has anyone taken the NC non-CDL class A license test?

Wanted to bump this thread. Using this thread's info I was easily able to head to my local DMV and pass my Class A license test. Planning to take the driving test in a couple of weeks.

Thanks everyone, lots of useful info here :beer::beer:
 
Wanna bump this back up, what is the point of a non cdl class a? I know campers and boats are exempt but I just bought a gooseneck with a 24k gvwr. Not doing anything for hire, just hauling an excavator and old trucks around. Gross weight around 27,000lbs fully loaded, truck and trailer.

Do I need a non-cdl class A just to pull around the trailer empty?

Do i need a class A cdl for when I'm over 26,000 even though it's not for hire? Or will a non-cdl class A suffice?

I wanna stay legal but dont want to subject myself to further rules and restrictions if it's not needed

Thanks.
 
I’ve been curious myself about this subject. I am concerned that the DMV will be pulling me over when I get my Frankenstein truck running. Feel like I may need one just to be on the safe side.

87830a057a5945e0870afe2498fb7e20.jpeg


Thoughts??
 
Buffy said:
I’ve been curious myself about this subject. I am concerned that the DMV will be pulling me over when I get my Frankenstein truck running. Feel like I may need one just to be on the safe side.

87830a057a5945e0870afe2498fb7e20.jpeg


Thoughts??
Click to expand...
They'll be so confused that they just let you go on by.
 
Buffy said:
I’ve been curious myself about this subject. I am concerned that the DMV will be pulling me over when I get my Frankenstein truck running. Feel like I may need one just to be on the safe side.

87830a057a5945e0870afe2498fb7e20.jpeg


Thoughts??
Click to expand...


Capture1.PNG




This is what the nc dmv has to say about it. Anyways, Haven't seen a "supermotors" watermark in a while. I just took the handbook test a couple weeks ago and neighbor has let me borrow a 10 spd tractor to practice with in order to take the unlimited test in statesville in a few weeks, it's not the hardest process but honestly I have always chanced it and probably still would in a setup like that--you'd be no different than any dually pulling any moderately sized trailer.
 
May have been mentioned already, but if it is a CAMPER (forget the designation on the title) but the weight on the trailer axles don't count towards your total weight. Just the weight the truck is carrying. So if you weight 32k but the truck only has 19k on it's axles, you don't need CDL's.

If that is the case and you don't need them for other circumstances, I'd suggest not getting them. I have a 6x4 military truck (basically Freightliner FLD120). It is registered as an RV. No CDL requitre and I can haul whatever I want on the trailer as long as it is MINE.
 
The class a license (non commercial) really has nothing to do with how much your junk weighs on a given day, it’s all to do with the stickers on the truck and trailer for the gvwr. Note the non descript “r” at the end of that. That’s the rating. So if the sticker on the truck and trailer add up to 26,000 you need the class a. There are some other aspects like the trailer part of that is 10k or more but you get the point. The camper part is bullshit I believe. Doesn’t matter if a camper or gooseneck equipment trailer etc. all the same deal for the operators license (now for tags that is not the case, there it is different for campers). My 5ver is 16k rated (never weighed it and that is irrelevant for the operators license. My truck is 14k so 16 + 14 = 30k. Bingo, need class a. When I drag @tlucier equipjent trailer it’s 14k rated, again truck is 14 so 28k. Even empty I need the class a license. When he pulls the same trailer empty with his crappy ram 2500 (j/k tommy) he is under the 26k so doesn’t need the class a. Get the idea? Of course this is all non commercial. Now your tags are a different deal altogether and need to cover the actual weight if you were out on scales. This is where the camper is unique and doesn’t count for the overall tag needed on the pickup other than pin weight or bumper weight it adds as you only have to cover the truck axles scale weight with a camper in tow. If it’s an equipment trailer u must cover entire rig weight. Confused yet? Some N.C. legislator obviously owned a camper. And an suv doesn’t need a weighted tag for anything. Again, good lobbyist or legislator had a big trailer behind the Tahoe. Not straight forward and a metric shit ton of self proclaimed experts offering advice that is squarely inaccurate. Feel free to cross check all my facts but I have spent hours sorting this to be legal and think this is accurate. There is also a Leo from Burlington on here that knows this very well and may chime in. Believe what he offers. May wish to verify with a SHP weighmaster type too if you still think this is horseshit. Hope this helps someone. For what it’s worth the class a non-cdl is stupidly easy to attain. Just a part of the cdl written and then a drive around the block with your trailer and off you go.
 
