Do you have to have Class A's to drive a bobtail tractor?

[Douglas]

Is it fine to drive a bobtail tractor ( truck without a trailer behind it) with just Class B's, or do you still need Class A's? I'm pretty sure I know the answer would be yes, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to ask questions you THINK you already know the answer to, because sometimes you could get a completely different answer than what you anticipated. :wink:

[Mackman]

I don't think you do (not sure) I know guys that drive dump trucks with class B's that have pintle hooks on them for 20 tons tag alongs. But as long as there not hooked to the truck it is a single unit. But dont hold me to it i could be wrong

[Skywalker]

More than likely it will require a Class A. I base that on the GVWR of the vehicle. Others may disagree, but I would have to say that the "Final Answer" will come from the DMV in your home state.

[Overloaded]

More than likely it will require a Class A. I base that on the GVWR of the vehicle. Others may disagree, but I would have to say that the "Final Answer" will come from the DMV in your home state.

There is no upper GVWR limit on class B. The only thing that seperates class A and class B is wether the truck has a trailer attached or not. Besides the GVWR of the common highway tractor is only 52,000lbs, way under most dump trucks.

[Uturn2001]

Overloaded is correct.

The only thing that is different between a Class A and Class B vehicle is class A is combonation.

[brian]

I thought the law was anything over 26k empty required a class A?

[Uturn2001]

I thought the law was anything over 26k empty required a class A?

Nope.

# Class A: Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

# Class B: Any single vehicle with the gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

[heritage92rs]

I had a driver that applied to my company that had only driven for a communications company. He had to get his CDL-A for this company. What they did was go pick up a truck, bobtail it back to their shop, and they would install the Qual-comm system or Eaton VORAD system, or any kind of hefty electrical system on a truck. This leads me to believe you'll have to have a CDL-A to drive bobtail, but I'll have to agree with the "Final Answer" will come from the DMV in your home state.

[Flatspot]

For the record, just in case you're intersted, Class A is ANY vehicle with gross weight 26,001 lbs or over, whether articulated or not. That means straight truck, tractor with trailer, etc.

That's federal guidlines. Has nothihg to do with state. If state wants its share of federal money, it has to conform to federal guide lines.

However, there are exceptions to the federal guidelines. Look at oil field and Alaska exceptions.

Applying those rules, a bobtail is class B. (less that 26,001 lbs gross weight). Hook it up to a trailer, it's immediately class A (air brakes, articulated, etc).

[Overloaded]

Per West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles:
Class A-Combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating(GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating(GVWR) of the unit being towed is 10,001 pounds or greater.

Class B-Single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more and towing any such unit with a GVWR less than 10,001 pounds.

Coundn't be any simpler.

[marylandkw]

I have to agree with overloaded, A Class B CDL is Legal for any Vehicle so long as the trailer is UNDER 10,000lbs GVWR. Once the trailer is heavier, gotta have the Class A.

I learned my lesson the hard way. I had a trailer behind a truck with a GVWR of 12k, but it was empty. State trooper did not care, they go off GVWR. Had to go and get my Class A.

[LadyNorthStar]

You only need a class 3 in Canada to drive a tractor alone, I assume its the equivalent in the US.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

Class 1 license is for tractor/trailer type vehicle where both the tractor and trailer have air brakes.

Class 3 license is tandem Axel truck, and can have either air brakes or hydraulic brakes.

This applies to British Columbia.

But, what ever license you have in your home State or Province will apply in all other States and Provinces in the USA and Canada and you may drive there, but not necessarily transfer the license straight across if you move.

Best resource is the local DMV office and ask them what you need to drive what you want to drive.

And now that we got Auto shifts, it will be a different ballgame again. In BC if you license on an autoshift for a Commercial license then you can only drive autoshifts.

So, you go out and take your license on an autoshift Tractor/Trailer and get your class one, and your boss has a single Axel school bus with a syncro 5 speed.

You cannot drive it.

[Douglas]

Class 1 license is for tractor/trailer type vehicle where both the tractor and trailer have air brakes.

Class 3 license is tandem Axel truck, and can have either air brakes or hydraulic brakes.

This applies to British Columbia.

But, what ever license you have in your home State or Province will apply in all other States and Provinces in the USA and Canada and you may drive there, but not necessarily transfer the license straight across if you move.

Best resource is the local DMV office and ask them what you need to drive what you want to drive.

And now that we got Auto shifts, it will be a different ballgame again. In BC if you license on an autoshift for a Commercial license then you can only drive autoshifts.

So, you go out and take your license on an autoshift Tractor/Trailer and get your class one, and your boss has a single Axel school bus with a syncro 5 speed.

You cannot drive it.

As far as I know here in Georgia, if you have the license, you can drive it, whether it's automatic or standard-shift.