Texas Class A Non-Commercial Driver License

[rjshiflet]

I got it!! Finally. After about a year of knowing I needed a Class A Non-Commercial (or Class A Exempt) license, I finally got the two written tests passed and my driving test scheduled and done this week.

I've been driving well over 50 years and pulling trailers for almost 20 years, so experience was on my side.

Now I'm legal with our dually (14,000 GVWR) and 41' Cardinal (just over 16,000 GVWR) - which puts me over the 26,000 pound threshold.

For those concerned - it costs $11.00, two written tests (chapter 14 and chapter 6 of the Texas CDL Driver Handbook) and then schedule a driving test at one of the very limited locations. I had three choices under 100 miles...the nearest was about 75 miles away.

I got counted off for not physically moving my head to look left and right at EVERY intersection along the route. EVERY ONE. The lady told me she was sure I was scanning with my eyes, but she had no way of knowing without me moving my head.

The backing in a straight line was a breeze. We started in a turn lane marked with yellow lines. Starting position was straight...we backed maybe 75 feet straight back, not hitting the lines.

DO NOT jump a curb with your trailer tires. She said that was an instant fail. Wide turns are your friend. Stop behind the white lines at intersections, then inch forward if you need to. Watch your speed - plan your stops and make them smooth.

Otherwise, it was a typical drive through town.

A State Trooper told me if I had been stopped without my Class A, but pulling that trailer I could have been cited for "driving without a license". He said having the incorrect license is the same as having NO license.

[chaps2018]

Congrats!

Funny how you get nervous on the driving test. Haven’t had some one grade my driving skills since I was a teen (other than the DW).

Not to mention I had years of driving experience twice the examiners age. Lol

[spock123]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

I got it!! Finally. After about a year of knowing I needed a Class A Non-Commercial (or Class A Exempt) license, I finally got the two written tests passed and my driving test scheduled and done this week.

I've been driving well over 50 years and pulling trailers for almost 20 years, so experience was on my side.

Now I'm legal with our dually (14,000 GVWR) and 41' Cardinal (just over 16,000 GVWR) - which puts me over the 26,000 pound threshold.

For those concerned - it costs $11.00, two written tests (chapter 14 and chapter 6 of the Texas CDL Driver Handbook) and then schedule a driving test at one of the very limited locations. I had three choices under 100 miles...the nearest was about 75 miles away.

I got counted off for not physically moving my head to look left and right at EVERY intersection along the route. EVERY ONE. The lady told me she was sure I was scanning with my eyes, but she had no way of knowing without me moving my head.

The backing in a straight line was a breeze. We started in a turn lane marked with yellow lines. Starting position was straight...we backed maybe 75 feet straight back, not hitting the lines.

DO NOT jump a curb with your trailer tires. She said that was an instant fail. Wide turns are your friend. Stop behind the white lines at intersections, then inch forward if you need to. Watch your speed - plan your stops and make them smooth.

Otherwise, it was a typical drive through town.

A State Trooper told me if I had been stopped without my Class A, but pulling that trailer I could have been cited for "driving without a license". He said having the incorrect license is the same as having NO license.

Let me ask a dumb question, who is going know you are a little over26,000 pounds. DOT doesn’t weigh campers.

[rjshiflet]

Originally Posted by spock123

Let me ask a dumb question, who is going know you are a little over26,000 pounds. DOT doesn’t weigh campers.

I firmly believe that if I was in an accident (my fault or not) - and the other party hired an attorney, they would dig into my driving record (which is clean for the past quarter-century) and potentially discover that I had a class "C" license, but was hauling with a dually with a 14,000 GVWR...and the next step would be to look and find that my trailer has a GVWR of over 16,000 pounds.


And as stated in the first post...driving with the WRONG license is equal to driving WITHOUT ANY LICENSE.


To each their own. I try my best to not break the law and I guess it was more for my own peace of mind than anything else.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by spock123

Let me ask a dumb question, who is going know you are a little over26,000 pounds. DOT doesn’t weigh campers.

The requirement is based on GVWR, not actual weight of your current configuration.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

And as stated in the first post...driving with the WRONG license is equal to driving WITHOUT ANY LICENSE.

To each their own. I try my best to not break the law and I guess it was more for my own peace of mind than anything else.

Congratulations on getting that license!

You'll be able to sleep better at night knowing that you're not breaking the law.
Plus you've helped others who may not know that need that license and have provided a roadmap for them to follow.

[KEN9XL]

Congratulations!
Now makes me wonder and think what other states require, not that I have anything to worry about.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

I firmly believe that if I was in an accident (my fault or not) - and the other party hired an attorney, they would dig into my driving record (which is clean for the past quarter-century) and potentially discover that I had a class "C" license, but was hauling with a dually with a 14,000 GVWR...and the next step would be to look and find that my trailer has a GVWR of over 16,000 pounds.


And as stated in the first post...driving with the WRONG license is equal to driving WITHOUT ANY LICENSE.


To each their own. I try my best to not break the law and I guess it was more for my own peace of mind than anything else.

Do what makes you happy. I suppose you don’t ever speed or do a California roll at a stop sign.

[chaps2018]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

I firmly believe that if I was in an accident (my fault or not) - and the other party hired an attorney....

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