Changes to Texas Class A/B Exempt Dirver's License Drocedures

[Second Chance]

For those of you contemplating going full-time (or already are) and establishing domicile in Texas, there have been some changes to the Class A/B Non-Commercial Exempt driver's license procedures. This applies only to those with rigs that exceed the weight criteria for a regular Class C driver's license (see link below):

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/dlClasses.htm

Previously, one had to go to a CDL (commercial driver's license) testing location to take the skills (driving) test. While "streamlining" (read: making things more complicated for the consumer) and bringing their requirements and processes into alignment with the Department of Transportation, Texas DPS has reduced the number of these CDL testing sites to 25 statewide - and it's a BIG state! The good news is, they have separated the exempt license skills testing from the CDL sites and there are now 114 sites that can/will do the skill test for the exempt licenses we RVers need (see link below):

https://www.dps.texas.gov/administration/driver_licensing_control/rolodex/cdlExemptVehTestSites.htm

Now for the confusing part: one can take the written test on a walk-in basis, but the skills test must be scheduled on-line. The only problem is that, when you click on one of the locations to schedule a test, the only options are "Regular Car / Pickup Truck" or "Commercial Vehicle." (Some locations only offer the "Regular Car / Pickup Truck.") What is found nowhere on the DPS web site is the fact that you need to schedule a driving test for a "Regular Car / Pickup Truck." If you take the written test before scheduling the driving test, the driving test location will have paperwork for you when you walk in and will know that you are there for the Class A or Class B skills test (you will need to take this test in your rig).

This took me two months and an in-person visit to a Texas DPS driver's license office to discover - and then only because a very helpful lady told me! All phone numbers for local offices are now shunted to Austin and all emails go to Austin - where you will receive canned responses that don't answer your questions.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

PS - the material covered on the written exam is from Section 14, "Special Requirements," of the Texas CDL handbook which can be found on-line and downloaded.

Rob

 

[shrode]

Thanks for the update. I need to get mine.

 

[donniejoel]

I'm a bit confused. I always thought if you were under the 26.001 lbs a regular class c license was all you needed. If i read this correctly it says if the trailer you are towing is over 10.000 lbs you need a class A. Is this correct?

 

[Second Chance]

I'm a bit confused. I always thought if you were under the 26.001 lbs a regular class c license was all you needed. If i read this correctly it says if the trailer you are towing is over 10.000 lbs you need a class A. Is this correct?

Only if your tow vehicle AND trailer add up to more than 26,000 lbs. This is the category we were in (trailer over 10K but truck and trailer just under 26,000) before we traded up to the DRW 1 ton, which put us over the criteria on all counts.

Rob

 

[el Rojo]

I'm a bit confused. I always thought if you were under the 26.001 lbs a regular class c license was all you needed. If i read this correctly it says if the trailer you are towing is over 10.000 lbs you need a class A. Is this correct?

This is correct. Trailer over 10,000 lbs or total over 26001 lbs you need a class A if pulling a trailer, over 26001 lbs (motorhome) class B.

****PSA We have friends who drive a Winnebago diesel pusher. That got stopped on I-30 in Weatherford TX by DPS just for a license check...yep he got a ticket.

 

[el Rojo]

I'm a bit confused. I always thought if you were under the 26.001 lbs a regular class c license was all you needed. If i read this correctly it says if the trailer you are towing is over 10.000 lbs you need a class A. Is this correct?

This is correct. Trailer over 10,000 lbs or total over 26001 lbs you need a class A if pulling a trailer, over 26001 lbs (motorhome) class B.

****PSA We have friends who drive a Winnebago diesel pusher. That got stopped on I-30 in Weatherford TX by DPS just for a license check...yep he got a ticket.

 

[Second Chance]

This is correct. Trailer over 10,000 lbs or total over 26001 lbs you need a class A if pulling a trailer, over 26001 lbs (motorhome) class B.

****PSA We have friends who drive a Winnebago diesel pusher. That got stopped on I-30 in Weatherford TX by DPS just for a license check...yep he got a ticket.

I read it differently, Rojo - and the experts at Escapees do, too. From the TX DPS web site:

"A combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds."

