Require CDL On ALL Vehicles Above 26,001 CVW?

[jlhartak]

Here on the Kenai Peninsula we have a tremendous influx of RV's in the summer, I have seen drivers of all ages who shouldn't be driving their RV! But, I have also seen the Soccer Mom with a SUV load of kids talking on her cell phone , the guy in his 20's who was watching his in- truck DVD and crossed the center line hitting and killing 2 people in their 60's. What about the people with multiple DWI arrests who continue to drive with no license?



Personally I would like to see something along the lines of European license requirements; very strict, with testing of true driving ability and you don't get on the Autobahn with even a dent in the sheet metal. I also think I am not ready to increase the level of Government intervention in my life.



Every year we have a rash of accidents with the first snowfall; why?, people put their car in gear before they put their brain in gear.



Enough soap box.

 

[DBF]

In 2001, 42,116 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes —

http://www-nass.nhtsa.dot.gov/NASS/MANUALS/CDS8896.pdf



is the link to the statistics on traffic fatalities and their causes.



Since one of the assumptions taken here is that older drivers of RVs are calamities looking for a place to happen, we might want to look at the real world before we jump to conclusions.



Take a look at the 2001 Overview, and the 2001 Older Population reports. Be careful in examining them - don't confuse the older deaths in accidents with deaths in accidents caused by older drivers.



There's no separate category for deaths caused by RV drivers; probably because it's so low in comparison to automobiles.



But the results might be surprising.



DBF

(age 63 in case you're curious)

 

[rob10858]

"vehicles used in commerce", that means driving to make money, thus cdl. if you are drving a private vehicle, regardless of the size or weight, things are a little different. imho it's a good idea to have what the state of north carolina has, a class between private and commercial, that requires a road and written test. granted, the written test is way too easy, but the road test, in nc can send you back and back again, if you can't handle your rig. to me that's a good thing. as far as the weight registrations, and the legality of "overloading"... well that's another story. my 2002 3500 6 speed has a gcvwr of 25999, well above what the mnf specs would suggest, but who requires this? only the 11 states that we work in on the east coast. if i, or any of my guys were to be invoved in an accident and sued, i would say that we have a good legal argument, that if we were illegal, than why would the state dmv's require us to register our power units at those kind of weights? maybe that's why the big lawsuit that everyone is afraid of has not materialized yet. everyone knows that if the lawyers got wind of a registration snafu, the class action lawsiuts would be coming out of our... well you know where. just make sure that you have your insurance in order, to cover all liabilities, it's exspensive, but a necessity

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by packman

My 2002 3500 6 speed has a gcvwr of 25999, well above what the mnf specs would suggest, but who requires this?

Who is issuing this 25,999 GCWR rating? The state? Our rig was specifically ordered to get the highest GCWR available from Dodge with a Quad Cab - 21,500 lbs. This requires the ETH/DEE with a 4. 10 rear axle.



Rusty

 

[Fireman]

You know, you can buy a medium duty tractor with a sleeper ,a fridge, and a microwave, and register it as an RV then you could tow almost anything with no CDL.

 

[TowPro]

Around where I live the cops work over the landscape trailer crowd pretty well. But they leave the RV's along. At least the Landscapers tow them every day.



Nothing I hate to see worse then pulling up behind an RV, then switching lanes to pass it, and noticing you can't see any mirrors sticking out past the RV your about to pass, then as I tow my RV past them watching there RV switch lanes as they white knuckle the steering wheel trying to keep in going straight.



Just a little training (or a stiff ticket) would cause them to put mirrors on, and a little training on how to use the trailer brakes to stop sway would probably save some lives.



How the hell can you tow something if you can't see behind you? You can't even switch lanes without taking the chance of killing someone. don't these people have a clue? We know the (average) RV salesman don't, so you can't count on them for any help.



maybe requiring some kind of training BEFORE THEY BUY THE RIG is the only answer.

