Can you drive tractor with class b

can i pickup and drive a class 8 tractor with a class b license or do i have to take the 5th wheel plate off to do this

jeff

 

what's the GVWR on the tractor? If it's 26,000 or more, you need class A. I don't know if pulling the 5th wheel will change that, since it's the manufacturer's rating that counts

 

Yes you can. Just don't hook a trailer.

 

If you have a class B CDL you can drive it as long as there is no trailer attached to the truck.

 

Guess that shows what I know, doesn't it?

 

Hey I didnt know it till one of the company drivers was stopped an had class B CDLs Ark.DOT told him to unhook trailer and he could drive it back to TX.

 

As others have said,yes you can legally.A class A license is needed when the GCWR exceeds 26,001 lbs for the tractor when it is also pulling a trailer that has a gvwr of 10,000 lbs or more.The tractor by itself is a group B vehicle.A class B license is needed when the GVWR of the truck is over 26,001 lbs and if a trailer is being towed by the group B vehicle, it must be under 10,000 lbs.So,even with a class B you can pull a trailer but it has to be under 10,000 lbs gvwr.Example,dump truck with a small trailer and trailer doesn't exceed 10,000 lbs gvwr.GVWR is what the manufacturers label states for the maximum load the vehicle is capable of hauling plus the unladen weight of the truck or trailer.States laws vary sometime from federal guidelines.My state says you can have a class B license and haul a trailer over 10,000 lbs but the GCWR can't exceed 26,000 lbs.Well,I've rambled on enough.Your legal.

 

Just out of curiosity, does the class B cover air brakes at all? I know some of our straight trucks at the farm still use hydraulics for braking. Does the class B CDL have the air brakes restriction, too? Or can you just take the air brakes test and be good?

 

If you have a Class B you are good for air brakes. You can also get all the other endorsements except doubles and triples I believe.

 

This section tells you about air brakes. If you want to drive a truck or bus with air brakes, or pull a trailer with air brakes, you need to read this section. If you want to pull a trailer with air brakes, you also need to read Section 6, Combination Vehicles. An air brake endorsement is only required if your vehicle needs a CDL.

This is from the Ga Dot Manual..



I still think that you have to have the air brake endorsement.

Alan