Please forgive if you all have touched on this but I had a friend call me to say they got stopped and weighed on the way to Glamis and he was given a ticket for not having a class A non-commercial endorsement. I checked into this and if the 5th wheel is over 15k GVW you must have a class A endorsement. Has anyone had a problem yet? Was the test hard? How much was your fine if you got one? $600.00 dollars and up I think. Is this something we should have all been told when we bought our rigs. I will be getting mine this week but anyone else? New law or old didn’t see a date on the DMV web site?

Come on some one has to know about this. My friend could not have been the only one stoped at the CHP temp Scales on the way to Glamis

I posted a reply Here on an older topic. Hope it helps.

not sure about the CHP stopping the rigs or anything like that. but you are correct about the need in having a non commercial classA drivers license for a 5th wheel trailer with a gvwr of 15000# or more. if the trailer is rated between 10000# and 14999# then you will need a restriction 41 added to your class C drivers license. it is not a new law, but probably more recently enforced.

I don't think there's a reason to be weighed since it's GVWR not the actual weight of the trailer. I've heard it's a fix-it ticket as well, with a cost around $50. Just another silly california law.

Brianzi, I may be mistaken, but I believe the cite is a moving violation for driving out of class. Kind of like driving a motorcycle without a motorcycle endorcement...like you don't have a lic for it at all, ticket, impound for 30 days...etc. I've been told they're citing people and telling them to park the rig right where it's at and call someone with the proper class lic to drive it home...mainly because impounding a truck and 5th wheel or big tag trailer is not only a huge expense on the part of the owner, but it's a long wait for the proper tow rigs to pull your trailer away. Would make for a bad desert trip either way.

I was also told that it was a cite for driving out of class, I got the non comm class A, piece of cake, just takes up two days of your time.

There would be too much liability involved in CHP just ticketing him and releasing him for not having the correct license. If he was ticketed for driving out of class he would have to park the rig and have someone else drive it home. As was stated above tickets are for GVWR not actual weight so a scale wouldn't have even been necessary. They may have weighed him to see if he was overweight on any axles but that is also not a ticket you could just drive off with, the weight issue would have to be corrected before he could have driven off.

THE CHP IS LOOKING FOR THIS.I KNOW OF 4 PEOPLE AND MY SELF THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR THIS. I ASKED THE COP WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR AND HE SAID 3 AXLES IS A GIVE AWAY.CHP IS BEEN INFORCING THIS ALL SESION.SO IF YOU ARE OVER 15000 GET A NON-COMM CLASS A

I was filling up at the gas station and got checked. I have a triple axle 38' 5er and its rated at 14,900 so he didnt break out the scales. He was cool about it.

I am all for it. now if they could just do something about people pulling these monster 5er's with trucks that are not rated for it. He said the only thing they can do about them, is wait until they crash or kill someone, then put it in the accident report that the truck wasnt rated for the trailer and that would maked the driver severly effed. Insurance wont cover anything, then jail time if the driver ended up killing someone.

Its not hard. Be legal!!!

Just checked my WW LE3505...GVWR 16K


Damn, over by a tad

All they need to do is weigh the rear axle of the truck and get people for exceeding the GAWR of the truck. I took my SRW Dodge across a CAT scale with our rig and found I was almost 1000 lbs. over the rear axle rating of the truck. Now we pull with a dually. When I went to insure the dually my insurance company asked what the intended use of the truck was and when I told them mostly to tow a 5th wheel they made it very clear that they could deny a claim if the truck was overloaded.

Flash your badge and you will get "have a nice day"vs a ticket.

i guess my SLC3905 ( 40' 3 axle ) is a great candidate. but I had a 3500 dually and I cruise at 55 to 60 mph so they don't get on my case. They are mostly looking at the trucks that are non-dually, especially thes 2500 pulling the 35' and up trailers. I do not have my non-com A yet but plan on it

Not anymore.... especially CHP. They'll say "Oh, you're a cop... you should have known better - sign here."

ASK WW TO SEND YOU A 14,999 STICKER

Sorry, But I don't think that will happen. But of course, I could be wrong.

with what inside?

Do you get nailed for the rating? or the actual weight of the trailer?

Do you think that all 3 axle trailers are subject to this inspection including bumper pull trailers?
I was told by the dealer that orginally sold my trailer that mine was rated for 15K GVW but there is no tag inside to be found and I told them that and they seemed suprised. Guess I need to contact the manufacture and request one. I weighed it at a CAT scale and it was 12,700 fully loaded so that seems OK to me.

I believe the law is that you need the A class for anything over 10K with a bumper pull

CHP goes by the GVWR not what you actually weigh. Any tow behind over 10k or any 5th wheel over 15k GVWR needs a non-commercial class A. If they feel like taking the time to weigh you then you can get nailed for exceeding axle weight ratings, GVWR and/or tire ratings.

Then I would guess that this^^^^^ would apply to MOST trailers out at G especially one's behind moho's?

Well then I guess we're just screwed and I will have to go get an A-class. This is really ridiculous that we have to get a class A to tow a simple set up

What are the consequences if you are busted?

