Hi,
I am thinking about getting into trucking. i am 20 and i plan to haul out of the state so i have another year before i am able to do that. so i am thinking about getting a smaller truck and hauling smaller loads on my class C licence to get some experence and to get to know some people. the problem is the DMV wording makes sence and then dosnt make sence on what the max is that you can drive on a Class C licence

from what i have found is that a Class C you can drive anything with less that a 26,001 GVWR i got that part the trailer is where it comes comfussing it says with a trailer load less than 10,000 lbs. dose that mean a trailer with less then 10,000lbs GVWR or can the trialer have a 18,000 GVWR but if it is only loaded with 9,000 lbs of weight it is ok

part 2 when it says 26,001 GVWR dose that include just the truck or both the truck and the trailer added together.

lastly if i remember correctly when i went though drivers ED when i got my class C licence they touched on Class B and Class A licences and i remember them talking about air brakes and that you have to have at least a Class B inorder to drive a truck/bus with air brakes. did i remember correctly?? also dose that include air suspension if the truck dosnt have air brakes but dose have air suspension dose that require a higher class licence

Thanks in Advance
Mike

Under 26K used in a commercial application must follow all regs except the one for having a CDL. UNLESS you are hauling a placarded amount of hazmat.
Door lettering, log book, DOT medical, USDOT number, MC number, IFTA, liability and cargo insurance. Unless you get a good rate it aint worth it.

Here is another kicker, when you turn 21 that experience is not going to mean a single thing in relation to your semi truck requirements. Even a pickup and 53' trailer is not going to mean a thing in the eyes of insurance companies when it comes to semi experience.

Now if you can find the work and get paid enough you might want to get into it and if it works out stay in it. But being restricted to only 26K truck and trailer combined on a class C is not going to allow a lot of room for cargo.
One other thing not in your favor is CA is not very friendly for some of this sort of thing.

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I would suggest taking the test for you class A as soon as possible. You have 6 months from the time of taking the written test to get a Tractor trailer to use for the practical test. And then once you get that you can get work say in the Dump trucking industry...Either driving a Tri Axle, or maybe a Tractor, with a Dump trailer until you get that magic 21st birthday.

But over all I agree with Brickman on this, Driving a Class C vehicle won't help you a bit....


j-mac

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"IT HAS been seen that the dangers incident to a representative democracy are of two kinds: danger of a low grade of intelligence in the representative body, and in the popular opinion which controls it; and danger of class legislation on the part of the numerical majority, these being all composed of the same class."

John Stuart Mill

That depends on the state but here you can renew your CDL permit twice before needing to retake the written test. I think the permit is good for one yr or two yrs. Its been too long ago that I needed to know that info.

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Oh yeah, good point of the state to state thing....I only knew what was here in Maryland, since I just upgraded from a Class B, to an A a year ago....Should have gotten it from the start. But I thought Dump Trucking would be a good start for him because some of the companies will keep him local, and even train him on the equipment....


j-mac

__________________
"IT HAS been seen that the dangers incident to a representative democracy are of two kinds: danger of a low grade of intelligence in the representative body, and in the popular opinion which controls it; and danger of class legislation on the part of the numerical majority, these being all composed of the same class."

John Stuart Mill

quit poopin around with the 4 wheel license. brickman is right. you'lle get used to it in short order. I've been driving class A for 7 months now hauling building materials in orange, la, san berdoo, ventura and sd counties. the belly dump is the way to go. you never have to get out and strap anything, except if your load sticks up above the boards on top. They rake them down. I schooled independently in LA to get my A for $800. toldem I had an A a few years ago, so they let me buy as I went, and I still bought too many hours to pass, but It's all good. they had me train in a IH city tractor/32 drybox trailer. It was easy.
In california your permit is valid for 1 year. I got test copies from my school, studied for 4 hours and passed the written, haz included.
I deliver lumber right now from huntington beach. flat top with straps. I rollem off also. youlle get more contact #s off of trucks to call than anywhere else for local jobs. the state of the equipment usually is the first motivator. do ya like getting up early?

where did youg et you class A for $800 in LA the cheapest i have found is $3000??

thanks mike

The Class A permit is valid for 1 year in the state of CA. Or at least that is what it was when I got mine in '01. BUT for some strange reason, my Class A permits stil showed on my class C until last summer? I think the State lost track of time!

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ok guys i went aand i reread some of the posts and ther is more info for you guys.... i understand what you guys are saying about driving a 4 wheeler would not give any exp to a company hiring. my plan is to indapendently haul cars and horses so the plan was to get to know some brokers that will send me work and to get my name out there in the car hauling and horse hauling world so when i step up to 18 wheels i already have some contacts in that indrustry..... that was kinda the though what do you guys think

thanks mike

also dose anyone know of some good CDL training school in socal/bakersfeild

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