The combination has to add up to 26,001 lbs. AND the trailer has to be over 10K. In our previous situation, the trailer was 13,990, but the truck was 10K. That put us at 23,990 total and I did not have to have the Class A license. It was trading up to a 1-ton DRW at 13,300 GVRW that put us over the 26,000 combined and kicked us into the Class A category.

Rob

 

[johndeerefarmer]

I read it differently, Rojo - and the experts at Escapees do, too. From the TX DPS web site:

"A combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds."

The combination has to ad up to 26,001 lbs. AND the trailer has to be over 10K. In our previous situation, the trailer was 13,990, but the truck was 10K. That put us at 23,990 total and I did not have to have the Class A license. It was trading up to a 1-ton DRW at 13,300 GVRW that put us over the 26,000 combined and kicked us into the Class A category.

Rob

You are correct -which is why my Super Duty was ordered with a derated 10k GVWR. This allowed me to tow up to a 16000 lb trailer and not require a different license.

 

[donniejoel]

I'm glad to know we are legal but I would be willing to bet most of those DRW trucks pulling those 40 + foot toy haulers are not. I doubt most even know they need a Class A license.

 

[JCZhome]

I read on the Escapees forum that some of those that had their domicile in Tex. are now switching to South Dakota, due to the newer annual vehicle inspection and the license requirement.

For those that are getting ready to go full time and haven't done the research, you only have to spend two nights in a motel or RV park with a receipt in your name, to get your domain transferred to South Dakota. They even have one of those mail forwarding services just outside of Rapid City that has an RV park outside of their office, to help you get everything all set up.

In other research a couple of years ago (planning for this full time life), taking everything into consideration such as vehicle registration, vehicle insurance, health insurance, ease of transfering your domain, etc. that SD is the most affordable state to do all of this. That article was a couple of years ago so not sure if another comparison has been done since then.

 

[RamGunner]

From what I have read, about the only drawback for SD is for those with healthcare concerns and getting coverage that's good outside of SD. Is that right?

 

[JCZhome]

From what I have read, about the only drawback for SD is for those with healthcare concerns and getting coverage that's good outside of SD. Is that right?

I've been told by full timers that use South Dakota as a domain that you'll need plan F if you want to have Medicare access all over the U.S. They are both on Medicare and said it hasn't been a problem for them.

 

[gbkims]

Second Chance,
Thanks for bringing this up, I wouldn't have known and sooner or later gotten bitten by not having right license.
I'd read it once and either didn't think it applied or forgot in the meantime.

Now I'll do some practicing and find an office where I can find some parking space or street space to park for the skills test.
Hopefully Houston's rally race drivers won't make the drive test too hard, otherwise I'll be looking for a smaller town outside of Houston area.

I don't see Livingston listed on the Non-CDL list anymore, I know it was very popular for the skills test.
https://www.dps.texas.gov/administration/driver_licensing_control/rolodex/cdlExemptVehTestSites.htm

Gene

 

[MitterMoe]

all the different rules everywhere, sounds like it would just be easier jump through the hoops to get my A CDL reinstated...

 

[JCZhome]

In regards to license requirements by state, I ran across this link on another forum. At first, I thought it was just for HDT's (Heavy Duty Trucks) however, if you click this link and scroll down to the list of states you see that it's for RVs of all types including 5th wheels.

Please be sure to confirm what's current for your location.....I hope this helps.....

http://www.hhrvresource.com/node/44

 

[shrode]

For those of you contemplating going full-time (or already are) and establishing domicile in Texas, there have been some changes to the Class A/B Non-Commercial Exempt driver's license procedures. This applies only to those with rigs that exceed the weight criteria for a regular Class C driver's license (see link below):

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/dlClasses.htm

Previously, one had to go to a CDL (commercial driver's license) testing location to take the skills (driving) test. While "streamlining" (read: making things more complicated for the consumer) and bringing their requirements and processes into alignment with the Department of Transportation, Texas DPS has reduced the number of these CDL testing sites to 25 statewide - and it's a BIG state! The good news is, they have separated the exempt license skills testing from the CDL sites and there are now 114 sites that can/will do the skill test for the exempt licenses we RVers need (see link below):

https://www.dps.texas.gov/administration/driver_licensing_control/rolodex/cdlExemptVehTestSites.htm

