Who's correct?

[Colin]

My dad and I were chatting about stuff and I mentioned how much I miss driving. Over 18 months now behind a desk... He said he'd buy buy me a couple trucks if he had the money. I quickly hopped on the web and found 2 beautiful models in Fontana.





Now, here's the question. He says he can (without a CDL or even air brake endorsement) can drive this 10 wheeler back to Oregon without concern of tickets. He drove cherries and Christmas trees in Michigan back in the early 70's so actually knows how to drive one. He just isn't licensed.

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

He refuses to believe me.

[Rev.Vassago]

Nope - a CDL is required.

[silvan]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

You're right on general principals, but you might be able to drive it legally if you put a tag on it as an RV. RV guys get away with everything.

[mapleleaf_1]

Now those are my kind of trucks. Only Volvo for me! Times have changed Colin since your Dad last drove. Regs are much tighter now on who can drive what and for what reasons. I'd have to agree with Rev and say you need a CDL. Let us know what you find out for sure. Drive safe everyone.

[Uturn2001]

You are correct Colin. You would need at least a Class B with air breaks to drive one bobtail. Toss a trailer on it and it goes to a Class A.

[kc0iv]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

You're right on general principals, but you might be able to drive it legally if you put a tag on it as an RV. RV guys get away with everything.

I have to agree with silvan.

If you license it as a RV then some states require special license while others don't. See: http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml

If on the other hand it does not have a RV license the at least a class 'B' with air brakes would be required.

kc0iv

[Rev.Vassago]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

You're right on general principals, but you might be able to drive it legally if you put a tag on it as an RV. RV guys get away with everything.

I have to agree with silvan.

If you license it as a RV then some states require special license while others don't. See: http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml

If on the other hand it does not have a RV license the at least a class 'B' with air brakes would be required.

kc0iv

That is a really great idea - get it licensed as an RV, just to drive it home from the lot.

[Skywalker]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

You're right on general principals, but you might be able to drive it legally if you put a tag on it as an RV. RV guys get away with everything.

Not any more they don't. Just a week or so ago...my neighbor who has a Class A motorhome... (big one) was telling me that alot of RV owners are upset because one heckuva lot of states are now requiring RV owners to have an appropriate license to drive their RV's. He showed me his FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) book that they send every year to their members....and it had a full list of each state in the union and their license requirements....and apparently word is getting around that they are going to start "enforcing" these changes. Many will need a Class B with airbrakes, or they will have to park it. Some will only need Class C because of the lighter weights of some of the RV's

Been trying to find a link....but haven't yet, but here is an example of the stuff that goes on at RV.net regarding this issue....and its quite interesting, and one of the poster's references the FMCA book.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...263/page/2.cfm

I would venture to say....that if one were to purchase a tractor in CA and then drive it....they had best have a CLass B with airbrakes.... I'm pretty sure that the CHP/DOT would have a problem with a Class E licensed driver driving a "semi tractor"....

Registering the vehicle as an RV is fine, but then changing it to a CMV could start off a chain of events...possibly. The issue would be over road use/fuel taxes etc....for all the miles it had moved. I honestly don't know, because we're talking about "California" :shock: 8)

There's 9 pages of "heavy debate" on the subject....so as an aside... I can safely say "we're not the only ones"!! 8)

[kc0iv]

Been trying to find a link....but haven't yet, but here is an example of the stuff that goes on at RV.net regarding this issue....and its quite interesting, and one of the poster's references the FMCA book.

SkywalkerIf you had read my post above you would have seen the link to the rules for all 50 states and D.C.

kc0iv

[Skywalker]

Been trying to find a link....but haven't yet, but here is an example of the stuff that goes on at RV.net regarding this issue....and its quite interesting, and one of the poster's references the FMCA book.

SkywalkerIf you had read my post above you would have seen the link to the rules for all 50 states and D.C.

kc0iv

:shock: Whooops!! Sorry.... I've been fighting with a flu bug or something for the past week....not totally with it.. :? I just seemed to miss it..... :?

I checked the link, and thank you for it. Bookmarked it. But there seems to be some differences between what they have posted....and what the FMCA had in their book. I was hoping to find a link to their list but haven't been able to. If I ever find it...I'll post it. Then again, maybe the differences I see are just in how the information is listed. Thanks again!!

[Highwayman]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

He refuses to believe me.

Ownership is irrelevant. ANYONE can own a truck you dont even have to have a drivers license. But to drive that truck, you would need at the least a CDL-B with Airbrake.

Some states used to have different classes of non-commercial drivers licenses, I don't know if they still do. In those cases, one could get a non-CDL class B with Airbrake and drive that tractor for personal, non-revenue use only. They would also have to get an RV tag to avoid having to pay fuel tax, etc. for their non-revenue run.

Another way around the registration issue would be to have Dealer tags. Since they are not registered to any particular vehicle (in most places) but instead to the owner, there would not be an issue when it came time tio register the truck to do business.

[century451]

In Missouri you used to be able to drive in state without a cdl as long as you were hauling your own stuff but the insurance companies usually required a CDL to be insured so that I am sure is gone with the wind.

[Jack_07]

the cost for him to go and get a CDL is a lot less than any 1 ticket and towing expence would be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[madpuppy]

As long as he is`nt stopped by a state trouper.

[Fredog]

I say no way because regardless of ownership, at least a class B + air brake is needed to drive this vehicle.

You're right on general principals, but you might be able to drive it legally if you put a tag on it as an RV. RV guys get away with everything.

Not any more they don't. Just a week or so ago...my neighbor who has a Class A motorhome... (big one) was telling me that alot of RV owners are upset because one heckuva lot of states are now requiring RV owners to have an appropriate license to drive their RV's. He showed me his FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) book that they send every year to their members....and it had a full list of each state in the union and their license requirements....and apparently word is getting around that they are going to start "enforcing" these changes. Many will need a Class B with airbrakes, or they will have to park it. Some will only need Class C because of the lighter weights of some of the RV's

Been trying to find a link....but haven't yet, but here is an example of the stuff that goes on at RV.net regarding this issue....and its quite interesting, and one of the poster's references the FMCA book.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...263/page/2.cfm

I would venture to say....that if one were to purchase a tractor in CA and then drive it....they had best have a CLass B with airbrakes.... I'm pretty sure that the CHP/DOT would have a problem with a Class E licensed driver driving a "semi tractor"....

Registering the vehicle as an RV is fine, but then changing it to a CMV could start off a chain of events...possibly. The issue would be over road use/fuel taxes etc....for all the miles it had moved. I honestly don't know, because we're talking about "California" :shock: 8)

There's 9 pages of "heavy debate" on the subject....so as an aside... I can safely say "we're not the only ones"!! 8)

did you happen to notice in the book if there is a law reguiring rv's to drive in the middle lane and stay at least 10 mph under the speed limit?

[Skywalker]

did you happen to notice in the book if there is a law reguiring rv's to drive in the middle lane and stay at least 10 mph under the speed limit?

Didn't see anything like that....but it sure seems like an awful lot of them are in the habit of doing it anyway.... :evil: