HwnSurfah

Can anyone help answer if a truck less than 12000 GVWR with airbrakes requires a CDL driver in California?

rebal

yes air brakes needs a CDL also any trailer used commercially over 10000lbs
my neighbor is a DOT cop and always gives me free advice if i need it

sabersix

Interesting. I would have said that a CDL is only required based on weight (i.e. 26,000 lbs). I was not aware that a vehicle having or not having air brakes changed the requirement. Is this true only in CA or other states as well?

Danderson

I drove a medium duty Hino cabover bobtail for 14 years with a regular license. It had airbrakes.

Nor_Cal_Angler

Air brakes requires an "Air Brake" endorsement on your Class C lic.

I know because I have an "Air Brake" and "Tank" endorsement....changes your class C to Class B restricted.

You must take a seperate written test to opperate vehicles with Air Brakes and vehicles with Tanks.

This is how it was explained to me by both the DMV and my FD.

I am Class B FD reistricted with AB's (tank and AT as well)

Class A lic. does require other things and I believe a weight limitation does come into play. 26k GVRW Dual Axel (if I remember correctly)


NCA

HwnSurfah

Thank you folks. It's pretty interesting how many different opinions I've gotten. The CA DMV representative I spoke with said no but it could really depend on the police officer who might pull you over if they give you a ticket or not. I have heard the airbrakes opinion but the CA DMV website doesn't mention anything on airbrakes. Here is the link: . Also don't all the major truck rental companies rent vehicles with airbrakes...ie Budget, Hertz etc? Thanks again...

HwnSurfah

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/license.htm

Valv

Actually you don't need a CDL to drive a vehicle with airbrakes if it's under 26,000lbs GVW, read the rules very well.

Fact is you can rent a 24ft van truck with Raider or Penske and you can drive it with the basic C license. These all have air brakes and they are registered under 26,000lbs

If you haul commercially, then it's another issue

Colo_River_Ram

When they first designed the 4500/5500 series they were to have air brakes, then when they found out about the CDL requirements they made them with the hydr. disc brakes..

grouch

In Indiana, you don't need a CDL if the GVW is 16,000 or less. Over that you need a CDL. If you drive for hire, you need a chauffers license but not a CDL if the GVW is 16K or less.

Jaxom

Sure glad they got all the states to have the same standards. That's what the whole CDL thing was supposed to accomplish in the first place!

duffer26

in colorado you donot need a cdl if under 26000# single vehicle air or not

used to drive rider box trucks with air breaks between denver and las vegas delivering glass and never got hit for it at any port just the normal logbook and what not

chaikwa

THANK YOU!

It was SUPPOSED to accomplish just what you said... and DIDN'T!

I sat on one of many committees with the NHTSA when the whole CDL thing was in development, and continue to proof read/edit/suggest changes to new rules for NHTSA, DOT & SAE. Things were pretty good in the development stage with everyone involved on the same page until one of the brain trusts decided it would be a good idea to let the individual states alter the rules as long as they were MORE stringent than the federal rules. Now it's just a cluster. AGAIN.

rich

you need air brake endorsment no matter what if you caught driving without they will shut you down. if you are under 26k and not crossing state lines you can get a class c cdl if it is for business use if personal then no cdl

duffer26

no class C in colorado