Now for the confusing part: one can take the written test on a walk-in basis, but the skills test must be scheduled on-line. The only problem is that, when you click on one of the locations to schedule a test, the only options are "Regular Car / Pickup Truck" or "Commercial Vehicle." (Some locations only offer the "Regular Car / Pickup Truck.") What is found nowhere on the DPS web site is the fact that you need to schedule a driving test for a "Regular Car / Pickup Truck." If you take the written test before scheduling the driving test, the driving test location will have paperwork for you when you walk in and will know that you are there for the Class A or Class B skills test (you will need to take this test in your rig).

This took me two months and an in-person visit to a Texas DPS driver's license office to discover - and then only because a very helpful lady told me! All phone numbers for local offices are now shunted to Austin and all emails go to Austin - where you will receive canned responses that don't answer your questions.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

PS - the material covered on the written exam is from Section 14, "Special Requirements," of the Texas CDL handbook which can be found on-line and downloaded.

Rob

What all did you have to do during the skills test and where did you take it?

 

[Second Chance]

What all did you have to do during the skills test and where did you take it?

I took the driving test at the northeast El Paso office. For the skills test, I had to back the trailer about 100' between a curb and a line (piece of cake). The examiner stayed in the back and told me when to stop (although I have a rear-view camera, they don't want those used during the test). He then got in and we went driving around the east side of El Paso: four lanes with traffic and stop lights, entering from side streets, through neighborhoods with narrower streets, etc. Be sure to keep both hands on the wheel at all times (I had a couple of points knocked of for this... old habits). They watch to make sure you are using your mirrors to stay centered in your lane and to clear curbs, etc., when making right turns. They don't want you speeding nor do they want you driving slow enough to hinder traffic. Having not taken a driving test in 50 years, it wasn't bad at all.

Rob

 

[shrode]

I took the driving test at the northeast El Paso office. For the skills test, I had to back the trailer about 100' between a curb and a line (piece of cake). The examiner stayed in the back and told me when to stop (although I have a rear-view camera, they don't want those used during the test). He then got in and we went driving around the east side of El Paso: four lanes with traffic and stop lights, entering from side streets, through neighborhoods with narrower streets, etc. Be sure to keep both hands on the wheel at all times (I had a couple of points knocked of for this... old habits). They watch to make sure you are using your mirrors to stay centered in your lane and to clear curbs, etc., when making right turns. They don't want you speeding nor do they want you driving slow enough to hinder traffic. Having not taken a driving test in 50 years, it wasn't bad at all.

Rob

That doesn't sound too bad, although keeping both hands on the wheel might be a challenge. I'll have to focus....

 

[Ra&Ta350]

I read it differently, Rojo - and the experts at Escapees do, too. From the TX DPS web site:

"A combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds."

The combination has to add up to 26,001 lbs. AND the trailer has to be over 10K. In our previous situation, the trailer was 13,990, but the truck was 10K. That put us at 23,990 total and I did not have to have the Class A license. It was trading up to a 1-ton DRW at 13,300 GVRW that put us over the 26,000 combined and kicked us into the Class A category.

Rob

. Rob, as a Texas attorney and former prosecutor I believe you are incorrect. The combination does not have to actually exceed 26,001 lbs with a >10k lbs trailer, it merely needs to potentially exceed the 26k lbs limit, e.g. a Ram 2500 with GCVWR of 26k lbs and an M350 actually weigh <26K lbs but since both the GCVWR of the tow vehicle and the trailer wt exceed the thresholds a class A endorsement is required.

 

[Second Chance]

. Rob, as a Texas attorney and former prosecutor I believe you are incorrect. The combination does not have to actually exceed 26,001 lbs with a >10k lbs trailer, it merely needs to potentially exceed the 26k lbs limit, e.g. a Ram 2500 with GCVWR of 26k lbs and an M350 actually weigh <26K lbs but since both the GCVWR of the tow vehicle and the trailer wt exceed the thresholds a class A endorsement is required.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my writing. I should have stated "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating" - which is what I was talking about. It seems we agree...

Rob