Do I need a CDL?

[Duffster]

Duffster and Storm56
here is the Pennsylvania DMV regulation

What Class of Driver's License Do You Need?

In Pennsylvania, driver痴 licenses are issued specifically for the class and type of vehicle you operate. Therefore, the class of driver痴 license you should have depends specifically upon the type of vehicle you operate. Generally speaking, the majority of applicants for a Pennsylvania driver痴 license will be operators of regular passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks or vans.
Classes of Driver's Licenses

Non-commercial Driver's Licenses

• CLASS A (minimum age 18): Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the vehicle(s) being towed is/are in excess of 10,000 pounds. Example: Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds).
• CLASS B (minimum age 18): Required to operate any single vehicle rated in excess of 26,000 pounds. Example: Motor homes rated at 26,001 pounds or more.
• CLASS C (minimum age 16): A Class C driver痴 license will be issued to persons 16 years of age or older, who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any vehicles, except those requiring a Class M qualification, and who do not meet the definitions of Class A or Class B. Any firefighter or member of a rescue or emergency squad who is the holder of a Class C driver痴 license and who has a certificate of authorization from a fire chief or head of the rescue or emergency squad will be authorized to operate any fire or emergency vehicle registered to that fire department, rescue or emergency squad or municipality(emergency use only). The holder of a Class C license is authorized to drive a motor-driven cycle with an automatic transmission and cylinder capacity of 50 CCs or less or a 3-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab.
• CLASS M (minimum age 16): A Class M driver痴 license will be issued to those persons 16 years of age or older who have demonstrated their ability to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. If a person is qualified to operate only a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, he/she will be issued a Class M driver痴 license. If you test on a motor-driven cycle, an "8" restriction will appear on your driver痴 license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a motorcycle. If you test on a 3-wheeled motorcycle, a "9" restriction will appear on your driver痴 license. This restriction prohibits you from operating a 2-wheeled motorcycle. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Operator痴 Manual (PUB 147) or the Mopeds, Motor-Driver Cycles and Motorcycles Fact Sheet located on PennDOT痴 Driver and Vehicle Services website in the Motorcycle Information Center.

PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services - Classes of Licenses


Class A license here it is in black and white (or red in this case) Recreational Vehicle, when the towing vehicle is rated at 11,000 pounds and the vehicle towed is rated at 15,500 pounds (total combination weight of 26,500 pounds)

now a RV

Class B licensee Motor homes rated at 26,001 pounds or more.

tom

What is the CGVWR of the truck and trailer you drive?

 

[crazyal]

Usually the only time you don't need a CDL if you are over 26k is if you are a farmer doing farm business within 150 miles of your farm. That motorhome example was over 26k so you would need a CDL.

 

[ALKY]

My local trooper told me trailers over10k require a combination license & if the combo breaks 26k cdl is in your future.also DOT regs in effect when crossing state lines ,ie Maryland from Pa:confused2:

 

[Duffster]

Usually the only time you don't need a CDL if you are over 26k is if you are a farmer doing farm business within 150 miles of your farm. That motorhome example was over 26k so you would need a CDL.

You only need a CDL if used in commerce. The example was showing it would need a NON commercial class B because it was over 26k.

 

[Duffster]

My local trooper told me trailers over10k require a combination license & if the combo breaks 26k cdl is in your future.also DOT regs in effect when crossing state lines ,ie Maryland from Pa:confused2:

What's his idea of a combination license? :confused2:

 

[tommu56]

What is the CGVWR of the truck and trailer you drive?

new truck is a dodge 5500 around 18,000 lbs trailer 14,000= 32,000
the old one wad a f450 that was about 14,000lbs

tom

 

[Duffster]

new truck is a dodge 5500 around 18,000 lbs trailer 14,000= 32,000
the old one wad a f450 that was about 14,000lbs

tom

That makes sense then. The way you worded it before made it sound like you needed a class A solely because the trailer was over 10k.

 

[ALKY]

The way i understand it ,in PA a combo license adds truck gross wt + trailer gross wt[ 11,000 gvw tk + 14,000 gvw trl = 25,000 gvw license fee for tk] +14,000 gvw trl license fee. not cdl but dot :confused2: If it totals over 26001 then cdl is needed. unless of course u find a loophole!!Also if your tk doesn'thave combo wt on PA title u need manufacturer proof of tow capacity to get it . that was enough to change my mind from a gn trailer to a 9990 bumper pull don't know how true just what different troopers and notaries told me

 

[Heavyduty]

My local trooper told me trailers over10k require a combination license & if the combo breaks 26k cdl is in your future.also DOT regs in effect when crossing state lines ,ie Maryland from Pa:confused2:

Be careful crossing state lines. Don't a$$ume all states are the same.

I have a class A CDL here in NC. In my state of NC, I can travel within NC(intrastate travel) with just a medical card thats renewed every 2 years.

If I plan to travel to another state, I'm required to have a DOT number on my truck, keep up with a log book, carry insurance minimums (I think $500K), random drug test and a few more things.

Let's just say, I don't travel outside of NC.:laughing:

 

[tommu56]

The way i understand it ,in PA a combo license adds truck gross wt + trailer gross wt[ 11,000 gvw tk + 14,000 gvw trl = 25,000 gvw license fee for tk] +14,000 gvw trl license fee. not cdl but dot :confused2: If it totals over 26001 then cdl is needed. unless of course u find a loophole!!Also if your tk doesn'thave combo wt on PA title u need manufacturer proof of tow capacity to get it . that was enough to change my mind from a gn trailer to a 9990 bumper pull don't know how true just what different troopers and notaries told me

ALKY
That would require a non cdl class A look at post 37 right from PA DMV if non commercial.

tom