Thinking about getting a CDL license

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There's such great wisdom at this place. I'm feeling more confident already. I'll be placing the order for the rig this weekend. I can't wait to get out there and make memories, mistakes and all. Thank you everyone!
 
Rene T said:
I have a CDL endorsement, up to a tractor trailer, on my license and I think I will loose the endorsement this year. There is a requirement now that I need to maintain a medical card in order to keep my endorsement. I think it's crazy. Just because I don't drive a truck anymore, I still need to maintain a medical card to keep the endorsement. That would be another expense for you.
Rene I have been retired from being a Drivers License Examiner for the better part of 16 years but, when I left, you needed to have a medical card for every renewal of the license, regardless of endorsements.  Has that now changed?
 
Whatever you do be sure to develop a system of hand signals or voice commands to use on a walkie talkie otherwise you may wind up with a lot of confusion as to just what your spotter is trying to tell you.

And yes, I do closely watch 5th wheelers parking in tight campgrounds and admire that they can get it done even after 10 tries.
 
Bill N said:
Rene I have been retired from being a Drivers License Examiner for the better part of 16 years but, when I left, you needed to have a medical card for every renewal of the license, regardless of endorsements.  Has that now changed?
For a standard licence there's no need of the card only if is a CDL so I'm told. I'm going to find out soon. It bothered me when they told me I would need the card. I don't drive a commercial truck anymore but like I told them, It would be my responsibility to get a medical card if I should want to drive again. I just looked at my licence and it is a CDL  wilth CDL-A and MC endorsement. I'm thinking I'm going to loose the CDL part and it will just become a regular license with my MC (motorcycle) endorsement.
 
Rene T said:
  I just looked at my licence and it is a CDL  wilth CDL-A and MC endorsement. I'm thinking I'm going to loose the CDL part and it will just become a regular license with my MC (motorcycle) endorsement.
I agree with your assessment.  I lost my Class A with hazardous and passenger bus endorsements when I next renewed my license after retirement.  Telling them you won't be driving commercial never use to cut it as that license still allowed the bearer to hop in a commercial rig and drive it.

I never understood the 'farm exemption' in North Dakota that allowed any kid 16 or older to hop in a semi and drive it anywhere in the state without any CDL or special training at all.
 
One of the questions my insurance agent ask was 'Do You Have a CDL?"

I do not know how it affects the rates.. But I do know he asked the question.

That's all I can say ... Grew up on a farm if you've seen some of the places I backed a trailer into as a teen.. You would likely need a change of tighty browns.
 
I retired my CDL with P,S,T, and X endorsements shortly after I stopped driving for our truck repair/recovery shop. I don't think it affected my personal vehicle insurance rates, but I didn't want the med card hassles and the higher traffic violation fines risk any more.
 
Bill N said:
I agree with your assessment.  I lost my Class A with hazardous and passenger bus endorsements when I next renewed my license after retirement.  Telling them you won't be driving commercial never use to cut it as that license still allowed the bearer to hop in a commercial rig and drive it.

The class A license doesn't allow anyone to drive if you don't have the medical card. If you get stopped, you need both. That's why I felt that If I did want to start driving again, it would be my responsibilty to get the card so I'm covered if I get stopped. Why am I forced to get one now just to maintain my CDL.
 
Rene T said:
The class A license doesn't allow anyone to drive if you don't have the medical card. If you get stopped, you need both. That's why I felt that If I did want to start driving again, it would be my responsibilty to get the card so I'm covered if I get stopped. Why am I forced to get one now just to maintain my CDL.

Unfortunately, there's no exception for the size of the vehicle you're operating.  Your CDL license  is invalid without a medical card even if you're only driving the family car.  That's why I gave up my CDL 10 years ago when I stopped driving commercially.  Why go through the hassle and expense of keeping the medical card current if I didn't need to?

Turn the question around.  From the regulator's viewpoint, why do you need a CDL unless you're going to drive commercially?  As long as a lesser class license covers what you're going to drive you're fine.
 
Rene T said:
The class A license doesn't allow anyone to drive if you don't have the medical card. If you get stopped, you need both. That's why I felt that If I did want to start driving again, it would be my responsibilty to get the card so I'm covered if I get stopped. Why am I forced to get one now just to maintain my CDL.
Rene, I think your first two sentences answered your last question.  Also, it could make a difference on your insurance too but that would have to be checked.
 
