Escort to DMV needed for a "Non Commercial License" (Class A)

[DesertThumper]

Hi Fellow Heartland Owners!


I've read so much information on this site about the "Non Commercial Class A License". The good part is I have my permit now due to the influence of a few great members here at Heartland informing the necessary licensing needed. Thank you for that.

I have three other steps to complete for DMV not including a licensed Class A or Non Commercial person to escort me for an hour or two. One of the Heartland members was kind enough to offer some help with escorting but the distance is a little far between him and I.

I am trying to find out if anyone near the Santa Clarita area could help me out with escorting me to DMV (Lancaster) CDL Test Office this coming Oct 3, 2013 @ 1PM.

I am struggling to find some assistance. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Send me a PM please. Thanks.

 

[frumbawa]

Hi Al,

Just wondering if you called the Lancaster test site to confirm if you actually need an escort? Good to hear it straight from the horses mouth.

Frank

 

[DesertThumper]

Hi Frank,

The answer is yes. I called Sacramento and talked to two departments. One being commercial and second is the policy department. Both related and in charge of all class A licensing. No luck.

 

[123camper]

Escort to DMV needed for a "Non Commercial License" (Class A)

Did you have to get a DOT physical?

 

[DesertThumper]

Re: Escort to DMV needed for a "Non Commercial License" (Class A)

Did you have to get a DOT physical?

No. That pertains to a Class A Commercial license only.

 

[Grey Ghost]

Ok, so I might not be the brightest bulb in the box, but still learning something new everyday. Please tell me why you would need a Non-Commerical Class A License in the first place?

 

[jayc]

California.

 

[DesertThumper]

Hi Larry. As far as Ca and I'm sure other states apply as well, that DMV had had a license law in place with people like us towing a non commercial tow vehicle to get properly licensed. It is due to weight, size and safety requirements when towing. Since my new trailer gvwr is 18, 000 lbs, my license class needs to be upgraded to a non commercial class a. If your trailer weighs more than 15, 000 lbs, it falls under non commercial. A trailer weight from 10, 000 to 14, 999 lbs will require just the endorsement. This includes a 40 ft or smaller motorhome. I've heard from many others that they do not make this a priority with checking our class on the highway. But if you get into a fender bender, and you don't have the proper class in place, then heavier consequences will arise for the r-ver involved.

When I called DMV a handful of times the last week which resulted with a total of 3 hours on the phone, my findings are that they (DMV) are not very efficient with the classification they require us to do to be compliant. I've asked Sacramento why don't they send notifications with our vehicle or license renewals in the mail? You know what she told me, because the database systems are separate and cannot provide that service to us. Wow. I asked a lot of questions not just for me but for everyone here.

Anyways, it's a good way to float under the radar by being compliant so i don't have to worry about legal issues. It also showed me ways to better enhance my driving skills by 200%. The alley dock I use to do and was struggling with for years has now improved. It is all worth the time.

You may want to check with DMV where you live and hopefully others can provide feedback for you. What I also did larry was to search relevant threads up on the right top of the site. There are quite a bunch of info you can read up on.

I hope this helps. Need anything else, let us heartland members know.

Al

 

[Eddhuy]

CA Non-Commercial Class A:

• Travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR, not used for hire.
• 5th-wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs., not used for hire.

CA 5th Wheel Endosement:
a fifth-wheel recreational trailer over 10,000 lbs., but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, which is not used for hire.

As DesertThumper confirmed, better not show up for the driving test w/o someone properly licensed to tow your FW.

 

[DesertThumper]

I only became knowledgeable about the Class A NC because of the members here at Heartland. The few I would like to give a big thank you to is "Alex, Frank & Jeff" for assisting me with the licensing.

Thanks again and for all the members too.

 

[lakings10]

Im a Deputy for LA County and we don't enforce the Class A thing if you're towing a RV. If we pull you over, its because we want to check out your rig lol. I think you're wasting your time to be honest.

 

[TandT]

California.

Jay,
Yes, that pretty much says it all. Trace

 

[alex00]

Im a Deputy for LA County and we don't enforce the Class A thing if you're towing a RV. If we pull you over, its because we want to check out your rig lol. I think you're wasting your time to be honest.

I don't think it's the deputies anyone needs to worry about. Show me a deputy that knows the difference between 12500(d) and 12951 and I'll show you a deputy that works a contract city LOL.