On a useless knowledge note, career firefighters in NC are required by law to maintain a Commercial Classified (non-CDL) Class B license, while volunteers are exempt unless required by the Chief of their department. My previous assignment on a tractor-drawn aerial required a Commercial Classified (non-CDL) Class A.
 
tsconver said:
It is not loaded weight it is capacity. I assume you are towing it with a 1 ton or bigger. Gvwr on it is probably 10k plus. That puts you at 34k capacity and yes you need a non commercial class a.
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Once you hit over 26k lbs CAPACITY you need a CDL. A non commercial Class A is only good up to 26,000lbs. 26,001 and up is CDL.

NON commercial Class A is so you can tow over 10k lbs. It does NOT let you go over 26k COMBINED.
 
yodaman88 said:
Once you hit over 26k lbs CAPACITY you need a CDL. A non commercial Class A is only good up to 26,000lbs. 26,001 and up is CDL.

NON commercial Class A is so you can tow over 10k lbs. It does NOT let you go over 26k COMBINED.
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You are wrong.
 
Well...if you look in the "fees" area it shows them separately, so maybe they do still exist.

Official NCDMV: Licenses & Fees

Class A:
Description
Required to operate any combination of vehicles that:
  • Is exempt from commercial driver license requirements
  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more (provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle(s) being towed is greater than 10,000 pounds)
 
maulcruiser said:
On a useless knowledge note, career firefighters in NC are required by law to maintain a Commercial Classified (non-CDL) Class B license, while volunteers are exempt unless required by the Chief of their department. My previous assignment on a tractor-drawn aerial required a Commercial Classified (non-CDL) Class A.
Click to expand...
This is good to know, at least for me. How hard was it to get your class B?
 
benmack1 said:
The class a license (non commercial) really has nothing to do with how much your junk weighs on a given day, it’s all to do with the stickers on the truck and trailer for the gvwr. Note the non descript “r” at the end of that. That’s the rating. So if the sticker on the truck and trailer add up to 26,000 you need the class a. There are some other aspects like the trailer part of that is 10k or more but you get the point. The camper part is bullshit I believe. Doesn’t matter if a camper or gooseneck equipment trailer etc. all the same deal for the operators license (now for tags that is not the case, there it is different for campers). My 5ver is 16k rated (never weighed it and that is irrelevant for the operators license. My truck is 14k so 16 + 14 = 30k. Bingo, need class a. When I drag @tlucier equipjent trailer it’s 14k rated, again truck is 14 so 28k. Even empty I need the class a license. When he pulls the same trailer empty with his crappy ram 2500 (j/k tommy) he is under the 26k so doesn’t need the class a. Get the idea? Of course this is all non commercial. Now your tags are a different deal altogether and need to cover the actual weight if you were out on scales. This is where the camper is unique and doesn’t count for the overall tag needed on the pickup other than pin weight or bumper weight it adds as you only have to cover the truck axles scale weight with a camper in tow. If it’s an equipment trailer u must cover entire rig weight. Confused yet? Some N.C. legislator obviously owned a camper. And an suv doesn’t need a weighted tag for anything. Again, good lobbyist or legislator had a big trailer behind the Tahoe. Not straight forward and a metric shit ton of self proclaimed experts offering advice that is squarely inaccurate. Feel free to cross check all my facts but I have spent hours sorting this to be legal and think this is accurate. There is also a Leo from Burlington on here that knows this very well and may chime in. Believe what he offers. May wish to verify with a SHP weighmaster type too if you still think this is horseshit. Hope this helps someone. For what it’s worth the class a non-cdl is stupidly easy to attain. Just a part of the cdl written and then a drive around the block with your trailer and off you go.
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This is accurate, and is my experience as well. I have a non-commercial class A license for my F550/14k deckover combo.

