Restrictions of driving a truck in North America

[Chris S]

Greetings. I'm interested to know what are the licensing restrictions to driving the types of trucks discussed on this page.

Dont know how it works there but in the UK you can drive a 7.5T GVW privately on a regular car license, no questions asked. And in towns many roads are limited to 7.5T which seems a threshold.

Beyond that it gets complicated and expensive with strict driving and roadworthy testing for Heavy Goods Vehicles and artics.

Wondering what the deal is in US and CAN as it would affect what vehicles were viable to purchase and prepare by regular drivers for overlanding.

thanks

Chris S

[charlieaarons]

In the US 26,000 lb (11700kg) is the "cutoff". Above that you need a commercial drivers licence - but drivers of RVs are exempt! As far as forbidden areas, they are signed.
That said, I intend to get a CDL with air brake endorsement before I leave North America again with the Unimog. It's very easy to get a CDL. Some of the guys I do physicals on for CDLs have IQs<80. I'm not kidding.

Charlie

[Chris S]

Thanks Charlie.

...with air brake endorsement...

Is that something special then? I would have thought all HGVs have air brakes.

Anyone know the situation in Canada?

Ch

[charlieaarons]

I can tell you by personal experience it is the same in Canada. There are a few vehicles in the ~26K range that have hydraulic brakes.

When I stopped at a weigh station in BC, when the operator noted that the truck weighed 11760kg and had airbrakes she inspected it to make sure it was an RV and then let me go.

Charlie

[gjackson]

While CDLs are easy to get there are some limitations. I am not eligable, for instance, being a diabetic.

EDIT: Being a Type I diabetic (insulin dependent) is grounds for disqualification, but Type II may not be.

Welcome to the forum Chris, good to see you here!

cheers

[mountainpete]

Yes, in Canada it is very similar. For the most part though, the standard licence isn't classified by weight. Here is a description of the standard Alberta licence:

Class 5 Licence permits an operator to drive:

a two axle single motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle
a two axle motor vehicle towing a trailer with one or more axles, if the trailer is not equipped with airbrakes
a recreational vehicle or any combination of a recreational vehicle and a trailer, if the trailer has not more than two axles and is not equipped with airbrakes
a moped
Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 type vehicles, for learning only
No holder of a Class 5 operator's licence shall operate a motor vehicle:
that has a seating capacity of more than 15, while that vehicle is transporting any person in addition to the operator to transport for hire

So basically if there are air brakes or more then two axles you need an advanced licence.

Pete

[Robthebrit]

The older mogs have air over hydrualic brakes and mechanical parking brake. The brakes are air boosted but other than that are standard hydrualic brakes and are exempt from air brake endorsements. The endorsement mainly deals with how to handle the brake system when some part of it has failed, if the air system on an older mog fails it makes no difference to the brakes other than the pedal is more difficult to press.

SBU type mogs have a air powered parking brake, you need something like 12bar in the tanks to release the brakes. I am not sure on the legal status on these systems but nobody I know with an SBU mog has an endorsement.

Rob

[RHINO]

charlie in case you dont know,, you'll need the DOT phys and long form also otherwise you will be subject to fines and/or suspension.

[AZCPP]

As long as your vehicle is a registered RV then there is no need for a CDL no matter how big it is. You can register a semi-tractor and a 53' trailer as an RV and drive it without a CDL. It does have to meet a very loose definition of RV but , it can be done. I have friends that use them to haul thier pulling trucks.

[Scenic WonderRunner]

.....And then there is California which is like a country all unto it's own with all it's bizzare rules!

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/lic_chart.htm <~Clickit!


If you are going to bring a certain rig over here...........you could check the regs. in each state you want to visit by doing a DMV search by state.

But if you follow Califorina.....it will probably work in most other states.


And then there is the All important............

http://www.dot.gov/ <~Clickit!


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