Require CDL On ALL Vehicles Above 26,001 CVW?

[Evan A. Beck]

Just wondering what you all think... Should you be required to have a CDL if you are going to be driving a vehicle rated at or above 26,001 GVW?



Reason I ask is because I see a LOT of older people driving BIG motorhomes who have no business doing so...

 

[JMichelson]

No

No. A CDL will not help solve the problem if there is one of older people driving vehicles they shouldn’t be driving. There are a lot of truck and trailer combinations that don’t weigh anywhere near 26001 lbs. and are still a challenge to drive. I don’t think accident statistics show that unqualified drivers driving big motor homes are a high risk group that a CDL and the required training to obtain one will help. I’m also not a big fan of a government organization like the Department of Licensing getting in involved in anything. Jeff

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Hmmm...



Well, if not a CDL, maybe there should be some sort of training course an RV driver should have to pass.



I guess what I do not like, is there are lots of big vehicles out there being operated by people with little or no training. Granted, I do not know the accident statistics... I was just doing some thinking today and could not come up with a reason why there is no sort of training course or anything. It would be like as soon as someone turns 16, giving them a license and freedom of the road. You have to pass a written and on-street test first. Why not have something similar for large RV's?



Any other ideas on a solution for this sort of thing?

 

[NVR FNSH]

California has a written test for RV 5th wheels between 10K-15K GVWR. The test has some basic common sense questions that anybody with a pulse should be able to pass. I think I missed 2 questions and I 'studied' for 20 minutes - both questions were more of the way it was worded than anything else. Only real problem with this CA requirement is that most DMV (and CHP?) don't even know about it. Much less have a real way of enforcing it. I'd have to be pulled over for something before a CHP would have any reason to look at my license.



Realistically, any person that is a lousy/inattentive/sunday driver is going to be a menance whether they're in a Honda Accord, 40ft Marathon or towing a 39ft 5th wheel. I don't think a CDL type requirement would solve the 'large' vehicle problem.



Brian

 

[HBarlow]

Evan:



Your concern is probably valid. My pet concern is the large numbers of people I see pulling large trailers with half ton pickups or short wheel base SUVs. These guys are accidents preparing to happen. I've seen both types lying on their sides on the highways in the last couple of years.



RV towing weight standards should probably be set and enforced but it's not likely to happen anymore than CDLs for motorhome operators are likely to be established.



The RV industry probably has lobbyists "influencing" Congress and state legislatures. The majority of RVers tend to be older. Politicians know that, statistically, older people vote in larger percentages than the rest of the population. Politicians, being motivated primarily toward remaining in office, are not going to deliberately and unnecessarily offend a large voting block.



BTW, I asked you a question on the 175hp/6speed Allison thread. Did you dyno your HO/6 prior to modification? If so, what was the factory stock hp and torque dyno reading?



Thanks,

Harvey

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Harvey,



I did dyno my truck when it was stock... Man that was a LONG time ago!



It did 234/479, and this was on BD's Mustang dyno. The only modification to the truck was I removed the muffler. Other than that, it was bone stock.



I agree with your statements about how older voters could be offended by having legal requirements for their vehicles. I guess in a sense, our safety is being compromised by the politicians in office.



I live here in WA state, and I am surprised I've never seen an initiative directed towards this sort of thing before. Now if I could only find Tim Eyman's phone number... Perhaps you have heard of that fella...

 

[HBarlow]

"It did 234/479"



Thanks. I've been curious what they dyno stock. Apparently not much loss through the drivetrain.



"I guess in a sense, our safety is being compromised by the politicians in office. "



Yep, in regard to large privately operated vehicles and, in my opinion, in many other ways. But I'd better not step up on my soap box. You won't want to hear it!



"Now if I could only find Tim Eyman's phone number... Perhaps you have heard of that fella... "



No, sorry, I don't think I know the name. Is he a WA politician or political activist?



Harvey

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Tim Eyman is a political activist here is WA. He's famous for starting initiatives and other things to get governmental reform started. He did run into some problems though, mostly regarding how he was paid. There's a lot of poeple who dislike him, including many politicians. All in all, he's done some good things. Look him up on the 'net.

 

[DBF]

Should you be required to have a CDL

How much are you willing to pay to have the government do this? Your taxes will set up and fund this work.



And once you get something started in government, it's really hard to stop the expansion of it.



