PA License Class Question

[Bucky4]

In PA:

Class A non commercial license or Class A commercial license. Both allow you to drive combo loads >26k lbs. What determines which one is legally required? BTW, I called PennDot Customer Service with this question and let's just say they were in the dark as well and could not/would not investigate further.

NON Commercial

• 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).
  
  Commercial
• CLASS A (minimum age 18): A Class A license is issued to those persons 18 years of age or older who have demonstrated their qualifications to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. The holder of a Class A license is qualified to operate vehicles for which a Class B or Class C license is issued. Where required, appropriate endorsements must be obtained.

 

[Bucky4]

Anyone?????

 

[oosik]

Couple of things. One is transport for hire/payment and the other is not - if that makes any difference. AND there must be MORE than those two paragraphs in your motor vehicle code which could give better explanation. However - if the same joker wrote the motor vehicle codes for Pennsylvania AND Washington - good luck trying to interpret them.

 

[GLyford]

Note: "For hire" also means anything used to haul equipment or materials that is later used to make money, even if you are not paid directly for the hauling or what has been hauled...sometimes even just for prizes like ribbons or trophies (considered "gain" in some jurisdictions). Assume the officer will interpret the rule in the broadest possible conceivable way, and you're probably close.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

if you are really debating about the difference just get the cdl. I have mine and I don't have to split hairs about the commercial/non commercial BS. Medical card is $69/2 years and the license is a little more money.

 

[bdog]

The DOT can and will deem many things commercial that you would not think of. “Commercial” includes a lot more things than hauling for others for hire. Basically anything involved in making money is commercial. It could be hauling your tools to a job site, picking up materials for a job, bringing home a new piece of equipment that you use to make money, etc.

There are always some goofy exemptions like armed forces, fire fighters, etc but in most cases unless you are driving an RV you will likely be considered commercial. The simple fact is more often than not a vehicle or combination of vehicles going down the road that is in excess of 26,000 lbs is being used for business purposes in some shape or form.

If you could describe specifically what you had in mind I am sure people would weigh in on what they think it would be categorized as. It has been my experience that the DOT treats you as guilty until proven innocent when it comes to the commercial vs personal use issue particularly if you are hauling something that 95% of the time is used in business.