non commercial class A in California
#1
01-16-2018, 05:39 PM
non commercial class A in California
- Hello everybody.
I wanted to write this up a while back but I haven’t finished my actual drivers test skills test. Here in California the DMV requires you to have a California non-commercial driver license class A if you are pulling 5th wheel trailer more than 40 foot long and over 15,000 gross vehicle weight. We purchased our 2016 Winnebago scorpion that is 44.10’ in overall length and 15,000 pounds dry with the gross weight of 20,000 pounds with the pin weight of 2900# and no one told us that we needed a noncommercial class A license.
We own a 2017 Ford F350 single rear wheel with the camper package. The towing package is possible for our payload capacity is 3588 and we wanted to be legal. That being said when you go to the DMV you must pass all of your drivers test so if you have a motorcycle license you need to redo the motorcycle license and the written test for the regular drivers license plus a commercial class A license, minus the chemical test and brakes portion of the written test called a California noncommercial class A, for recreational use.
Next is the skills test which will vary upon the vehicle you’re using, for example fifth wheel trailers , motorhomes with conventional trailer that are over the limit on the DMV of California. After you do your written test and pass you will receive a permit allowing you to drive with a licensed class A driver either commercial or noncommercial for one year just so long as you learn the proper skills to do your test. You can go in and do the test anytime between that year with your permit allows you to train. You have 3 chances to pass.
When you come in to the test facility the first thing he will have to do is go over your vehicle and RV on proper pretrip inspection items such as tire pressures, stop lights, turn signals, oil indicator lights, fluid levels, felt conditions all need to be noted on the pre-trip inspection. Read your California driver license and book for a list of items necessary to check in front of the instructor and every time before a trip :-) . Next you will be asked to pull aside to a test facility or area in which you will perform some tasks they say that they vary depending on test facility. This is something that I and some of the other would-be license holders were wondering about why some people had to do an alley dock parking in a 12 foot wide space and some had to parallel park. The right-hand turn around cones which states in the handbook is no longer part of the test.
I went to the Fontana California test facility and to be honest the instructors there we’re all very nice people, however I think there are used to doing commercial class A and the non-commercial side of things seem to be maybe not written down in concrete.
The first thing I did was pulling up and back up 100 feet into a set of cones in which you had to back in straight. Fairly simple but things can get nervous when tons of people are staring at you. Next you pull up 100 feet and back into the adjacent set of cones so it’s back in 100 feet but with the turn. Next they had me do a alley dock, which check it on YouTube, there are several videos that will help you do this correct. YouTube truly helped me.
After failing the first alley dock test I watched the video for a few days and went back and it was time for another round. Since I had passed the pre trip inspection it was only the skills test left to do and boy did that video help. I passed and it was off to a drive around town and the highway luckily no mishaps and I passed!! I hope this write up is informative to fellow Californians that want to pass this test and aren’t sure about it . I’ll answer questions here on this thread if needed. Happy camping!
-on a side note, the dmv records all the vehicle vin and weight stickers . They never weigh your rig or ask for a slip which makes no sense to bring your own rig for the test. If anything ever happened you have the dmv note rising the fact that you passed a skilled and driving test with the rig so all must be legal. They wouldn’t let you on the road to begin with says the instructor I asked which brings up a question what if my truck was a lil heavier and the total sum of both rigs were “commercial territory”, hmmm??
#3
01-17-2018, 02:25 AM
Thank you for posting up your experience!
To study for the written part of the test, which handbooks does one need to study - the regular Class C license handbook and also the commercial class A handbook?
Also if your trailer or motorhome is equipped with a rear camera, will they allow you to use that or is everything manual only with no aids?
To study for the written part of the test, which handbooks does one need to study - the regular Class C license handbook and also the commercial class A handbook?
Also if your trailer or motorhome is equipped with a rear camera, will they allow you to use that or is everything manual only with no aids?
#4
01-17-2018, 12:24 PM
#5
01-17-2018, 12:35 PM
Thank you for posting up your experience!
To study for the written part of the test, which handbooks does one need to study - the regular Class C license handbook and also the commercial class A handbook?
Also if your trailer or motorhome is equipped with a rear camera, will they allow you to use that or is everything manual only with no aids?
To study for the written part of the test, which handbooks does one need to study - the regular Class C license handbook and also the commercial class A handbook?
Also if your trailer or motorhome is equipped with a rear camera, will they allow you to use that or is everything manual only with no aids?
Thelex , you would study for class c test as well as the non commercial part found in the non commercial handbook ca dmv. Plus motorcycle if you hold that. Even if they are not up for renewal . I tried to fight it, but if you want to do this totally for recreational purposes thing... you have to go by they’re rules. I have a camera for my rig which I haven’t installed but when I was in pre inspection I pointed out my front view camera ... the instructor said “you won’t be using that , that’s not what this test is about. “ I didn’t argue with her, this test is to show that you are competent to be safe on the roads with your own equipment. I till used my camera when pulling up but didn’t tell her, they are not in the truck when you are doing the skills test. The jump in with you for the road test but you don’t back up once on the road. I’d say use what you got just don’t point it out directly , there isn’t a law against it and I’d say it makes you an even more safe driver.
#6
01-17-2018, 06:43 PM
Thelex , you would study for class c test as well as the non commercial part found in the non commercial handbook ca dmv. Plus motorcycle if you hold that. Even if they are not up for renewal . I tried to fight it, but if you want to do this totally for recreational purposes thing... you have to go by they’re rules. I have a camera for my rig which I haven’t installed but when I was in pre inspection I pointed out my front view camera ... the instructor said “you won’t be using that , that’s not what this test is about. “ I didn’t argue with her, this test is to show that you are competent to be safe on the roads with your own equipment. I till used my camera when pulling up but didn’t tell her, they are not in the truck when you are doing the skills test. The jump in with you for the road test but you don’t back up once on the road. I’d say use what you got just don’t point it out directly , there isn’t a law against it and I’d say it makes you an even more safe driver.
I'm also glad you posted about the backing up to a dock test. I did not anticipate they would be asking us to do that maneuver.
#7
01-17-2018, 11:30 PM
Yes a 12’ wide 40’ long alley doc test is the dmv’s idea of backing up into a camp spot !
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