DMV Crackdown

Chris1529 · 08-08-2008, 09:06 PM

Lets just assume for one minute that we have to get a commercial drivers license to operate our trucks or motorhomes towing a trailer.

I live in West Virginia, and to get a CDL, one has to take a written test and also a road exam. I assume other states do this in much the same manner.

Say I pass the written exam and then schedule my road exam. When I show up in my 2500 Dodge Ram, they will ask me " what vehicle am I going to take the test in?" When I tell them my Dodge, they will all get a good laugh because it is not a commercial vehicle. It doesn't matter if it is a 250, 350, dually, etc. It is still not a commercial vehicle-no matter whether it has a trailer hooked to it or not. They will tell you to come back with a Kenworth, or a large Dump Truck, or somthing along those lines.

Rex Thonen · 08-08-2008, 09:43 PM

We have the same problem in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota. They don't like motor homes pulling trailers that are over 65 feet long. I know of two late model dirt track guys that got tickets, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. I got a ticket earlier this year in Nebraska on the way to Great Bend KS for the divisional. That cost me $290.00. The officer told us that we needed to contact the racing organizations to see if they would get something passed in the legislatures to help with the problem. When I talked to the late model guys, I said they should get ahold of NASCAR and see if they could help out. They didn't think NASCAR would help. Has anyone approached NHRA to see if they can help us out?

I have a CDL but the problem is that my motor home and trailer would have to be registered as a truck tractor and pro-rated to run in all the states. It would then mean that no one would be able to assist in the driving unless they also had a CDL. I would have to pull through scales, have a log book, physical card and have an IFTA sticker for fuel.

I'm not in this as a business, this is recreational.

Bob Pagano · 08-08-2008, 10:02 PM

All you retired guys like me that take meds like blood pressure and so on can forget about a CDL physical, I had to turn mine in. The list of meds is long.

Philip Saran · 08-08-2008, 10:21 PM

I don't know about other states, but here in California, trucks over say a F150 have commercial
plates on them. My F350 diesel is a '04 so it's already 4 yrs old and the tags are still over $400
per year. I could convert to car tags if I was willing to put a camper shell on the truck and NEVER
take it off, that would cut the price of tags in half, but then you loose the use of the bed for hauling.

08-08-2008, 09:06 PM	#1
Chris1529 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,366 Likes: 6 Liked 70 Times in 29 Posts	Re: DMV Crackdown Lets just assume for one minute that we have to get a commercial drivers license to operate our trucks or motorhomes towing a trailer. I live in West Virginia, and to get a CDL, one has to take a written test and also a road exam. I assume other states do this in much the same manner. Say I pass the written exam and then schedule my road exam. When I show up in my 2500 Dodge Ram, they will ask me " what vehicle am I going to take the test in?" When I tell them my Dodge, they will all get a good laugh because it is not a commercial vehicle. It doesn't matter if it is a 250, 350, dually, etc. It is still not a commercial vehicle-no matter whether it has a trailer hooked to it or not. They will tell you to come back with a Kenworth, or a large Dump Truck, or somthing along those lines. __________________ Chris Bowman The Mountain State Mustang 1984 Mustang GT350

08-08-2008, 09:43 PM	#2
Rex Thonen Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 29 Likes: 3 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: DMV Crackdown We have the same problem in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota. They don't like motor homes pulling trailers that are over 65 feet long. I know of two late model dirt track guys that got tickets, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. I got a ticket earlier this year in Nebraska on the way to Great Bend KS for the divisional. That cost me $290.00. The officer told us that we needed to contact the racing organizations to see if they would get something passed in the legislatures to help with the problem. When I talked to the late model guys, I said they should get ahold of NASCAR and see if they could help out. They didn't think NASCAR would help. Has anyone approached NHRA to see if they can help us out? I have a CDL but the problem is that my motor home and trailer would have to be registered as a truck tractor and pro-rated to run in all the states. It would then mean that no one would be able to assist in the driving unless they also had a CDL. I would have to pull through scales, have a log book, physical card and have an IFTA sticker for fuel. I'm not in this as a business, this is recreational.

08-08-2008, 10:02 PM	#3
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 232 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: DMV Crackdown All you retired guys like me that take meds like blood pressure and so on can forget about a CDL physical, I had to turn mine in. The list of meds is long. __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

08-08-2008, 10:21 PM	#4
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 727 Likes: 160 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: DMV Crackdown I don't know about other states, but here in California, trucks over say a F150 have commercial plates on them. My F350 diesel is a '04 so it's already 4 yrs old and the tags are still over $400 per year. I could convert to car tags if I was willing to put a camper shell on the truck and NEVER take it off, that would cut the price of tags in half, but then you loose the use of the bed for hauling. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado