Is there anything on your license or paperwork saying what kind of vehicle you tested in or what kind you may tow specifically? (ie - good only for bumper pull or goose or 5th)

I am having a bitch of a time getting someone with a Class A that wants to take a Friday off work and ride down to the DMV with me and sit there. I'm thinking of going in with my class C bumper pull and tell them I want to re-rate it to 11K and show them the receipts for the 5200lbs axles or something. At least I can go test by myself then :mad:

:usa:

There's no noncommercial class A licence. It's just a class A.

Edit:
Are you getting it just to pull a heavier trailer? Or, do you want to pull doubles?

Here's what I found:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt2.htm

Not only is there a non-commercial A, there is a non-commercial B as well as FF restricted A/B.

bumper pull over 10K = A (non CDL if not for hire, CDL if for hire)
5th wheel 10-15K = C with endorsement (CDL if for hire)
over 15K = A (non CDL if not for hire, CDL if for hire)
doubles = CDL only

I know the classes and what I need, non Com A--- back to the original question :)


:usa:

equipment rental yards often have trailers you can rent.

and Ice Cream parlors sometimes have birthday cakes you can buy


WTF does that have to do with the question?


:usa:

to take your test, rent a friggin trailer, you dont need anyone with you.

dont have to be an ass about it.

to take your test, rent a friggin trailer, you dont need anyone with you.

dont have to be an ass about it.

He has a trailer. Dont be an ass and read the whole post. He needs someone with class A to drive him to the DMV because if he goes by himself with a class A trailer, he will get busted for driving without proper license. Ask me how I know this.

Duane

Yes there are endorsement codes that indicate whether or not you are air brake qualified, doubles qualified, tankers, hazmat and most important if you are "TT" (no tractor-trailer), which is what you are asking about I bet.

Also, you need to only test with a vehicle similar to what you will be driving/towing, so I bet if you rent/borrow a 10k gooseneck then you should be fine to test with since the handling and inspection portions are all the same and you test unloaded anyway. That is legal to tow on a Class C. I'd call the office and ask first, but the handbook said 'similar vehicle'

At least this is what I am considering trying when I do my non-comm Class A test.

Yes there are endorsement codes that indicate whether or not you are air brake qualified, doubles qualified, tankers, hazmat and most important if you are "TT" (no tractor-trailer), which is what you are asking about I bet.


nope, not what I'm asking, those are endorsements, not classes, and most of those are commercial only anyway.


What I'm asking is - Is there something on the license or paperwork that says you tested with a tag, so you can only tow a tag OR something that says on the license or paperwork that you tested in a 5th or goose and can oly tow a 5th or goose? Thats it.

I do not need explanations of classes or rentals or anything else or who has a trailer I can borrow. I have 4 trailers that fit every class I need. With a Class A LEARNERS PERMIT you need a licensed driver of the same class over the age of 25 to go down with you to the testing center since you only have a LEARNERS PERMIT. Think back when you first got your drivers license and for the 6 months before you had to have a parent or licensed driver over 25 in the car with you....

Thanks for all the help but I think only the people who actually have a non CDL A are the one that have an answer that might help. (or the ones that grabbed their buddy's license and looked at it really close)

In the mean time I will be calling the test center and ask them if I can test in my Tag because I want to re-rate it for 11K, and if that disqualifies me from driving a class A 5th in the future without further testing...


:usa:

i have been watching this thread,in hopes of someone having an answer for you,and im surprised that no one with a non com class A has piped up-i know there are are several who post regularly that claim to have one.

the various towing laws imposed by different states fascinate me,be sure to post it up when you find the answer.

at any rate,it is the pirate way to answer questions that you do not have. how dare you think you know what info you really need! here at oirate we will tell you what questions you have and then answer them accordingly :flipoff2: :laughing:

everytime i read something about laws imposed by communist california im glad i live in ohio. yeah the weather sucks but we do not offer "non-commercial" liscenses and i can tow any trailer i want up to 65 feet combined length as long as the GCVWR or actual weight(in the event od a non rated home made trailer) does not exceed 26,000 lbs with my plain old drivers liscense!

I can't comment on CA. Here I have no restrictrion the type of hook up.

everytime i read something about laws imposed by communist california im glad i live in ohio. yeah the weather sucks but we do not offer "non-commercial" liscenses and i can tow any trailer i want up to 65 feet combined length as long as the GCVWR or actual weight(in the event od a non rated home made trailer) does not exceed 26,000 lbs with my plain old drivers liscense!

Washington is the same way. You want real hell. I'm a Washington resident with Cali tags on all my vehicles. One of my vehicles is an F350 dually with flat bed. It confuses the hell out of the CHP. Appearantly the flat bed is the determining factor as to if I have to scale it. Thats rational I'm sure

As to th OP no answer. I don't remember seeing anything on my buddies license. I think a call to the DMV is going to be the only definative answer.

I think a call to the DMV is going to be the only definative answer.

