CA Non-commercial Class Driver's License

[dfb]

Buddy got a ticket near lassen.. big ticket.. agree.. 2 different speed limits is dangerous..unless there are more lanes..

[Donjamin]

It all depends on the CHP officer. I was pulled over just south of Bakersfield for doing “58 MPH and sitting in the number 2 lane” of a 3 lane highway on Highway 99. Of course the number 3 lane is full of potholes and broken pavement from big rigs, but that didn’t matter to the officer. I didn’t get a ticket, just a warning to drive no faster than 55 mph and ALWAYS drive in the number 3 or 4 lane when towing a trailer. I honestly think he was having a bad day and was looking to fill his ticket quota...

D

[mudford]

Are you getting your commercial license because your Monty is over 15k ? I wish I was closer, I would help you out Have you tried calling a truck driving school to ask how much they charge?

[Camp CA]

mudforf..........answer to your first question is yes. I have contacted a trucking school but they wanted $5000;to teach me to drive a semi trailer,but not sure if it includes escorting me to the dmv test facility. I have a potential escort from this forum but looking to schedule test closer to him as the only testing facility open within 150 miles of San Fransciso is just south of San Francisco in Mountain Vire or furthet south in Salinas. I also teachedout to an RV driving and waiting to hear back.

[vipermanden]

Been there done that, and FAILED! So now I have over 70k miles, 40 states and two provinces of Canada under my belt driving about 50K miles towing my 42' Montana, and now 20K miles with my 42.5 foot SOB That weighs 6k more pounds than my Montana did. If the tests are standardized, then you will not have a prayer on the "Alley Dock" test. I took mine in Sacramento, and you do have to show up with a Class A truck driver, but he can be the passenger. If you show up without one, then it is an automatic fail. Semis can pass the Alley Dock test, because they can mover their trailer wheels to the very back of their trailer, and just pivot right in. My problem is I have a long bed dually so i am about 57' long and the RV has 14' hanging out past the rear trailer wheels, and if any part of your rig goes over the imaginary painted lines, you fail. You get 4 tries. There are boundaries in front and to the right of the painted alley dock, that you can not also touch, so you can never get to a point where you can back straight in. It is so not like the real world, and they should update their test. After I failed, my Class A truck driver escort grabbed my keys, since the testing person had walked away, and he tried 2 times and failed, and then on the third try, they came out yelling and screaming like we were robbing a bank, and told us to get lost! If I had it to do over again, I would borrow a friends 35 foot or shorter 5th wheel and take the test with that??? I just stay out of CA even though I live in North Shore Lake Tahoe. I usually start all my trips going thru Nevada. My son is a CHP Officer, and he said he would never pull over an RV, unless they were doing something really stupid. So I decided I would just be a Commiefornia outlaw! :-)

[Camp CA]

Donjamin.........in my experience that was unfair and have not experienced that or seen other fifth wheel trailers pulled over. Generally,, we tow 65 mph and when we do see a Calif Highway Patrol we slow down and pull into the right lane IF safe to do so then move back to the 2nd lane from the right. We often drive on the 2bd lane from the right since the right lane often becomes a dedicated highway exit or entrance lane and as you know that is a dangerous lane to be growing in under those circumstances.

[mudford]

Okay. There is a large commercial only DMV in West Sacramento.

[Camp CA]

vipermaden........that is my biggest concern. I reached out to an rv driving school on Calif that hopefully can work with me to take portion of the test. I have also thought about borrowing OR renting a smaller 36 ft trailer to take the test with. I also have a long bed super duty dually truck and 41 ft 5th wheel. Worst case, I learn to drive a semi truck trailer and take the test with truck school's truck and trailer.

[Otto02]

Originally Posted by Camp CA

Just received the permit for the above after 5-1/2 months since the California DMV offices were closed. Just scheduled a driving test with my F350 dually towing a 41 ft Montana fifth wheel trailer for October 7 at 12 noon in Mountain View, CA but need an escort with a commercial or non-commercial class A driver's license. If you can recommend one I would be very appreciative. I am happy to pay for the time, gas/diesel and lunch. Other test locations could be scheduled at Stockton and Salinas, which are with a couple f hours from my home in the San Francisco Bay area, if more convenient.

I have been towing 36 - 41 ft fifth wheels for 16 years but to ensure I pass the driving test I plan to schedule a session with a fifth wheel driving instructor to go over the vehicle safety check, pre-trip inspection test, skills test and driving test. My biggest concern is the "skills test".

Make certain that you over kill the walk around. Do not assume anything- like a windshield should not have cracks or chips but it also must be clean. Think minor detail and get even more specific. By the way, no one said anything when I drove the rig to DMV before passing the test. But this was in West Sacramento. Good luck.

[Montana Man]

My test was in Fresno. The guy was reasonable on the alley dock maneuver. I don't believe it did it right but close enough. The handbook calls for a simulated campsite to back into. Yeah right. I did practice a lot of backing before testing.

[Snowwolfe]

Do non residents who tow in CA need to be concerned about having this endorsement on their drivers license?

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by Snowwolfe

Do non residents who tow in CA need to be concerned about having this endorsement on their drivers license?

No. Just have to be compliant in the state of your license.

[Camp CA]

Thanks.......all great advice!!

[Fil564]

I just took my test here in PA for the second time, did not have to do an alley dock back in just a straight line back up and a road test. I failed the first one being a little to comfortable and my trailer tire hit the curb going through a roundabout. The second time I did not have to do any lane changes or highway stops or answer questions about signs the tester just talked about trucks and grandkids.

[jimc100]

I agree that driving 55 creates an unsafe situation but the CHP has lobbied against changing i it. I also agree that that you can safely push 63 if not 65, especially if traffic is moving.

[Camp CA]

Fil564.............congratulations on passing your test...............I can only hope my skills test goes that smooth!!

I am going to look into renting a motorhome and taking the test with that....might be easier.

[Slow Hand]

When driving on a 2 lane road with no turnouts I would not hold up traffic. 55 is a big problem here in Ca. It's a money grab for the state. I see truckers pulled over lots of times. RV's never. I hardly drive 55 here. I never drive in the number 2 lane on a 4 or bigger lane highway. only on a 3 lane. I stay out of the merge lane as much as possible. People here have no clue how to drive. They get on the freeway at 35 then it's not much longer they pass you at 80.

I think it's impossible to do the alley dock with any RV. to much trailer behind the wheels. I am not sure why they would even consider having you do that. Just becase you have the RV endorsement doesn't allow you to drive a semi correct?

[Camp CA]

mtheo............................is it feasible to pass the DMV backing test with a 41 ft fifth wheel towed by a F350 super duty long bed dually? Can I take the test with a motorhome and what length (DMV told me 35 feet trailer length minimum but not sure about motorhome length............will check with them after labor day)

[Carl n Susan]

You can take a test with a 40-45' motor home but that only gets you a Class B non-commercial license (the same as the license for towing a 5th wheel between 10-15K lbs.). From what I read, you need the 5th wheel to take the Class A non-commercial test.

[dfb]

Nevada used to have an endorsement, they have no requirements now but for a regular license.