leaddog wrote: I am interested in hearing from Maryland residents who drive have a motorhome which is over 26,001 lbs and who have the Class A drivers license. Or, those who fit the above and drive without a Class A license.
I have read the DMV outline for the test and it seems that they are overboard on a number of issues. Are they sticklers on everything and tough graders. For instance, it looks like they want you to take the wheel covers off and check the lugs on the wheels and do other tasks withing 20 minutes. Not possible with a 40ft diesel MH in my opinion.
Private messages welcome as well as on the Forum
Generic comments from other states won't help me on this matter. MD has some specific rules for the test different from others.
Thanks for any help.
The state of Maryland requires you to have a non-commercial license, either A or B if your RV falls into one of the following:
If the RV you are driving has a GVWR of 26001 lbs or more, then a B license is required. You will be tested for airbrakes if the motorhome has them.
If the trailer you are pulling e.g. fifth-wheel or trailer behind motorhome has a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or more, then an A is necessary.
I have a CDL-B with airbrakes which is not necessary to drive my motorhome. I only need a non-commercial B with airbrakes; however, I already possessed the CDL license and use it to drive a school bus part-time.
The following link should prove useful in explaining what the examiner looks for. It is a little overkill, in my opinion, but covers everything one may encounter on both the pre-trip and road skills.
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Yes, I really need the Class B license as fpresto stated. I have a Class C license to drive a smaller vehicle. No, I do not need a CDL license.
Thanks for all the replies. Maryland does make people jump through hoops a lot, but it is a good thing to test people to make sure they can handle a 30K+ motorhome.
I am a little concerned about some of the parking regulations. We always use a spotter to make sure the rear of the MH is clear when backing into sites. Also, they require a back in to the right and that isn't the proper way to back up a motorhome. You should always back in on the drivers side, not the passenger side so you can see more in the mirrors.
Any suggestions to make it easier will be appreciated. I will most likely take the test at the Hagerstown test facility.
I was a Maryland resident while preparing to buy our DP. After reviewing the licensing requirements I decided it was just as easy to obtain a CDL and did so through Hagerstown Community College which has a for-credit Class A program and a non-credit Class B course. You might want to check to see if a community college in your county has something similar.
IMHO I benefited from the CDL course, even if I could have passed the license exam on my own. The CDL written exam is 75 questions and you need to thoroughly read and learn the material in the manual. The basic exam does NOT include HAZMAT or other endorsements and is probably similar to what the non-commercial exam would be. Air brake knowledge is considered an endorsement, but you will need that for most DPs.
As for the walk around inspection of the vehicle, the examiner will hardly say anything if he gets the sense that you are going through a routine that will cover the key test points. I had learned a "spiel" that covered the vehicle from one end to the other and emphasized every point I knew would be of interest. I think the only time the examiner said anything was when he asked me a question which helped me recognize that I had omitted a point which I quickly corrected. They do NOT require you to handle the lug nuts as if you are turning them any more than they expect you to actually pull the dipstick and check the oil. As long as you say that you "would" check the oil level, that is all they care about.
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Yes, they do require you to perform a backup offsetting to the right because they want to ensure you know how to use the mirrors. Forget about the rear-view camera in that maneuver. There will be cones set up and you will be told to not hit any of them. There are also line boundaries that you will be asked to not cross. The examiner will go over each maneuver and will ask if you have any questions before you start. That's a good way to start the pre-road skills in my opinion.
The examiner will be observing you, while on the road, to make sure you scan both outside mirrors i.e. look straight ahead, scan the right and then the left. I remember that this was a key determinant because he/she wants to ensure you do not have tunnel vision and that you are aware of what's going on around the coach at all times.
Since you will be testing at Hagerstown, it might be a good idea to go and observe some pre-trips. It doesn't matter if they are commercial or not. This will give you a feel before you are up front.
docj wrote: I was a Maryland resident while preparing to buy our DP. After reviewing the licensing requirements I decided it was just as easy to obtain a CDL and did so through Hagerstown Community College which has a for-credit Class A program and a non-credit Class B course. You might want to check to see if a community college in your county has something similar.