Next thing you know, anyone driving a diesel RV/5er/TT of any size will have to have a CDL, full logkeeping, full medicals annually, and so forth.



Don't start anything like this unless it's a major threat.



DBF

 

[JMichelson]

Re: Should you be required to have a CDL

Originally posted by DBF

How much are you willing to pay to have the government do this? Your taxes will set up and fund this work.



And once you get something started in government, it's really hard to stop the expansion of it.



Next thing you know, anyone driving a diesel RV/5er/TT of any size will have to have a CDL, full logkeeping, full medicals annually, and so forth.



Don't start anything like this unless it's a major threat.



DBF

BDF, Well said. I agree. When we ask for more regulations we never know where it will end. Jeff

 

[MLee]

just check out the California laws regarding this very subject. over the last ten or twelve years, these people did'nt know whither to ride the bus, or just forget it. they were considering a class "B", with driving test and written also. a lot of hands were on this piece of legislation. they did come up with a decision, a don't know now what it was, but it was a mess, and finally settled. an other law that sucks in Calif. is the 55MPH towing a trailer.

just my penny's worth.



Marv.

 

[Dean Upson]

Just what we need is more government in our lives. No, we do not need more legislation, just enforce the laws we already have. The people driving down the interstate in cars (and trailer trucks) scare me more than someone in a motorhome.



Dean

 

[RustyJC]

A CDL is already required in Texas at 26,001 lbs GCWR or over.



Rusty

 

[RThompson]

It's a problem but how does it compare to turning 16 year olds loose on the freeway? IMHO, there should be a temporary period of three years before permanent license is granted.

A classification for RV licensing will happen some day but probably only after it gets a lot of attention.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Originally posted by RThompson

It's a problem but how does it compare to turning 16 year olds loose on the freeway?

Simple... You are turning them loose in a vehicle they are not familiar with.



Something else I would like to see is having to re-take the driving test for a standard license every ten years or so. It may sound like I am targeting the elderly, but its just that I see so many of them in this area that have no business on the road.



Do I want more governmental influence? Not really. I just want things to be a little safer. I'll admit, its not all that bad now, but there's always room for improvement.

 

[kbarlow]

If you wish to tow a trailer over 4600 kgs. (10000 lbs. ) in our over regulated and over taxed province the rules require:



1. a class 3 or better CDL

or

2. a restricted 20 endorsement which involves, a CDL written exam, a CDL medical and a road test using a 5er that is over the 10000 lbs.



God I love governments.



Ken

 

[bbowe]

Yes they should

If a truck driver needs one to have a life on the road, why shouldn't the RVer that sold their house to spend life on the road need one? Heck even a truck mechanic needs one just to drive an empty truck around to diagnose a problem. How about one of those conversion busses - the bus driver needed a CDL, but the driver of the same vehicle after it was turned into an RV doesn't need one? I guess I don't see where the really large RVs should have special exceptions.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have touched on this concept once myself. It's a no brainer that more government intervention is bad but something needs to change. It is no secret that while we are talking about this, discussion has been ongoing not only on RV's but dually's, hotshot's, etc. It comes down to safety/tax dollars or is that tax dollars/safety? Back in January, I spoke with a PA DOT officer at the PA farm show about hotshots and registering over the manufacturers GCWR. He said they were aware of this and it was being looked at.

 

[lawdog]

Under U. S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, a Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL) is required... .

Section 383. 3: (a) The rules in this part apply to every person who operates a commercial motor vehicle(CMV) in interstate, foreign, or Intrastate commerce, to all employers of such persons, and to all states.



Section 383. 5: Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle-



(a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kg or more (26,001 lbs or more) inclusive of a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs); or



(b) has a gross vehicle weight ration of 11,794 or more kg (26,001 lbs or more); or



(c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or



(d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purpose of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and which require the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials regulations (49 CFR part 172, subpart F).





That is the fed rules and definition when a CDL is required. Michigan has a special license endorsement of (R) for Recreational Double. That is for the 5er guys pulling a second trailer behind the 5er.

 

[w-cummins]

Well believe it or not the rules are there for safety! All the fed has to do is amened the commercial part of the law and change it to ALL vehicles. If the you concede that the rules are for safe travel on the roads, how could you not be for operators of vehicles that fall into the clases needing the advanced licenses.



Heck if your against CDL's why not remove all drivers license requirements, then you can remove the FAA licenses too, After all I can say DC-10, so I should be able to fly one too!