License Question

You need to have at least a CDL B, to drive a bobtail, along with (of course) your airbrake endorsement. Since you are transporting it yourself, I imagine you wouldn't need a medical card, but I'm not 100% sure about that part.

 

This is a good question.

In my way of thinking, if you're intending to put the truck on the road in interstate commerce, I would say the FMCSA rules apply & you'd need the appropriate license.

However, if this were to be eventually used for private use such as a motor home, I don't think you'd need the different class license.

I believe this is the loophole that keeps people from having to get a different license class to run their own motor coach buses.

 

Class B Cdl With Air Brake Restriction Lifted. Medical Card And A Permit For The Truck And Don't Forget Insurance. You Can Just Get Bobtail Insurance. Youhave Your Federal, State, County, City Regulations. Htey Get Us Coing And Going. What The Plan For The Truck You Just Bought. Do You Already Have Work For It. Just Wondering If You Were Putting Cart Infront Of The Horse. Which Isn't All Abd As Long As You Don't Fall Off The Horse.

 

I have been over an over this question myself, as I recently bought a single axle dump w/ air brakes, and later added a backhoe trailer. All this before getting my Class A cdl.
On the way back from picking up the trailer,( app 100 miles each way) I had a "Little chat" with a MI state trooper. I showed him my cdl manual and pointed out that I was transporting personal goods, (Lunch), in my personal driver vehicle. I had no lettering on the door, and the bed was empty. He asked who I worked for several times, and I told him No One. I said the truck was for personal use, and if I were to open a business with it, I would of course get all necessary permits, licenses dot stickers etc.
I DID have insurance, BTW.
He let me go, and gave me a glossy brochure on MI trucking rules.
I used that loophole designed for RV's, I guess. If 90 year old guys can drive Greyhound bus sized rv's towing suv's, I guess I can drive a single axle dump.
I have contacted the MI trucking industry group and the state police and others, but no one would commit to a straight answer as to whether or not this was legal.
this is a gray area, if you ask me. Maybe I got lucky??

 

I can't speak for all states on this although I believe the rules are set by DOT. Here in Maryland we have both a Commercial and Non-Commercial license available to us. The Non-Commercial is for farm vehicles, fire engines, and personal use such as RVs. Written test is much easier, walk-around and driving test are the same, but Non-Commercial is $60 cheaper than Commercial. If you aren't using the truck for any kind of business and only personal use then I'd say you need a Non-Commerical "A"

 

You would still need at least a Class B with air brakes endorsement for a Class 8 Motorhome with air brakes.

 

That is state specific. In our state, the can drive a motorhome with no additionals as long as not commercial.

 

This seems to vary with each state, In Pa, you do not need a CDL to drive any motor home, unless you are delivering it, or transporting it for money. Fire truck drivers are also not required to have a CDL. However personal use or not, a dump truck with a heavy enough weight is as mentioned above, a CDL is needed and if it has air brakes, that endorsement. I am not to sure about a bus. drive55cat

 

Looks like it all comes down to the individual states.

The Fed's prescribe needing a cdl IF you're going to be driving in either some form of Intrastate or most forms of Interstate commerce.

Since you're not goin to be in either type of commerce, I would suggest the state has jurisdiction in the matter.

It's my understanding that individual states can build on the Fed's rules making them more restricitve but never less restrictive.

I'd be careful on what I did with that equipment around the area. If you get stopped doing a "favor" for someone, the cop could say that you were acting in some type of commerce with that vehicle. You'd have to prove in court that you weren't. Judges tend to think everyone in front of them is a liar.

Hard to guess what anyone in LE is thinking other than it's "Us against them".