legally. After that, by adding a large enough trailer, I could then go upgrade to my 'A' license with the same truck. As to 'A' licenses here versus CDL, I don't know that we have a commercial versus non-commercial designation, I know at least one of the ministry scales like to impound the big RV's that don't have the 'A' license for the weight of the trailer.
I think California has different classes for Commercial and NON commercial CDL.
When I upgraded to a Class A I went into work, got the truck and my rider, drove over to the test, passed that, drove back to the office, got in my car drove down to the DMV and got a 4 year class A in the same day, the same thing when I first got my cdl, drove down and back then went and got the liscense the same day. For any endorsements you have to be driving a vehicle that covers those endorsements, for example if you want to drive a fuel truck, you can't just take a truck with haz mat flags, you have to take one that has both the tank and haz mat flags.
Haz Mat is only an endorsement test in Ohio and nothing to do with road test, as they don't require a tanker. I have tank endorsement and drug a flat bed trailer for test. I think AIR brakes is the only endorsement that requires the truck to have for test. Since you have to do leak down and the like. Guess it goes to show EACH state has it's own requirements and you definitely need to call to find out.
I think you're right. I have tank and double/triple endorsements but took my test with a single box trailer. The endorsements were just additional written tests. In fact I added them to my license at a later date.
here in PA you automatically have an air brake restriction...you need to take a test with an air brake truck to get the restriction lifted...same with a passenger restriction you would need to take the test in a bus....tanker/double/hazmat are all endorsements given by passing a written test so even though i have a class A if i want to drive a bus i would need to go back and retake the driving test in a bus...kind of backwards, i can drive a tractor trailer but not a straight truck haha
I think the waiting has to do with HOMELAND SECURITY- In New Hampshire they are giving temps even for renewal- com. or non according to the news awhile back
Yes, HAZMAT requires a DOHS background check, which can take a while.
Who doesn't need a CDL? By law, the following types of drivers are exempt and don’t need a CDL: Farmers transporting farm equipment, supplies, or products* to or from a farm in a farm vehicle are exempt if the vehicle is: Operated by the farmer or a farm employee. Not used in the operation of a common or contract motor carrier. Used within 150 miles of the farm (in an air-mile radius). If farmers meet all requirements of the farm exemption, they may operate farm-exempt vehicles between the states of Idaho and Oregon. *Farm products include Christmas trees or wood products transported by vehicles weighing no more than 40,000 pounds licensed gross vehicle weight. This weight restriction applies only to Christmas trees and wood products. Firefighters and law enforcement personnel operating emergency equipment are exempt if they carry the certification card proving they have completed the Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (EVAP). Recreational vehicle (RV) operators are exempt when driving an RV for non-commercial purposes. This exemption includes 2-axle rental trucks and horse trailers. Military commercial drivers are exempt only when they are operating the proper military vehicle under a military license issued by their branch of the service.
Types of vehicles requiring a CDL You must have a commercial driver license (CDL) to drive any of the following vehicles: All single vehicles with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. All trailers with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles’ gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. All vehicles designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver). This includes private and church buses. All school buses, regardless of size. All vehicles used to transport any material that requires hazardous material placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR 73. Occasional drivers Occasional drivers, such as mechanics or truck salespeople who test drive the vehicles described above on a public roadway, also need a CDL and any required endorsements. Find out if you need a CDL The vehicles described above are divided into 3 classes – Class A, Class B, and Class C.
Types of CDLs Commercial vehicles are divided into three size classes: A, B, and C. You may also need a special endorsement if you plan to carry passengers, haul hazardous materials, or drive double-trailer, triple-trailer, or tank vehicles. The table below shows which vehicles can be driven with each class of commercial driver license (CDL). CDL Class What you can drive A Single or combination vehicles of any size. B Single vehicles of any size. Vehicles towing a trailer with a weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. Any vehicles listed under Class C, if properly endorsed. C Vehicles carrying 16 or more persons including the driver.* Vehicles carrying hazardous materials with a weight rating of 26,001 pounds or less* * Requires a special endorsement
Special endorsements There are a total of 6 commercial endorsements and 1 restriction for the commercial driver license (CDL). Each endorsement or restriction requires the commercial driver to pass specific tests. Endorsement/Restriction Description Passenger endorsement (P) Required for all drivers of vehicles designed to carry 16 or more persons (including the driver). School bus endorsement (S) Required for drivers who operate school buses to transport students to or from school and for school sponsored events. (Note: A passenger endorsement is also required for a school bus endorsement to be valid.) Double/triple trailers endorsement (T) Required for drivers pulling sets of double or triple trailers. Tank vehicle endorsement (N) Required for drivers of vehicles carrying liquids or liquid gases in portable or fixed tanks. This endorsement is not required for portable tanks with a rated capacity under 1,000 gallons. Hazardous materials endorsement (H) Required for drivers of vehicles carrying hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be classified or placarded for hazardous materials. For a hazardous materials endorsement (HME), drivers are required to be fingerprinted and undergo a federal background check. This includes the first time you get an HME, or when you renew or transfer a license from another state. Combination endorsement (X) This is a combination of a tank and hazardous materials endorsement. Air brake restriction (K) This is an automatic restriction. If a driver has successfully passed the necessary written and driving tests for air brake equipped vehicles, this endorsement will be removed. Drivers who do not pass these tests are restricted on the CDL to non-air brake vehicles.