The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Additional CDL Info

The subject has been talked about a time or two on here about whether a CDL is needed or not on a truck that has a GVW of 26,000 lbs or less and having Air Brakes.

I was saying that back in the early or mid 90's that I called my local Virginia DMV and asked that question. As some may recall, the woman there told me "I don't care what kind of brakes you have, as long as it is under 26,001 lbs you don't need a CDL".

Well the subject was up again the other day and I decided to double check on it. Calling the Virginia DMV is not as easy as it used to be (Calls now go to Richmond and a 45 minute wait is about the norm), therfore I decided to send an E-mail.

I didn't get the plain 'ol "Yes or No" answer I was looking for, but got this:


Thank you for visiting www.dmvnow.com.

Commercial drivers are all persons, paid or volunteer, who operate commercial motor vehicles. Commercial motor vehicles are:

* a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
* a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds
* vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver
* any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials and that requires federal placarding

This vehicle does not meet the weight requirements of a commercial vehicle. However, this vehicle must also not meet any of the other requirements listed above that require a commercial driver's license.


Sincerely,
M. Taylor
E-Correspondence Unit
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 27412
Richmond VA 23269-0001


Well, it looks like the woman way back then was right. We can operate a truck 26,000 lbs or under with Air Brakes without a CDL.

The good thing about corresponding by E-mail is that now we have written proof.

Bill

Now in wisconsin got told air brake's of any size requires a CDL and truck's 26,001lb's GVWR and greater. . . But air assisted as in hydrolic over air or how ever it goe's dosn't alway's require a CDL. . .the small single axle IH 345 gas engine air/hydro brakes no CDL but the same truck in a tandum yes CDL. . .any tanker type truck weather it be a one ton or an 18 wheeler yes. . .

Mike. . .

Something you may want to check before heading out if you live in a state other than VA. Are the state laws that you are in. CDL’s are federally regulated but that means all states must follow the minimum laws but may add more strict laws to them. The best way to keep from getting a ticket is to check with the state you plan to operate the vehicle in question.
If you plan on driving a vehicle with air brakes please obtain a good working knowledge of the system and its care. When air brakes are out of adjustment you do not get any peddle feel like you do with hydraulic brakes so you may not know till it’s too late.

Here in B.C. it's not so simple as a single CDL. There are different classes of licence and air brakes are an add-on. eg: Class 5 is regular motor vehicles (cars and pick-ups etc). Class 4 is small passengers vans up to 22 passengers and Taxis. Class 3 is tandem axle trucks (not sure if there is a weight restriction). Class 2 is buses and coaches both single and dual axles and single axle trucks. Class 1 is your semi's. If you have a class 1 you can drive everything except a motor cycle, that's a class 6. I have a class 2 with air. I am permitted to drive 15 vehicles with airbrakes.Not all at once.
It is possible for someone to have a class with air.. simply because they took and passed the airbrakes test. Kinda useless though.

Good Point.

I know that it is Federally Regulated, but am not surprised it could vary from state to state and I should have mentioned that above.

Altho in this case some of the different views were from those that live in Virginia.

I would like to see a list, and actually the government should provide us one, that shows the differences between the states.

Ironically, I thought the main purpose of a CDL was to make things more clear and simple on a National level, as I was just fine with my old Virginia Chauffuers Truck License.

Bill

Hi Everyone,

I'm a truck driver by trade. What I have been told by my local DOT guy is that if its over 26,001 a CDL is needed. If the vehicle has air brakes, no matter what the weight of it is an air brake endorsement is required.

thanks
Don

We got a few classes of CDL here as well A,B,C hazzmat passenger carrier ECT. . .

Mike

Bill the real reason for the national CDL was to keep unsafe drivers off the road their where so many that had multiple licenses in different states and would put all there tickets on a few keeping one clean.

i guess that I just learned something, Bill. I had heard, and it was repeated to me about two weeks ago that to drive a truck with air brakes your license had to have an airbrakes endorsement. My brother-in-law is shopping for a new (used) dump truck and he said if he got one with air brakes, he would need a special license. it sounds like he doesn't know.

Jay 1124