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Old 01-10-2021, 09:39 AM   #1
Javi
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FYI for members from Texas towing larger trailers

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/dlClasses.htm

https://www.dps.texas.gov/Rolodex/cd...hTestSites.htm
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Old 01-10-2021, 11:03 AM   #2
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Dang I need to get after that.
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Old 01-10-2021, 11:52 AM   #3
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This is not in my state, yet.
The wording leaves a lot to be interpreted. As far as I can tell you might fall into the Non Commercial CDL C-1, maybe. Who has a TV of excess of 26001 lbs? And the only mention of a trailer is a "farm trailer". The only application I can see is maybe a motorhome with a toad. Am I wrong or are they calling my fifth wheel a "vehicle"? It is not a "vehicle" it is a trailer.
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Old 01-10-2021, 02:53 PM   #4
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Last post FYI anything, pulled, pushed, drawn upon a roadway is normally a VEHICLE. There are motor vehicles and there are non powered vehicles. A bicycle used on a roadway is normally a vehicle at that point. Maybe your state laws say different. If your state requires a license plate on a trailer, chances are the registration slip at the very top says "Vehicle License"
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:32 PM   #5
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Javi, looks like you are looking at a class A non commercial license. The same as I would need in Texas.
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:43 PM   #6
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Non-Texans should never attempt to divine the inscrutable intent of a Texas bureaucrat who devises these obtuse regulations! I have a Class BM license (really). Does this mean I might have to stop dragging my old Cougar down the public thoroughfares? Will a Texas law enforcement professional have any better luck ciphering these somewhat cloudy legal suggestions?
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:43 PM   #7
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Javi, looks like you are looking at a class A non commercial license. The same as I would need in Texas.
That is what I carry.
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:49 PM   #8
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Non-Texans should never attempt to divine the inscrutable intent of a Texas bureaucrat who devises these obtuse regulations! I have a Class BM license (really). Does this mean I might have to stop dragging my old Cougar down the public thoroughfares? Will a Texas law enforcement professional have any better luck ciphering these somewhat cloudy legal suggestions?
And as long as the GCVWR of your truck and trailer doesn't exceed 26,000 lbs you're good.
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Old 01-10-2021, 06:15 PM   #9
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George I have a BM myself. We sound like a couple of sickos. Lol
I have my class B for driving fire trucks and I expect yours is the same.
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Old 01-10-2021, 06:24 PM   #10
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George I have BM myself. We sound like a couple of sickos. Lol
I have my class B for driving fire trucks and I expect yours is the same.

I'm thinking lots of folks have the "BM" issue.....
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Old 01-10-2021, 07:50 PM   #11
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I'm thinking lots of folks have the "BM" issue.....
Comes with age.
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Old 01-10-2021, 08:14 PM   #12
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And as long as the GCVWR of your truck and trailer doesn't exceed 26,000 lbs you're good.
Well a newer F350 or Ram 3600 SRW have GVWR of 12,400# and 12,300# respectfully, so witha trailer of 13,700# or 13,600# respectfully on would need a Class A, there are a lot of mid=sized 5er with a 14,000# GVWR.
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Old 01-11-2021, 03:38 AM   #13
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Well a newer F350 or Ram 3600 SRW have GVWR of 12,400# and 12,300# respectfully, so with a trailer of 13,700# or 13,600# respectfully on would need a Class A, there are a lot of mid=sized 5er with a 14,000# GVWR.
When a buddy on the Texas DPS told me that I needed this license, I immediately went to the DPS website and started trying to see if it was true. What I found was a garbled mess that didn't give clear direction. It is easy to find an apparent out; if that's what you're looking for.

I called the district office and as I moved up the chain of command I received answers ranging from a resounding "NO" to "I really don't know, call this number"

It actually became a challenge to get a definitive answer.

Finally after talking to a couple of attorney friends and a Texas State Representative with varying outcomes, I got to the head guy at the DL Testing Division and after he got through laughing, he explained that he understood the confusion. But YES indeed, I would need the Class A Exempt DL. Two weeks later I had the written test and a week later the driving test.

It really wasn't a big deal...