It hasn't been for the last 2 years... :mad3::(

As a matter of fact the DMV just gave me flat out WRONG info again yesterday regarding the Registration on my Jeepster. They switched some numbers in the plate around and I couldn't renew online, so I called them. They told me I have to bring the plates and vehicle in and have them both inspected and they will assign new plates. If the renewal notice does not match the plates, both are not valid and neither can be changed. I went to AAA and they told me it's some kind of security thing the DMV is doing and they just switch the first 3 and last 3 digits. I was in and out of there in less time than I was on hold with the SACRAMENTO DMV for the wrong info.. Seriously I drove 5 mile to AAA, waited in line with 4 people in front of me, and got the registration done in less time!

:usa:

any resolution to this? my understanding is that the restrictions I listed in my previous post were the only ones on the Class A (comm or non-comm),so tag vs 5er should not matter.

Of course, given we are talking about the DMV, who really knows....

nothing yet, I'm going to have to drive out to the Ventura DMV and actually talk to the person who is giving the test because everyone on the phone is useless. I'm renewing my permit this week (prob tomorrow) and then I might just make a driving appointment for next week and show up with my carhauler and say it's "similar" just as the book states and argue with them... it won't be a totally wasted drive, there's an Arbys Close by :D

I will update this thread for those in the same situation (I'm sure there are many on the sidelines) and those that want to know for sure what what they can do to get properly licensed.

:usa:

Its very simple to get your non commercial class a in CA.

they do not distinguish between trailer type (ie fifth wheel, pintle, gooseneck or ball hitch) the only criteria is that the trailer needs a GVW of over 10000 lbs any trailer can be used. But here is the catch as I was ticketed for this with my non commercial class A.


CA specifically designated that travel trailers and enclosed trailers can be hauled with a non commercial class A but that open deck and flatbed trailers Are Not included. Hence why I got a ticket for towing a 14k lbs gvw open deck ball hitch trailer with two jeeps on it with my non commercial class A.

the endorsements effect air brakes, tanker, haz mat but there are no endorsements for type of trailer.

PM me or call me if you have any questions on what i had to go through. FYI i didnt bring a alternate driver with me. i jsut drove down. parked the trucka nd trailer there and was asked no questions.

I am glad Texas does not have any of this nonsense.

CA specifically designated that travel trailers and enclosed trailers can be hauled with a non commercial class A but that open deck and flatbed trailers Are Not included.

this is my loophole :D I mounted my travel trailer on my flat bed and called it an RV - but I can't take it to the DMV without the licensed driver or they say they will not let me test.

I was going to go by myself and tell them "he walked over to get lunch" or "had his buddy follow him down here so he could go back to work" something.. but if for some fluke thing I didn't pass, then I'm sure they will want "him" to come back and get the trailer with me.

I'll let everyone know how it goes and what I finger out.


:usa:

CA specifically designated that travel trailers and enclosed trailers can be hauled with a non commercial class A but that open deck and flatbed trailers Are Not included. Hence why I got a ticket for towing a 14k lbs gvw open deck ball hitch trailer with two jeeps on it with my non commercial class A.

that is one of the stupidest,most retarded things i have ever heard in my life. it would be all i could do to NOT kick the asshole giving me that ticket right in the balls.

that is one of the stupidest,most retarded things i have ever heard in my life. it would be all i could do to NOT kick the asshole giving me that ticket right in the balls.

It was set up for blue hairs in RV's and Horse people .


In Texas, we have commercial A, B and non commercial C.

The kicker is that they changed the law on us a few years ago due to Federal Pressure so that now my Class A is governed on a point system and I can not take drivers safety if I get a ticket. I now just pay my lawyer to keep it off my record. :shaking:

that is one of the stupidest,most retarded things i have ever heard in my life. it would be all i could do to NOT kick the asshole giving me that ticket right in the balls.

It did take all my restriant, it was a trainee at the cordelia scales who pulled me over because i looked like a commercial hauler with two rigs on my trailer. by the time he was done with the anal probe and inspection everything was there from road triangles to propper tie downs and extinguishers just no Class A so i had to call someone with a class A to drive over to where i was at 1-1/2 hours away and have him drive the pickup around the corner so i could finish the drive back home. you don't want to know how many cases of beer that stunt cost me.

But don't worry the non-commercial class A is gaining momentum on a nation level as states struggle to address aging drivers or in-experienced drivers towing larger RV's ect wieght wise thatt are in the grey area of DOT trailering law. over 10k lbs trailer weight but under the total combined GVW of 26k lbs. becoming a bigger more pronounced problem that is loosly dfefined and has a patchwork of laws and enforcement that varies from state to state. It is often refered to as the Grey Area becuase of the varied inturpretations ect. I hate to say it but i believe We can expect something to change at the federal level sometime in the next 10 years as baby boomers settle into the retirement era of their lives.

The answer to your question is no. I took my California Class A commercial drivers test using a 3 axle 10 yard dump truck towing a 30 foot Zieman tandem axle equipment trailer.(The lowboy was delivering a loader) I can drive any Class A vehicle with this license with no restrictions. (excluding endorsements) I doubt it would be any different in your situation.

I have to renew my medical next week, but after that I may be able to help you out as your Class A escort/instructor/ride along. Even if you fail your test you can still drive home with another Class A driver, your learners permit is still valid.