Only difference I report is that I had to argue with the DMV people that I was not commercial, and that I should have a non-commercial Class A, not a CDL-A. Had to pressure them, then talk to someone at home office, before they would "allow" me to get the non-commercial class A license. This is after passing the non-commercial class-a driving test with flying colors.

For reference, got my non-commercial class A a little over two years ago. Took the written test at a local DMV, then the driving test at the avent ferry DMV in Raleigh. Had to argue with the avent ferry people that i was not commercial.
 
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I hate to bump an old thread or bead a dead horse, but I have a question. If my truck has a gvwr of 15k and my trailer is rated to 18K, can I use them to take the commercial class A test at the DMV? It is a manual truck. I would not mind to have my full CDL's, just don't have a road tractor to take the test. I also don't really want to pay the 300-400 bucks it cost to take the test at the local truck driving schools with their truck.
 
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My understanding is that yes, you can. You may or may not come out with an air brake restriction though.

I did the test in my 18k gvwr truck with a borrowed 12k gvwr equipment trailer. They tried to pressure me into getting my CDL class A, but I got what I wanted, a non-commercial class A.
 
Well to beat a dead horse a few more times... so Rob's thread about RV'g across the USA and LOTS of other influences (Youtube full time RV'r channels are a rabbit hole from which I will never return) I find myself about to buy a 32k GVWR / 36k GCWR motorhome!??! Naturally I assumed my NCDL was all I needed since this was a camper / but as I dig in I find these durn NON-commercial Class A and Class B licenses!!?

To make life even MORE exciting...this rig has air brakes... which I think I read the non-commercial Class A / you still could not drive anything with air brakes!? I swear I read that today when researching it but not finding that now so that maybe moot in this case.

Do we have any new data? I cannot find ANYTHING on this, including say a "study guide" on how to pass this non commercial exam?
Official NCDMV: Licenses & Fees
Still all listed nicely on the DOT website...so they exist.
RV Driver's License Requirements

I downloaded and flipped through the 102 page Driver-Handbook for NC, and NOTHING in there about what would be on the Class A or B exam and if driving tests would be required to move up from Class C? I saw a written and driving test mentioned above in this thread or the older one from 2013 here on NC4x4? (Funny how when googling this for NC, NC4x4 comes up in the top 5 or so results!)
 
At the minimum you need a Non-cdl Class B with air brake endorsement, Non-cdl Class A if you ever plan on towing anything with it.
 
^ That is my understanding as well.

If you take your test with a juice brake truck, they should give you a restriction on air brakes that's stated on your license card. They did not for me, so I guess I'm allowed to drive an air brake truck.

The non-commercial class-a license written test is the same as the CDL test, so get the CDL study materials. They will cater the driving test to the vehicle you bring.
 
Resurrecting my old thread here on the non-commercial Class A North Carolina driving license. I have had the non-CDL class A now for 7+ years and it's renewal time in a couple months. My question is what will be required for renewal. Will I need to just take the test or will I also need to do the road test with a truck/trailer? There is almost no info on the website on Class A or B licenses.
 
benmack1 said:
Resurrecting my old thread here on the non-commercial Class A North Carolina driving license. I have had the non-CDL class A now for 7+ years and it's renewal time in a couple months. My question is what will be required for renewal. Will I need to just take the test or will I also need to do the road test with a truck/trailer? There is almost no info on the website on Class A or B licenses.
Click to expand...

I don't know, but be sure to post up when you find out. Mine is due in a year or two.
 
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