small truck with air brakes for CDL test?

fastline

Member
Gunna have to bite the bullet and go get a CDL. I am not taking a semi there for the test. I am curious what vehicles are small and have air brakes that I could consider for the test? I have a few connections but need to know what I am looking for.

My dad refers to the mid size trucks at 2T but not sure what all has them.
 
International 4900-some 4700-Ford F800-GMC6500. but these will only get you a class B, if you are not pulling a trailer. Air brakes are not required for a CDL, But if you drive an air brake truck you will need an Air Brake endorsement.
 
Yes, I want air brake endorsement.

If I understand this right, if I want both class A and B, I need to take the primary vehicle with a gross rating over 26,001 PLUS a trailer at least 10,001?
 
Need a set up with a combined gvw of 26000 for an
a cdl. The trailer has to have a gvw of 10000. Air
brakes are not needed. Only need to pass a written
test for that. Your local dmv had a book that tells you
everything you need to know.
 
If you are going to drive trucks that fall into both A&B class you only need a class A CDL. With the class A you need to take tests on air brakes and combination + general knowledge. You will need to take driving test with a truck -trailer combination with air brakes.Make sure the vehicle you take for test will pass inspection.
 
Here is the plan:

Class A covers class B and C. My class A driving truck will be a pickup with goose neck with qualifying GVWRs. I will then return with an air brake vehicle for a quick inspection of that vehicle for air brake endorsement.

It is two trips but that way I don't need to go down to this TINY and NOT truck friendly joint and be scrutinized by idiots.

More than anything, I need to make sure my truck/trailer are up to safety standard...

TRAILER BRAKES??? Do they make you test that? I am certain the trailer I will borrow does not have them working right now.
 
If you are taking a dually truck with a gooseneck trailer make sure the brakes on trailer are working or you will be making more than a couple of trips.
 
I was gandfathered in on CDL (no driving test). I have been told by young guys getting their CDL that your vehicle has to pass inspection and if it doesn't you can't go any farther and have to come back with one that will pass. This could save you a trip for nothing.
 
How are the trailer brakes checked if you don;t have a separate controller?

It is not my truck and trailer, just trying to get the CDL out of the way. NO, I certainly would not run a load without trailer brakes.
 
When my son took his CDL test he used a one ton pickup with a trailer that was rated and licensed for over 26100 lbs. After he passed the CDL and combination he went back in the late afternoon with the local milk truck driver and his truck and took the Air Brakes. All of the equipment had to pass inspection before he could take the test.

Bob
 
Crap, I totally forgot about the tag!! I suppose that is another thing they will check? I am sure my borrowed ride will not have the proper plate. Guess I could always go get a "temp permit".
 
It might not matter but if that scenario works you will liklely be
given a truck-trailer only restriction. I think it's restriction O. So
no tractor trailer driving but maybe that dosent matter in your
case.
 
Sounds to me like you are going to a lot of trouble to get a CDL not to have a CDL vehicle to drive. Are you planning on borrowing one everytime you have something to haul. I'll bet the other guys insurance will love this. NOBODY can drive any of my vehicles but me and my wife. Period.
 
you better check with dmv, here they made a new rule, when you take a cdl driving test you must bring the type of vehicle you will be driving, they had too many new city workers from around the state showing up im 6 yd dumptrucks with a short tag trailer, then going back and hopping in a belly dump nearly twice the size weight and length the old horse trailer and pickup thing is long gone
 
(quoted from post at 06:31:41 01/23/14) you better check with dmv, here they made a new rule, when you take a cdl driving test you must bring the type of vehicle you will be driving, they had too many new city workers from around the state showing up im 6 yd dumptrucks with a short tag trailer, then going back and hopping in a belly dump nearly twice the size weight and length the old horse trailer and pickup thing is long gone

I was grandfathered into CDL but not class A. I went about five years ago with my SRW one ton and goose neck and got tested for "A". The examiner did a cursory inspection of the vehicles for safety and then checked registrations for weights. That was all he wanted. He then gave me the "bums rush", parking and road test for about fifteen minutes. He must have needed to get off early that day.
 
yes probably due to your being granfathered, i was too, but when i had to upgrade to pull doubles they made me take the whole thing over , i missed 2 on the general written exam, the lady at the local dmv told me i must have really studied, i asked her studied what? , i did read the booklet on doubles just to make sure ,i also passed tankers, but i had been pulling them localy for years i didnt know you had to have a endorsement lol, but when i learned to drive a truck it was sitting next to a veteran driver and i didnt get my own truck until he said i was ready
 
To keep a CDL you have to have medical card and send a copy of it to the DMV in your state ever time it renews or they will drop your CDL back to a regular licsenes.
 
