Airbrake Endorsement. Is it mandatory with Class A

class a is combination vehicles class b is pretty much straight trucks and buses

 

I have a CDL A no air brakes for a 6500 topkick with juice brakes and a 14k trailer. If your combined GVW is over 26k it is required at least in NY.

 

As per the VA DMV website for CDLs, this is pretty standard across most states that I have seen. Link here.

CDL Endorsements

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH]Endorsement[/TH]
[TH]Description[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]H[/TD]
[TD]Permits you to drive a vehicle that transports hazardous materials. This endorsement cannot be transferred from another state or foreign country. You must successfully complete the hazardous materials knowledge exam and background check.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]N[/TD]
[TD]Permits you to drive a tank vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]P[/TD]
[TD]Perrmits you to drive a passenger-carrying vehicle. You must take the road test in the class vehicle you wish to operate.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S *[/TD]
[TD]Permits you to drive a school bus.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]T[/TD]
[TD]Permits you to drive a vehicle towing a double or triple trailer.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]Permits you to drive a tank vehicle AND a vehicle that transports hazardous materials[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


CDL Restrictions

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH]Restriction[/TH]
[TH]Description[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]B or Y *[/TD]
[TD]You must wear corrective lenses when operating a commercial motor vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]Corrective lenses required[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E[/TD]
[TD]You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle with a manual transmission[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]J[/TD]
[TD]You may only operate a school/activity bus. You may not operate any other type of commercial motor vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]K[/TD]
[TD]You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle outside of Virginia.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]K[/TD]
[TD]Prior to July 1, 2014 - You may not operate a vehicle with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes. If you plan to operate a vehicle with either of these types of air brakes, you must take the air brakes knowledge test. You also must take the road test in a vehicle equipped with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]You may not operate a vehicle with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes. If you plan to operate a vehicle with either of these types of air brakes, you must take the air brakes knowledge test. You must also take the road test in a vehicle equipped with Full Air or Air over Hydraulic brakes.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]L[/TD]
[TD]Prior to July 1, 2014 - You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle outside of Virginia.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]M[/TD]
[TD]Operation of a passenger bus restricted to a Class B or Class C passenger vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]N[/TD]
[TD]Operation of a passenger bus restricted to a Class C passenger vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]O[/TD]
[TD]You may not operate a commercial motor vehicle with a tractor-trailer (any combination of vehicles with a gross weight of 26,001 lbs or more if the vehicle(s) being towed have gross weight of more than 10,000 lbs)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Q[/TD]
[TD]Prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle to transport children to or from activities sponsored by a school or by a child day care facility licensed, regulated, or approved by the Virginia Department of Social Services.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V[/TD]
[TD]You must have your medical variance documentation when operating a commercial motor vehicle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]X[/TD]
[TD]Prior to July 1, 2013 – Corrective lenses required[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Z[/TD]
[TD]You may not operate a vehicle with Full Air brakes. If you plan to take the air brakes knowledge test and take the road test in a vehicle equipped with Air over Hydraulic brakes then you cannot operate a vehicle equipped with Full Air brakes.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Notice the Z and L restrictions (which used to be K before July 1 2014) which restricts you from operating a CMV equipped with airbrakes. Also note E and O which restrict you from operating a vehicle with a manual transmission or a combination vehicle (respectively.) You get these restrictions by either failing to take the written test or failing the written test (in the case of airbrakes) or by testing in a vehicle that isn't a combination vehicle, doesn't have air brakes, or is an automatic.

Also note that you have to test to RECEIVE an edorsement. But restrictions are automatically placed on your license unless you test to REMOVE them.

 

little confused by the above statement.

test to receive endorsements, yes. but test to remove. no. i can drop my M, T, H, or N just by applying for a new license, but i get the same expiration date. unless the expiration date has arrived already.

my license got disqualified because of the hazmat BS. i had to buy new again, (reinstate), without the haz endorsement. i'm driving with paper permit at the moment, till i get my letter, pay the haz endorsement fee before i can get a hard copy again. basically, my hard copy is on hold. or i can just say screw the haz and give me plastic with T and N and M only.

 

That's because I said test to remove RESTRICTIONS, not ENDORSEMENTS.