IMHO I benefited from the CDL course, even if I could have passed the license exam on my own. The CDL written exam is 75 questions and you need to thoroughly read and learn the material in the manual. The basic exam does NOT include HAZMAT or other endorsements and is probably similar to what the non-commercial exam would be. Air brake knowledge is considered an endorsement, but you will need that for most DPs.
As for the walk around inspection of the vehicle, the examiner will hardly say anything if he gets the sense that you are going through a routine that will cover the key test points. I had learned a "spiel" that covered the vehicle from one end to the other and emphasized every point I knew would be of interest. I think the only time the examiner said anything was when he asked me a question which helped me recognize that I had omitted a point which I quickly corrected. They do NOT require you to handle the lug nuts as if you are turning them any more than they expect you to actually pull the dipstick and check the oil. As long as you say that you "would" check the oil level, that is all they care about.
I reiterate what has been said. Actually, the airbrakes is not an endorsement such as passenger/coach or school bus. It is actually a restriction if you do not have it and appears on the back of your license such as corrective lenses. If you have airbrakes, there will be no restriction and it does not appear on your license for Maryland residents.
I am from Glen Burnie and have been driving for 56 years. At one time I was licensed to drive towing 2 trailers etc. Gave all that up somewhere WAY back...I have had a large motor home or DP forever yet I have never had any special license to drive one. Was involved in an accident, not my fault, in my current DP in Crofton which was investigated by every branch of law enforcement in the area and not one questioned my license---My DP is 38ft long and I usually tow a 32ft enclosed trailer. I was stopped at the 301 Bridge into Va 2 weeks ago with the trailer and they checked my license, registration to the DP and trailer, lights and safety chains thanked me and sent me on my way. I am 72 years old and since retireing 12 years ago travel around 12,000mi each year. I can back the trailer in a key hole and feel I am much safer than many 4 wheeler drivers----Until I am in some way forced to get some other type of license the one I have will do me just fine.
ferndaleflyer wrote: I am from Glen Burnie and have been driving for 56 years. At one time I was licensed to drive towing 2 trailers etc. Gave all that up somewhere WAY back...I have had a large motor home or DP forever yet I have never had any special license to drive one. Was involved in an accident, not my fault, in my current DP in Crofton which was investigated by every branch of law enforcement in the area and not one questioned my license---My DP is 38ft long and I usually tow a 32ft enclosed trailer. I was stopped at the 301 Bridge into Va 2 weeks ago with the trailer and they checked my license, registration to the DP and trailer, lights and safety chains thanked me and sent me on my way. I am 72 years old and since retireing 12 years ago travel around 12,000mi each year. I can back the trailer in a key hole and feel I am much safer than many 4 wheeler drivers----Until I am in some way forced to get some other type of license the one I have will do me just fine.
I am happy that you haven't been cited for not having the proper license. However, let me point out that if you are involved an accident that leads to a civil suit against you; you can rest assured that the opposing attorney, if he is any good, will not miss that you are not licensed to drive your DP and he/she will stress that over and over to the jury that is awarding damages.
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I am happy that you haven't been cited for not having the proper license. However, let me point out that if you are involved an accident that leads to a civil suit against you; you can rest assured that the opposing attorney, if he is any good, will not miss that you are not licensed to drive your DP and he/she will stress that over and over to the jury that is awarding damages.
When we lived in MD I felt it was literally criminal that RV dealers in the state would completely "omit" the licensing requirement when selling MH's or large 5ers (which would require a non-commercial Class A). What's more absurd is that Maryland's motor vehicle administration appears not to care whether or not people registering vehicles in the state actually are licensed to drive them! Neither do the vehicle insurers seem to care.
I have no idea how all of this is rationalized but I agree that in the event of an accident an attorney would have a field day with it. I've always wondered if an insurer could claim a policy was invalid because the driver lacked the proper license even though the insurance company was complicit in issuing the policy. Knowing how insurance companies always try to shaft policy-holders I would expect they'd find a way to get away with this argument.
Which is probably why the OP specifically stated he only wanted to hear from Maryland license holders. I'll bet he couldn't care less what Michigan requirements may or may not be.
Thanks everyone for your comments re Class B license. I am going to take the test and get the license for the simple reason that if I get in an accident, I don't want to be hung out by an attorney or my Insurance company.
I do appreciate all the comments and they helped me in my decision.
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