Lou Schneider said:
Turn the question around.  From the regulator's viewpoint, why do you need a CDL unless you're going to drive commercially?  As long as a lesser class license covers what you're going to drive you're fine.

I was just looking ahead a little in case one day, CDL's will be required to drive a class A or even towing. Maybe it will happen long after I'm gone. .
 
It's already happened in some states.  CA requires a Class A or Class B to drive a motorhome over 40 ft. in length or over 26,000 lbs GVWR.  Or a Class A to tow a 5th wheel over 15,000 lbs, a pull trailer over 10,000 lbs or double tow.

If you're not driving commercially you can get a Non-Commercial Class A to cover these.  It's a written test with a medical statement filled out by the applicant when you apply.  No physician exams or yearly renewals.

Nevada where I now live has endorsements for these on their regular Class C license.  But they won't issue them unless you bring a vehicle or combo that needs it to the exam.  There's no driving test, they just want to make sure you need the upgrade.
 
Bill N said:
Rene I have been retired from being a Drivers License Examiner for the better part of 16 years but, when I left, you needed to have a medical card for every renewal of the license, regardless of endorsements.  Has that now changed?



I've had a CDL-A for 40 years and I'm retired from driving.  Getting a CDL is a major deal today, so I don't want to ever give it up.

My CDL is always valid for 5 years,  my Med card needed for renewal is good for 2 years.

so I drive without a valid med card for the next 3 years.  The law in CA says my license reverts back to a Class C license for those 3 years..... and I'm okay with that.
 
sightseers said:
  Getting a CDL is a major deal today, so I don't want to ever give it up.

My CDL is always valid for 5 years,  my Med card needed for renewal is good for 2 years.

Actually CDL has been a big deal since 1993 when the Feds cracked down in a major way and required all the testing and driving exams to be done by all.  That was when I got into the examiner field and it was a nightmare even in a small state such as North Dakota.  We ran 12 hours shifts 7 days a week testing groups of 20-30 at a time.  I can only imagine what it was like in larger states.  Each state sets their license periods and 5 years was unheard of when I worked in the field.  Four years was the max at that time and I think the med cards needed to be updated much more frequently.  Diabetes, for example, was an automatic disqualifier for a nationwide CDL but some states made it optional to operate within that state only on a CDL.  My son has had one of those for the past 20 years.
 
There are lots of driving schools that you can book time by the hour to teach you what you want to learn ie backing up, you may need a hour or hundred who knows. Look around
 
When deciding to keep a no longer needed CDL, keep in mind that you're still subject to higher speeding fines (usually x 1.5) and lower DUI/DWAI levels (usually a .04+ BAC) in some states. Most states also do not allow CDL holders to attend a driving safety class to reduce license points.
 
Bill N said:
  Diabetes, for example, was an automatic disqualifier for a nationwide CDL

I had to get a Med card for my license renewal last February.  ...it's not just Diabetes.

It appears many of the new DOT med card questions are centered around "Sleep Disorders"... ie  throat diameter measurements to BMI.
questions like....Do you snore?  Have you ever been a part of a sleep study ?  Have you ever used a CPAP ?

(and yes...of course I lied about snoring  ;) )
 
Diabetes is not necessarily a disqualifier, it's the meds you take to control it. If you're not on insulin and you are controlling it with some other meds you're okay. Same with blood pressure issues. However if you are on approved meds you have to get the physical yearly instead of every 2 years which of course sucks.  :-\
 
sightseers said:
I had to get a Med card for my license renewal last February.  ...it's not just Diabetes.

It appears many of the new DOT med card questions are centered around "Sleep Disorders"... ie  throat diameter measurements to BMI.
questions like....Do you snore?  Have you ever been a part of a sleep study ?  Have you ever used a CPAP ?

(and yes...of course I lied about snoring  ;) )


How do you know if you lied about snoring......have you ever heard yourself snore? lol
My wife says I snore. I stayed up ALL night once just to see, I never snored once.
 
Anyone with high blood pressure also gets a one year med card.

I had a driver call me from the scales out in Palm Springs...his 1 year card was expired and CHP was going to tow the truck away if he couldn't get a driver out there.

(an old truck drivers trick...if you ever need to pass a blood pressure test  ..... take a Viagra a couple hours before the test. :)) :)))
 
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