 

[DesertThumper]

I don't think it's the deputies anyone needs to worry about. Show me a deputy that knows the difference between 12500(d) and 12951 and I'll show you a deputy that works a contract city LOL.

Hey Alex, I know the answer, but what if a CHP or State Highway Patrol would say the same thing?

 

[danemayer]

There's been plenty of past discussion on licensing and it's safe to say that no one has reported the licensing laws being enforced. Whether there might be consequences following an accident is entirely another question. Lots of hungry lawyers are out there.

25 years ago I was carrying $100,000/300,000/100,000 liability insurance. After a collision between a motorcyclist and my car, my insurance company sent me a letter that the other party was suing for $100,000 and that actual expenses could exceed $100,000. Any excess would be my responsibility to pay. They said their attorney's would represent the company, and my interests, up to $100,000 and recommended I hire my own attorney to represent my interests over $100,000. They settled for $50,000, so it all worked out.

Today, if a person without medical insurance gets hospitalized for even a few days, it's really easy to run up $100,000 in medical bills. Might be smart to review your insurance coverage.

And if you're driving with improper license, even though no one enforces the law, maybe you should consider very high coverage or an umbrella policy. If you're sued for "depraved indifference" because you're improperly licensed, liability caps could get lifted and you could help buy a lawyer a new RV.

 

[alex00]

Enforcement may be limited in some areas, or even non-existent. However, what one LEO may or may not enforce does not apply state or even department wide. The reality is that most LEOs are not looking to stop RVers, and most RVers will never run into the commercial officers or the officers that know/care about licensing. Does that mean it won't happen? As an adult, I've never been in an at fault accident, or had my car broken into. Does that mean I should cancel my insurance? A quick Google search for "CHP toy hauler" shows plenty of accounts of bad things happening to improperly licensed RVers.

The law may be silly, rarely enforced, and unheard of to most people. That doesn't mean the consequences for getting stopped are any less real. Getting stopped with the improper license will minimally result in dropping the trailer and looking for a licensed driver to tow it away, and possibly a misdemeanor citation while watching a big-rig-tow take your rig away from you. What individuals choose to do once they know the law is on them. I prefer the less stressful approach of being licensed to drive the combination. Stepping off my soapbox now.

 

[frumbawa]

Enforcement may be limited in some areas, or even non-existent. However, what one LEO may or may not enforce does not apply state or even department wide. The reality is that most LEOs are not looking to stop RVers, and most RVers will never run into the commercial officers or the officers that know/care about licensing. Does that mean it won't happen? As an adult, I've never been in an at fault accident, or had my car broken into. Does that mean I should cancel my insurance? A quick Google search for "CHP toy hauler" shows plenty of accounts of bad things happening to improperly licensed RVers.

The law may be silly, rarely enforced, and unheard of to most people. That doesn't mean the consequences for getting stopped are any less real. Getting stopped with the improper license will minimally result in dropping the trailer and looking for a licensed driver to tow it away, and possibly a misdemeanor citation while watching a big-rig-tow take your rig away from you. What individuals choose to do once they know the law is on them. I prefer the less stressful approach of being licensed to drive the combination. Stepping off my soapbox now.

Nicely said Alex. Couldn't agree more.

Frank

 

[wdk450]

Has anyone noticed that the original poster has yet to get his driver to get to the test legally??? Catch 22.

 

[Grey Ghost]

Hey Al, thanks for the info. My little GreyStone only comes in at 9300 lbs dry, so I guess I need not worry about it for now anyhow. Again thanks for the info, can never learn to much or so I'm told. As long as I learn something new once in a while, that will do for me.

 

[scottyb]

I drove my rig for close to 2K miles before I knew that I needed a Class A Operators in Texas. No mention from the dealer and it took some investigation on a couple RV forums to discover the truth. There are still people on here and other sites that will argue this point. The next obstacle was convincing the DMV of what I was trying to accomplish and for what segments of the test to prepare. The Austin HQ had a 3 week wait so I called the Marble Falls office, (20 min away and no city driving) and they said to come in the next morning as a walk-in. I drove myself to the test and parked on a side street since the parking area was too small. Turned out the tester was not even a law enforcement officer, just a licensing agent for the DPS. He never questioned how I got there. I will never go to the Austin DMV again, for anything.