Understand that this (Driver's License) is reciprocal from state to state, so you need to check your state's requirements.


The only thing in Texas more ambiguous than DL requirements is pickup registrations.
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Old 01-11-2021, 06:41 AM   #14
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I'm at a combined 32,000 GVW so I need the non commercial.
I don't "think" the average county mountie really cares or is aware of the details of the weight rules. But I do know that Harris County (Houston) has at least one weight enforcement officer. He lives in a Mobile Suites at my often visited RV repair shop as security. I talked to him once about our previous Ram SRW and Montana HC. He looked at the truck yellow tag and the Montana tag and said, you're good; less than 26,000 combined. I know 2 state troopers that are in weights and they are singularly focused on 18 wheelers, particularly log trucks. Whether that is valid across Texas I don't know.
But I have no doubt that if I was in a wreck those boys would be asking for my autograph on their tickets.
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Old 01-11-2021, 07:07 AM   #15
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Many (most?) have similar regulations. Rarely enforced on RVs, but still there.
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Old 01-11-2021, 07:38 AM   #16
Laredo Tugger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia View Post
Last post FYI anything, pulled, pushed, drawn upon a roadway is normally a VEHICLE. There are motor vehicles and there are non powered vehicles. A bicycle used on a roadway is normally a vehicle at that point. Maybe your state laws say different. If your state requires a license plate on a trailer, chances are the registration slip at the very top says "Vehicle License"
Ken,
For purpose of discussion as it applies to this thread (TX) you are correct. From the Texas Drivers Handbook, glossary of terms:
"vehicle – a device, in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used
exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks" I'm guessing your post was to imply that all states use this definition unilaterally. I'll mark that one "true" on the test.
I looked up other state handbooks (CA OR ID) for definitions. These states did not have a glossary for reference, but interestingly ID had the answers to the driving test in their handbook. My state has a glossary with a "motor vehicle" definition. No mention of a trailer in any state (that I looked at) except for the "farm trailer" mentioned in Texas.
Haven't checked my registration yet.
I think you will agree one should not read licensing rules and regulations of a given states DMV office and try to interpret "intent" from the wording.
I think the first sentence from wiredgeogre in post #6 say's it best. And the response from the OP in post #13 is a great explanation of the beuacracy that surrounds this issue, and it is not exclusive to Texas.
Honestly I think Texas is following suit from California's playbook and tapping a new revenue source. I guess they are trying to make all those "transplants" feel at home.
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Old 01-11-2021, 07:46 AM   #17
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I'm at a combined 32,000 GVW so I need the non commercial.
I don't "think" the average county mountie really cares or is aware of the details of the weight rules. But I do know that Harris County (Houston) has at least one weight enforcement officer. He lives in a Mobile Suites at my often visited RV repair shop as security. I talked to him once about our previous Ram SRW and Montana HC. He looked at the truck yellow tag and the Montana tag and said, no you're good; less than 26,000 combined. I know 2 state troopers that are in weights and they are singularly focused on 18 wheelers, particularly log trucks. Whether that is valid across Texas I don't know.
But I have no doubt that if I was in a wreck those boys would be asking for my autograph on their tickets.
If any trooper saw a log truck west of I45 I'd suspect they would be in shock for a good bit..
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Old 01-11-2021, 07:59 AM   #18
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George I have a BM myself. We sound like a couple of sickos. Lol
I have my class B for driving fire trucks and I expect yours is the same.

Once I became too old and fat to work structure effectively, I studied hydraulics and became our fire company's engineer. I retired from firefighting when I reached social security age. We worked MANY wifldfires in our fire district and it was getting just a bit too much.
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Old 01-11-2021, 09:40 AM   #19
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If any trooper saw a log truck west of I45 I'd suspect they would be in shock for a good bit..
Yes sir that would be one impaired lost log truck driver. We are covered up with them east of 45. I've watched how the troopers work them. Un-marked car (Taurus) as spotter picking a likely suspect. Marked unit makes the stop and the weight officer in the Taurus does his work. Then move to a different area as word gets out on the CB.
I know a retired high school football coach that was hot-shotting for years with a school bus license. He said he thought it was a CDL. The cop explained it to him.
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