It's a NON-commercial class A, easier to get then a regular class A. If you get stopped, the cite is essentially driving without a driver license (out of class). They can tow your whole set-up, but from what I've been hearing they tell you to park it and call someone you know to come tow it home. If they drive away and you decide to drive on down the road after that warning....I'm guessing they would cite you again and go ahead and tow your rig (that's what I did to people I gave chances too).

Most people are unaware of this law, as is evident when you go to the DMV to apply for the license. I think that's why CHP isn't towing rigs, just citing people right now. But, I'm sure that's up to the individual officer.

I'd just go do it and get legal...it's not all that hard. I posted the process and the checkoff sheet ON THIS POST

What's the bill on the citation? I better get to work on getting that license...

This su#*s since I leave in vegas and now have to go to cali to take the test and get inspected. does anyone know if they do this in Barstow or Victorville? Is this a federal law? or a cali law?

I have read some about this subject on the dieselstop.com site and most of the states are the same as California.
Some are even more strict than California.

Here's some state specific info I found on Drivers License requirements:

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml

Info on 45'+ Moho's:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/b...fs-motorhms.htm

CA Non-Comm Class A Info:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt3.htm


I'm going with Exotica1 on the AZ license issue:

i live in az and called the dmv they said in az you dont need any endorsment to tow a 5th wheel. so if i get stopped in cali how would they handle it since im going through cali would they let me go or not?

I think most people, they would let go, as their home state DL is what sets their rules, You however could be in for a long, long stay in the pokey.

After some reasearch on the DMVNV.com website I will need an Endorsement J Allows Class C license to tow a vehicle over 10,000 pounds GVWR. Additional written and skills tests are required. That was listed in License Classes section.

Then went to the http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/dlstudyguide.pdf and in sections 4,5,6 and 7 it will give all the info you need to know before you take the test for the Endorsement needed here in Nevada.

I hope this helps all you other Nevadan's...

I don't see why they would.


My 2500HD is rated for 15,400 lbs. My SLC 3905 is rated at 15,000 lbs. As long as the GF and I weigh under 400 lbs, we're golden.

You must abide by the laws in the state you are driving in, that goes with all laws. Because something is legal in one state doesn't mean you can go to another & "get away" with breaking their law. Ignorance is not an exception to the law.

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.


Edit: Just called CA DMV @ 1-800-777-0133, you cannot have a valid drivers license in more than 1 state. As long as I am abiding by AZ laws and have a valid AZ drivers license, which at this time do not require an endorsement for my truck & 5th wheel, then I am OK to be driving in CA.

i am not trying to be ignorant that is why i am asking the question do i need an endorsment in cali if i have a az licence that dosent need an endorsment. i guess budwench answered my ignorant question

Do truckers need a license in every single state? no...so I'm guessing AZ residents don't either...

After talking to several CHP commercial officers there are three weights they look at.
1. GVWR- if the two axles of your truck exceed your GVWR. Usually a long 5th wheel will have a heavy pin weight and put your SRW truck over it's GVWR BUT this depends on how the trailer is loaded.

2. GAWR- Each axle must be under it weight rating, axle ratings are in the door of the truck and on your vin tag on the trailer. My Next Level (which is front heavy) exceeded my Dodge 3500 SRW rear axle rating by almost 1000 lbs.

3. Tire ratings- No single tire can exceed the weight rating on its sidewall.

As far as laws go, you must comply with the laws of your home state as far as classes of license, AZ licensed trucks would not need the non-commercial class A when in California. If you get stopped by a commercial enforcement officer they should know that but the regular CHP officers may or may not.

what about the responsibility of the RV dealer to make sure the buyer is within class??? or do they have any responsibility (or scruples, for that matter)?

I have a commercial license, so they can go back to the doughnut shop!

When I asked the dealer I bought my trailer from they laughed and said "don't worry those laws will never be enforced".

Well,

The 250lb nut behind the wheel can be removed to lighten things up a tad.

dont forget about gross combine weight, you must also be under that one, its the total of tow vehicle and trailer and i bet most of you will find out you are over.

Actually the gross combined weight is not printed on the weight tag in the door so it is not a legally enforceable weight. GCVWR changes based on the transmission, engine and gear ratio you have in the truck and is a number published by the manufacturer and CHP does not keep track of it. As far as CHP is concerned as long as you do not exceed GVWR, GAWR ad tire ratings you are legal.

So for sure we will have to take a driving test with the 5th wheel? Torrance DMV didn’t say anything about a driving test but I didn’t push the question either. Who has a extra person that has a non class A to go for what might be a whole day to the DMV!!! I don’t will break the law and drive to the test. And for that matter Torrance is on some small side street and presents a problem already. But I want to be safe I would feel real bad if I hurt someone while driving. I think this will be a good thing. Thanks everyone for the input I need it.

If your 5th wheel is over 15,000 lbs GVWR you need to take a written test and a driving test for the non-commercial class A. You can take the written test at any DMV but there are only certain ones that offer the driving portion. If your 5th wheel is over 10k lbs but under 15k lbs you need an endorsement on your class C which is just a written test.

are you sur about you info becaose that is not a a chp officer said stopping my cousin in his c4500, she said you must be under the gcwr.

are you a commercial chp officer?