Well I have been looking into the CDL thing, I need to have a Class &quot;B&quot; here at work now for a truck that he have that is over 26,000#.<br><br>Anyway I see that when pulling any trialer over 10,000# you need a CDL, a Class &quot;B&quot; if the CGVW is under 26,000 and a Class &quot;A&quot; if the CGVW is over 26,000. So it seems that I have been illegal pulling around the 12,000# trailer behind the 3/4 ton I have now ???<br><br>Getting the 1 ton that will be 12,000# and a trailer that will be 20,000#, so the way I read it I then need a class &quot;A&quot; to pull it around. Same class you need to drive a semi, go figure. I have to get the air brake endorcement also for the truck at work, and you have to take a skill test in a vehicle that has air brakes to get it.<br><br>So the only way I see out of it is to go for the Class &quot;B&quot; with the work truck to get the air brakes. Then go back with the 1 ton and trialer to get the class &quot;A&quot;, am I thinking right here ?

 

Talk to the license dept you should be able to get your class A which will allow you to drive a class B truck. The test should be the same. Take the air brake written part at that time and then take the A test in your truck with the trailer and come back later for the skills test in the air brake truck. This should save the hassle of spending the money on a B license then having to spend to go to a class A

 

Only thing is that my Temp CDL run out in December, my truck probably wont be here by then, and I for sure wont have the trailer by then. What a pain in the butt... :'(

 

My understanding here in VA is:<br><br>Class B CDL - for straight trucks over 26,000 gw OR straight truck over 26,000 AND pulling a trailer under 10,000 gw.. You must also pass the written air brake test or it will show up as a restriction on your license (here in VA it is a &quot;K&quot<br><br>Class A CDL - Vehicle over 26,000 gw AND pulling a trailer over 10,000 (a valid class A allows you to drive a class B vehicle)<br><br>You must bring a representative vehicle (Class A or class B with or without air brakes) of the license you want to the DMV to do you walk around (pre-trip inspection) and road test. <br><br>You better ask the dmv about doing the class b with air first and then upgrading to a class A with your truck and trailer later on.. for some reason im thinking that wont fly since the class A truck wont have air brakes.. but hopefully im wrong..<br><br>also make sure you have a valid DOT physical completed by your doctor.. and once you get what you want/need dont let it drop... Ive kept my class B for going on 4 yrs now although i dont use it because I dont want the hassle of getting it back if i need it in the future.<br><br>good luck<br><br>

 

I have all the doctor stuff done, took all the written test and things except the haz mat. I have my temps but they are done in December, thats why I need to get my butt going and do it.

 

Mopar_Mudder,<br> Are the trailers your talking about used for commerical use? Wondering if a 5th wheel trailer used for personel use applies to what your saying??? If so, I would think many of us that pull a 5er are in violation of this rule. If so...news to me. I always thought if you were pulling a 5er for personnel use than a regular license would work. ;D <br> Big dawg

 

It is for personal use yes. The truck will technicaly be in a company name for better rates and insurance.<br><br>This is staight out of the Wisconsin CDL manual<br><br>You must have a CDL to operate:<br><br>Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 lbs. provided the GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of the towed vihicle is more than 10,000 lbs.<br><br>Who is exempt from a CDL:<br><br>In Wisconsin, fire fighters, ememrgency vehicle operators, recreational vehicle drivers and farmers.<br><br>So with this in mind I am actually illegal now pulling my 12,000# car trailer ;D<br><br><br>What gets me is that any Joe Blow can go out and buy a 50' motor home and not have to know squat to drive it away, their is something wrong with that.<br><br>I will have to call the DMV tommarow and see if I can get any staight answers, but that is ussualy a hard thing to do with a goverment agancey.

 

just get the CDL and dont worry about it...as far as taking a test for a class A ....all u need is a truck that is registered for over 26,001 lbs.....u dont need a truck that has air brakes to get the air brakes endorsement.....just siply drive a truck like the above mentioned....letter take the written test on the air brakes.......and then when u get your truck...take your 12,000# car trailer in for the combinations test...simple as that...sheesh.

 

Hello there Mudder-long time no see. I was actually going through my email address book today making a mailout group for our local dieselheads and ran across your address. How's Ol Yeller running? Kinda lost track of a bunch of you guys-once I got my Cummins I probably haven't set foot in the Mechanic on Duty forums 3 times..... My bad......also my bad I guess that I haven't even looked at the BB swap pages to see if they are still up....I guess I'll do that today! Next time you're talking to Wyz, MaxT or Ross tell them I said hi and that I'm not dead-just in a parallel universe! <br><br>Jason<br>

 

Good to here from you Jason, long time no see, don't be a stranger.<br><br>Midwestdullay, to get the air brake endoresment you do have to take your skills test with a vehicle that does have air brakes, at least in Wisconsin you do, say so in the book. It all comes down to I will have to take two test I guess, one for the class &quot;B&quot; with the air brake vehicle, and another for the class &quot;A&quot; with the trailer, what a pain in the butt.

 

[quote author=midwestdually link=board=11;threadid=6342;start=0#58533 date=1035849334]<br>just get the CDL and dont worry about it...as far as taking a test for a class A ....all u need is a truck that is registered for over 26,001 lbs.....u dont need a truck that has air brakes to get the air brakes endorsement.....just siply drive a truck like the above mentioned....letter take the written test on the air brakes.......and then when u get your truck...take your 12,000# car trailer in for the combinations test...simple as that...sheesh.<br>[/quote]<br><br>FMCSA mandates that the Class A air brake test is taken on a class A vehicle with air brakes. That is a federal regulation. The states can make the test tougher but not easier. It is possible that some state may not enforce this but for the most part you will have to take the test on an air brake vehicle. There is a way around this problem though. Take the air brake class B vehicle and put a tag along trailer rated for over 10,000 pounds on it and you have a class A vehicle. The trailer does not have to have air brakes, electric is fine, just so the truck has air. I took my cdl class A on a dump truck with air brakes and a 20 foot tag a long.

 

[quote author=Haulin in Dixie link=board=11;threadid=6342;start=0#58651 date=1035860569]<br>FMCSA mandates that the Class A air brake test is taken on a class A vehicle with air brakes. That is a federal regulation. The states can make the test tougher but not easier. It is possible that some state may not enforce this but for the most part you will have to take the test on an air brake vehicle. There is a way around this problem though. Take the air brake class B vehicle and put a tag along trailer rated for over 10,000 pounds on it and you have a class A vehicle. The trailer does not have to have air brakes, electric is fine, just so the truck has air. I took my cdl class A on a dump truck with air brakes and a 20 foot tag a long.<br>[/quote]<br><br>That is my first option, problem is finding a trailer I can use that would actually pass inspection, will come up with something.

 

ok...i am callin the DOT tomorrow and findin out.

 

Check the thread on Hotshot Driving here:<br><br>https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...;threadid=4611<br><br>Lots of good info in there. I found out the truth by going to the horse's mouth. I talked with a MO State Trooper. He told me how the state views both vehicles and drivers. Check it out.

 

I got my A this spring.<br><br>It really wasn't all that difficult. I think you guys are stressing out over a pretty minor issue.<br><br>Look at all the Yahoos out there driving trucks.<br><br>How hard can it be??!!