I tested with a over the road tractor and 53' dry van. That's
what I was going to be driving and that was my employers
requirement to test in. I had some good training so passed
with no trouble.

I did see several day cabs with 28' flatbeds. I think that's the
smallest here in Tx for the A CDL.

Like others have said before. Make sure it will pass an
inspection. DOT was recently at the DMV checking paperwork
,log books, and doing full blown level 1 inspections. Creepers
and all. Several were put out of service. 1 guy showed up in
the truck without a CDL.

For what it's worth test in what your going to drive. It's only
fair your properly trained so you don't get hurt or hurt anybody
else.
 
Obviously CDL test requirements are being played with in every state but the laws are clear. A class A IS a class A, period. There is no license in my state for a "truck/trailer". As long as my trailer GVWR is over 10K, and combo is over 26K, it is a class A.

I don;t need med card due to being private use, not for hire.
 
(quoted from post at 06:31:41 01/23/14) you better check with dmv, here they made a new rule, when you take a cdl driving test you must bring the type of vehicle you will be driving, they had too many new city workers from around the state showing up im 6 yd dumptrucks with a short tag trailer, then going back and hopping in a belly dump nearly twice the size weight and length the old horse trailer and pickup thing is long gone

I was grandfathered into CDL but not class A. I went about five years ago with my SRW one ton and goose neck and got tested for "A". The examiner did a cursory inspection of the vehicles for safety and then checked registrations for weights. That was all he wanted. He then gave me the "bums rush", parking and road test for about fifteen minutes. He must have needed to get off early that day.
 
A couple of days ago you didnt know the difference between a
class A or B licence now your a expert? In ny you would have
a class A with a truck/trailer restriction. Restriction O. It's not a
different license it just restricts what you can do with it. I
looked into it five years ago. I had a fl70 freughtliner i drove
with my class b and i had a 22 ton equipment trailer. The plan
was hook them together and go get my class A. Called dmv
and they informed me that i would have a O restriction with my
class A. Truck/trailer only, no tractor trailers. If it was as easy
as finding a pickup and trailer to get a class A people would't
spend thousands of dollars training in the real thing. I've
enjoyed your blunders in the past, buying your case
tractor(trying to figure out why the shuttle shift dosent work
after being told dozens of times it dosent have one), growing
oat hay and pissing and moaning why no one wants to buy it
because they don't know how great it is and best if all, you
haven't mentioned how great of a engineer you are yet. You
get your self in trouble every time when you think you know
everything and dont take any advice and this will be no
different. Do your self a favor an talk to your DMV and get the
real info not people's opinions that might not be right.
 


I was on the phone with the DMV for an hour yesterday and got most of it cleared up. Sorry if I come here with silly questions blessed one.
 
Hey, im just one of those farmers you were picking on when you said farmers should not be allowed to work on equipment because basicly we are all idiots, remember?

Ps- if you are just doing it for your self not for hire here's a
federal guideline, you don't even need a cdl

Question 3: Is a farm vehicle driver required to obtain a CDL?
Guidance: A farm vehicle driver, by definition, is exempt from
CDL requirements (within 150 miles of farm). The Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations - Part 390 define a farm
vehicle driver as a person who drives only a commercial motor
vehicle that is:

(a) Controlled and operated by a farmer as a private motor
carrier of property;

(b) Being used to transport either:

(1) Agricultural products, or

(2) Farm machinery, farm supplies or both, to or from a farm;

(c) Not being used in the operation of a for-hire motor carrier;

(d) Not carrying hazardous materials of a type or quantity that
requires the commercial motor vehicle to be placarded in
accordance with 177.823 of this subtitle; and

(e) Being used within 150 air miles of the farmer's farm.

If all of the requirements (listed above) cannot be met, the
driver ceases to be a farm vehicle driver and CDL
requirements would apply. Example: If operating a vehicle
requiring a CDL and traveling beyond 150 miles from the farm,
he/she would have to possess a CDL.
 
Yeah, I will get pinched in that. Driving over state lines and exceeding the 150 mile radius. Believe me, I am not excited but always my luck to get nailed for stuff someone people do illegally for a lifetime.
 
(quoted from post at 08:15:33 01/23/14) A couple of days ago you didnt know the difference between a
class A or B licence now your a expert? In ny you would have
a class A with a truck/trailer restriction. Restriction O. It's not a
different license it just restricts what you can do with it. I
looked into it five years ago. I had a fl70 freughtliner i drove
with my class b and i had a 22 ton equipment trailer. The plan
was hook them together and go get my class A. Called dmv
and they informed me that i would have a O restriction with my
class A. Truck/trailer only, no tractor trailers. If it was as easy
as finding a pickup and trailer to get a class A people would't
spend thousands of dollars training in the real thing. I've
enjoyed your blunders in the past, buying your case
tractor(trying to figure out why the shuttle shift dosent work
after being told dozens of times it dosent have one), growing
oat hay and pissing and moaning why no one wants to buy it
because they don't know how great it is and best if all, you
haven't mentioned how great of a engineer you are yet. You
get your self in trouble every time when you think you know
everything and dont take any advice and this will be no
different. Do your self a favor an talk to your DMV and get the
real info not people's opinions that might not be right.


