Class A noncommercial driver's license issue

[chris199]

Now I find out I must have a Class A licensed driver with me until I take the driver's skills test. That person also must accompany me with the trailer to the exam center.

Truck...GVWR 11,600. New Montana GVWR 16000. GCWR is over 26000 lb so in PA a non commercial Class A license is required.

Issue: I dont know anyone with a Class A non-commercial license even if I wanted to impose upon them. How have others handled?

PA Learner's Permit should be here next week. New RV is scheduled for me to pick up in VT on Apr 10. Complications......

[Javi]

Originally Posted by chris199

Now I find out I must have a Class A licensed driver with me until I take the driver's skills test. That person also must accompany me with the trailer to the exam center.

Truck...GVWR 11,600. New Montana GVWR 16000. GCWR is over 26000 lb so in PA a non commercial Class A license is required.

Issue: I dont know anyone with a Class A non-commercial license even if I wanted to impose upon them. How have others handled?

PA Learner's Permit should be here next week. New RV is scheduled for me to pick up in VT on Apr 10. Complications......

I'll bet anyone with a CDL Class A can also drive you.. not just a non-CDL Class A... know any truck drivers.. or contact the local chapter of Good Sam Club, they should have someone who can help.

[jtyphoid]

Yep, ran into the same problem, but with an additional complication. I said that I needed to upgrade to a Class A exempt, so they had me take the written test and schedule the driving test. When I asked when I would receive a learners permit, they told me that since I had already taken the test I could not get a learners permit.

So I couldn't legally pull my 5er even if I did have someone with a Class A to ride along.

Lesson learned: in Texas, ask for a Class A learners permit first, then take the written test and schedule the driving test.

[C130]

Originally Posted by jtyphoid

Yep, ran into the same problem, but with an additional complication. I said that I needed to upgrade to a Class A exempt, so they had me take the written test and schedule the driving test. When I asked when I would receive a learners permit, they told me that since I had already taken the test I could not get a learners permit.

So I couldn't legally pull my 5er even if I did have someone with a Class A to ride along.

Lesson learned: in Texas, ask for a Class A learners permit first, then take the written test and schedule the driving test.

How was the written test, any particular thing you used to study that you would recommend? I plan on taking the trailer myself to take the test, did you have any issue with this? I know that technically this might not be correct but not too worried since I'm guessing 99% of the people pulling the larger 5th wheels don't have the correct license anyways.

[jtyphoid]

Originally Posted by C130

How was the written test, any particular thing you used to study that you would recommend? I plan on taking the trailer myself to take the test, did you have any issue with this? I know that technically this might not be correct but not too worried since I'm guessing 99% of the people pulling the larger 5th wheels don't have the correct license anyways.

If I can find my CDL Handbook I can tell you exactly which sections the questions come from. I'll look for it tomorrow.

I imagine that you need to be careful about how you get to the driving test. It wouldn't surprise me if they keep an eye out for that. My rig somehow got there early in the morning before the DMV office opened. Still don't know how that happened...

Javi's suggestion about truck drivers is a good one. I found a gentleman down the road who said that he could come get me if I failed the test. It wasn't needed, but I sent him a thank you gift anyway.

Edited to add that the Texas CDL Handbook can be downloaded from the DMV web site. All of the test questions for the non-commercial Class A and B come from specific sections of that.

[chris199]

For non commercial I dont believe there is a written Q&A test. Just a driver's skill test is done from what I understand.

[chris199]

I [quote name="jtyphoid" post=162812]Yep, ran into the same problem, but with an additional complication. I said that I needed to upgrade to a Class A exempt, so they had me take the written test and schedule the driving test. When I asked when I would receive a learners permit, they told me that since I had already taken the test I could not get a learners permit. <br />
<br />
So I couldn't legally pull my 5er even if I did have someone with a Class A to ride along. <br />
<br />
Lesson learned: in Texas, ask for a Class A learners permit first, then take the written test and schedule the driving test.[/QUOTE]<br />
<br />
How was the written test, any particular thing you used to study that you would recommend? I plan on taking the trailer myself to take the test, did you have any issue with this? I know that technically this might not be correct but not too worried since I'm guessing 99% of the people pulling the larger 5th wheels don't have the correct license anyways.<br/>

I hear you. Do all toy hauler drivers get a Class A noncommercial driver's license? I suspect not.

[PARAPTOR]

Chris, Since you are planning on going for a test. I would check your truck registration. In PA a GCWR of 26,001-30,000 requires a Class 9 registration for your truck with an annual registration fee of $472.50.

[chris199]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

Chris, Since you are planning on going for a test. I would check your truck registration. In PA a GCWR of 26,001-30,000 requires a Class 9 registration for your truck with an annual registration fee of $472.50.

In progress. I really don't understand why I need to do this but it is what it is. My truck config has a clearly published GCWR. PA DOT knows the GVWR of my truck from the VIN. Why should I have to register and pay to use the documented GCWR...esp noncommercial? Govt reach and taxes I guess. [emoji53]

[jtyphoid]

Originally Posted by chris199

For non commercial I dont believe there is a written Q&A test. Just a driver's skill test is done from what I understand.

It varies from state to state. Texas has both written and driving tests.

[bsmith0404]

Seems strange that they are going through all of that. Guess I'm glad I'm in NM, I just filled out a form for a non commercial class E, it's for RV towing with a GCWR over 26k.

[PARAPTOR]

I am sure its only begun , Simple
Stay Tuned

Be Safe and Happy Camping, hopefully soon

[Campy]

Glad I'm in Ohio where all we need is an operators license. I even found out that I could purchase a class 8 semi truck and reclassify it as non-commercial and not have to get any other license. Now the one thing you can't get around is the fee's involved with having a truck that big, the license plate fee would have been around $550 per year.

[chris199]

Doesnt sound right but told this by 2 different PA DMV reps...

I can revise my truck's GVWR from 11,000 lb to 10,000 lb

GVWR of new trailer is 16,000 lb.

I can register my truck at GCWR at 26,000 lb. This is 1 lb under the 26,0001 and higher threshold for a PA noncommercial Class A license. So I dont need to get the Class A license.

Strange....I say but the trailer transfers weight to the truck. Isnt the GVWR at 10,000 lb an issue?
Answer twice has been as long as I am within the GCWR on the registration when towing....I'm legal. GVWR on registration doesnt apply to towing.

Sound right to you?

W/out regard to regs I think my truck (GMC 3500 crew ling bed SRW Duramax) and the Montana (3791RD 2940 tongue) should be a good pair. Just want to be legal.

[PARAPTOR]

Like I said its only beginning, and by the way, YES, have heard that as well as others. As you may have read other member comments from other states, we in PA have an advantage ie, is smaller than say TEXAS therefore, less DMV staff, less opinions, etc. Its very difficult to get a consistent answer.

EDIT ; By the way not a simply task to get a GCWR registration

[jtyphoid]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

we in PA have an advantage ie, is smaller than say TEXAS therefore, less DMV staff, less opinions, etc. Its very difficult to get a consistent answer

Haha! I think that the only way to get a constant answer would be to get rid of all but one employee, and that might not even work.

Note that this is not meant to be a criticism of hard working civil servants. The regulations can be very complex, so there are bound to be different levels of understanding.

[hoffbrew]

For California

[hoffbrew]

This is a picture of the DMV Commercial Test Station/Highway Patrol Center across the street from my office. I have been over there to ask the questions and I get a different answer from the people I talk to each time!