 

[rob10858]

the folks that are issuing this are the states of nc, sc, va, penn, west va, tenn, maryland, all of the states that we travel in our business. i don't make the rules, i just try to adhere to them. the trucks that we have in our fleet that carry above 26001 have the comm endorsements, ifta cdl's, the duallys that pull below the gvwr of comm weights have all of the endorsements below that. that includes logs, med cards, safety equip etc. we have to be very careful to send the right load out with the right truck, sometimes our 550 fords can't carry the load legally that our 3500 rams can... why? gross combined weight of the pull unit and the trailer combined. it's that simple. i,ve said it before and i,ll say it again, as of now, most states will take your stamped gvwr, on the pull unit, combine it with the gvwr of the trailer. if it's over 26001 , [rec veh exempted, which brings us back to the original post] you are commercial. the grey area is those of us who don't want to have to fill out the double taxation forms that the gov requires with an ifta endorsement. i've seen my guys struggle thru this ridiculous tax upon tax form, and i don't wont any part of it. i really saw this on the trips we made out west, where our fords were paying $109 for a permit, and our dodges were paying 59, same loads... don't make things more complicated than they are , register your pull unit for every bit of weight that the law, and i repeat law, allows after that it's up to you and the insurance co the represents you... .

 

[Bob Wagner]

towpro, i AGREE100%





I saw this silly jeep wagoneer pulling this 20' 8' wide trailer with no trailer mirrors



what a fool

 

[Prairie Dog]

Section 383 does not apply to RV's, not even the ones equipped with air brakes - Only for commerce. Just ask any licensing bureau.

I've always thought it interesting though, we get older, our reflex's, vision, hearing and muscle tone suffers. Then, we get behind the wheel of a 30k pound air brake equipped motor home that's longer and wider than anything most of us has ever even ridden in and plow down the road.

Better licensing? Nope, AARP would never stand for that and remember, it's the older folks who do most of the voting in this country.

And when I'm that old I'm not going to want to give up any of my freedom either. Maybe that's when someone has to make choices for us.

 

[CharlieMiller]

The problem is you can never regulate stupid people. I see more and more people that just don't have a clue whats going on around them when they are out on the highways. They hag in the left lane going under the speed limit. I was taught that the right lane is for slow traffic. There are people out there that wouldn't move from the left lane if there life depended on it. O also see cars that swerve all over the highway. Oh well ife is good.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Back to the top.

Started taking a CDL class today. During the discussion, RV's came up. The instructer said PA had passed a law requireing RV's drivers with rigs over 26k now need a non commercial license. Air brakes require a test with any wrong answers to be reviewed with the facilitator. To much going on to dwell much further on the subject so anyone affected may want to research it more.

 

[Deezul1]

I think the left lane hogs are too scared to move over because they cant see out of the right side.

A discount from the insurance industry for taking a RV driving school would help a lot.

 

[CFAR]

My favorite is the ford explorer towing a 22'-26' tt. I think if I stepped on the bumber the front wheels would come off the ground. And all because it comes with a v8.



I don't know about the rest of you, but my two 1st rules when towing are



1. Slow down.

1. Plenty of stopping room.



Add some more.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Another good rule is - You can never have too much tow vehicle.

 

[wcjp]

It was mentioned at work that Washington State may lower the weight standard for vehicle drive time. I think truckers can only work 10 hrs a day. Utility and other workers are allowed to work longer hours. These exceptions may go away with the lowering of the standards. No mention if this would effect 5'ers and TT's.

 

[Eric_77]

Well Texas issues a class B and A that are non CDL licenses for RV private non commercial use. I thought all states did, had no idea that you could legally drive a over 26k vehicle without being licensed/qualified for it I don't believe the log books and med cards should/are be required.



As far as fees. A CDL license costs $40 for 4 years vs 16 for 4 years for non-cdl. All the other expenses of CDL enforcement come from fines/diesel taxes which a RV would not fall under. Many states alreadyrequire these rigs to go through weigh stations(over 5ton). I don't forsee any additional fee other than $6 a year. Sorry but this is a major safety issue a big RV does not react/drive/handle/turn/maintainance anywhere the same as a car and drivers should be treated like they are drivers of heavy equipment and licensed as such.