It is the same here in NH I got a CDL-A and then on the back under restrictions it says tractor trailer
 
It is not really an air brake endorsement. If you take the test with air brakes nothing extra will be noted on the license about air brakes.

However, if you take the test without air brake, then they will place a RESTRICTION code on the license saying you can't drive air brake vehicles.
 
To get a class A you need to test in a truck that has a GVWR of 26,001 lbs and be pulling a trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs.
You can not go with a large truck no trailer and a 1 ton with a goose neck. They will give you a No Tractor Trailer restriction.
If you want air brakes you need to test in a truck with air brakes.
If you want a passenger endorsement you need to test in a bus.

The only thing they will give you with out the road test in like vehicle is doubles; tank; and haz mat. You only need to pass the written test for these.

You will need to do and pass a pre trip inspection of your vehicle to pass the road test so everything needs to be working.

"I don't need med card due to being private use, not for hire"
I do not know who told you that or where you got it from but that is so wrong it is almost funny.
"For hire" "Not For Hire" has the same rules.
Maybe your understanding of what "Not For Hire" means is your problem.
 
Yeah, I think it's a federal law and all states are the same. I got
mine when I was in high school. Then it was a 10 year renewal
for like 80 bucks. The last time I renewed it went to only 8
years and the price doubled. That's probably a state controlled
thing. The other thing to be careful about is legal blood
alchahol content. Even if you are driving your personal vehicle,
when you get a cdl you are held to a lower bac level all the
time. Luckily I'm not a drinker so that dosent matter to me
much. I don't know if that's a federal law or just a ny thing
either.
 
2.
Excepted Interstate
-
Engaged in interstate commerce and excepted from 49 CFR Part 391 requirements (does not need medical
certificate to drive interstate);
a.) *School bu
s operations (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5). Certify category #2 if you drive for a school district or political
subdivision of the state; or, if you drive for a private school bus company and are not operating interstate for school activ
ities.
b.) Transpo
rtation performed by the Federal government, a State, or any political subdivision of a State. (School District
c.) Occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation or in the furtherance of a commercial
enterprise.
d.) T
he transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons.
e.) The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.
f.) A 9 to 15 passenger van, including the driver, weight less than 26,001 gross ve
hicle weight rating not for compensation.
g.) Apiarian industries (Beekeepers).
h.) Farm custom operations (Custom Harvesters).
i.) Farm vehicle drivers operating straight trucks in interstate commerce that meet the definition of a commercial motor veh
icle
(CMV) as defined in
49 CFR Part 390.5
within 150 miles of their farm are exempt from the medical certification requirements.
j.) Private motor carrier of passengers (nonbusiness).For example, organizations exempt from the Internal Revenue Code that
provide transportation for their members.
k.) Emergency delivery of propane winter heating fuel and pipeline response.
l.) Drivers of migrant workers (must meet minimum standards only; 49 CFR 398.3).


These are the Excepted rules for interstate. Now, I am not yet sure if I want to try and play in that camp of private use while operating on a farm tag which technically is commerce I suppose.

I did chat with the DMV again today and confirmed that they could care less what I take the test with, as long as it qualifies as class A. The tag also does not matter, they go strictly off of mfgr ratings. I mentioned that technically, as long as I am not loaded, I am perfectly legal.

Sounds like some are much more picky than others. We do not have a type "O" restriction here.

Regarding the BAC requirements, it was my understanding that the 1/2 BAC rule or .04% BAC only applies in a "commercial vehicle". Not that I plan to tank up but I would be the lucky guy to get nailed on a dirt road on a golf cart with a beer in my hand...
 
What do you plan on hauling that you need a CDL in the first place?

Hauling hay or tractors is "in the furtherance of a commercial
enterprise" thus needing a medical card.
 
In Colorado there are indepent testers. For about $500 you get a single axle international S1900 with air brakes and an automatic tranny, 30 foot trailer and a pretest class before the test. Sure there are simaliar services in your area to.
 
So now that you basically get a class A license without demonstrating the necessary skill for driving a class A vehicle, you can go out on the road in a semi and kill somebody??? TOBAL.
 
I'm not sure about other states, but when I renewed my class a
last aug they would not renew it until I showed a current
medical card. I told them I wasn't even driving for anyone at
the time but they said "no card, no CDL" period.
BTW this is in MO. Brian
 

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