Switching from class b to class a

It's my belief, and I could be wrong, that for class A, you have to test in a class A vehicle.

 

No. There is usually no such beast as a 80000 pound 18 wheeler with liquid brakes. (They would simply burn at the temperatures we brake at...) You will lose your airbrake with a test vehicle without one.

You need a full blooded 18 wheeler with airbrakes and so on to test properly. Make sure it's a manual so you don't get restricted with a Auto only.

 

Yes, the current CDL testing procedures for upgrade only require a knowledge test and pre-trip, which you already took when you got your B, no more road test in an air brake vehicle. Now, you said truck-trailer, did you mean something with a ball or pintle hitch? Like dump truck and equipment trailer? If so, you will get restricted A that limits you to truck-trailer combinations only, no full tractor trailers (5th wheel hitch).

@x1Heavy A class A doesn't have to be 80,000 pounds. Most of those pickup trucks with wedge trailers you see coming into Adesa are class A rigs and are usually hydraulic brake trucks with electric brake trailers. Same with some older tag behind trailers used to move construction equipment puled by dump trucks, many have simple electric brakes.

 

Ok Thank you very much for a little Adesa School. I generally left those People alone because they load and unload outside of my gate. And as crew boss my turf is with the big trucks in one section near the barn. Ive heard some good things about electric (Or dare I say magnetic induction) braking.

Class A means combination vehicle. A dumptruck with airbrake beaver trailer and a paver with backhoe on a pintle hook would be a restricted class A at best.

A full tractor trailer with a 5th wheel is a combination vehicle, so are road trains and so on etc into heavy hauls.

I just use 40 ton as a standard weight. No particular other reasons.

I learned something tonight. Thank you again.

 

What?

Some of that's wrong.

You need to take a combination "written" test and a full road test in a like vehicle that you will use.

If you are going to haul construction stuff, then you get the restrictions indicating so. If you are going to drive a tractor and trailer, then you test in one of them.

BUT the OP wants to keep the air brake qualification so he has to do the test with air brakes, not with any other vehicle.

If he does get an A without air brakes, he loses that qualification and has a "L" restriction put on his license.

If he takes the test in a truck without a fifth wheel, then it is an "O" restriction he gets on his license.

AND if he takes the road test in a vehicle with air over hydraulics, then it is a "Z" restriction.

 

Plus in most states (all?) a gooseneck is not a 5th wheel. Using a gooseneck for the road test would have the same restriction.

 

In Ohio take the test for combination vehicles, wait 2 weeks, schedule drivers test, rent or borrow truck and take a CDL A driver with you....done.

 

I know several people that do this testing. I have spoken to several of them about this very question. None of them will do a partial road test. They demand the applicants show they know how to pretrip and how to test brakes. Otherwise it is a failure.

 

Careful Sir. I respect your opinions and that also of Ridgeline's

The tests Maryland gave me in my time for the Class A was very comprehensive.

Arkansas was no less very comprehensive, but thanks to the Grandfathering I did not require a actual 18 wheeler.