I didn't do my usual post the other day because, as I said, "I have stuff that needs doing". I think I will explain. Last week, my son and I were talking and he asked me if I had a license to drive my motor-home. Of course my answer was, "I didn't know I needed one". So I checked to be sure and, low and behold, he was right. I either need a CDL or a Class-B license! Dang, so what do I do? He gave me a book to study. Of course I didn't study it. Heck, I have been driving RVs for years and this particular one for more than two years, so what has changed? Nothing, except this one is over 26000 pounds. I was just ignorant of the law and, as I have heard, ignorance is no excuse. (It should be-grin).
I went in Wednesday afternoon and took the "written" test. (It is actually multiple choice and taken on a computer) Of course I flunked the test (guess I should have looked at the book). There were no questions at all about driving an RV. It was the exact same test a truck driver has to take to get a CDL license. All those questions about the tractor and the trailer and pulling multiple trailers and how to load a truck and . . . . I hate to admit it, but I came back home and spent the remaining hours of that day and Thursday morning reading the book that my son gave me. Then I went back and passed the test on Thursday afternoon. It wasn't all that easy. I don't understand it. I have never had any problems passing tests in the past, so, I must be getting old!?!?! My wife was a great help in my studying.
OK, I hope the next part of the test goes a little better; the actual driving part. I can't do that until my son gets back from his trip to Sturgis, SD. He and his girlfriend and buddy went to the big motorcycle get together up there. Yes, they all took their bikes, but no, they didn't ride them up there. My son towed a trailer that they put them in.. He will (or someone with the proper license) will have to drive me there, give proof that they are legally licensed to drive it and then I will have to take the driving test. I am now making sure it is equipped with all necessary things, like three road side warning triangles and my upper center brake light red cover is broken. They will probably check all that stuff. Those things need done anyway, so may as well try and get them done as soon as possible so I can make an appointment for my road test. Wish me luck and you all have a great day, you hear?
I'd like to see the parallel parking part of that driving test.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do insist on parallel parking, too. They set up cones in their test area and you have to back into that space with out touching the cones or the curb. Maybe I ought to pull the Jeep so I have the excuse that I can't back up pulling the Jeep on all fours. I do have a back-up camera, so that may help.
DeleteHowdy DD,
ReplyDeleteWell, now you've just told me something that I didn't know about.. I have ALWAYS been under the impression ANYONE COULD DRIVE A MOTOR HOME on a regular drivers license and have been doing so for years !!! Having never been stopped or asked for my license I was, until today, IGNERT OF THE FACT.. At one time I had ALL OF THE LICENSES FOR TEXAS...
When that law passed I don't know, because I was a L.E.O. at one time, many years ago...
I think I'd try the 'hooked-up' trick first, but they'll probably make you unhitch it..
In all of the groups we've traveled with and camp-fired with NO ONE HAS EVER MENTIONED THIS !!!!!
Hope you pass the DRIVING PART of the test and have a VERY HAPPY DAY !!
I REALLY THINK YOUR SON HAS IT WRONG ABOUT MOTORHOMES, BECAUSE CHURCH-BUS-DRIVERS DON'T NEED ONE !!!!
ADDENDUM #2
ReplyDeleteRIGHT STRAIGHT FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WEB
Operators of recreational vehicles driven for personal use DO NOT NEED A CDL..
You are correct except for motorhomes heivier than 26000 pounds. Check out this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml
All the best with the driving test Dizzy-Dick. Maybe you can go on the internet and check out what others have thought about the test, or if there are any tips you can learn from. I know you've been driving for some time but things have changed now.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, when I come back here, I'm expecting you to be waving that new licence in my face :)
I will try my best. Thanks.
DeleteLMAO!!! Remembering how much damage you did in your own driveway,,,,hahahahaha SS but this did hit me as soooo funny.
ReplyDeletePS:,,,maybe practice will be better than luck,,,hahahaha
DeleteTrouble, you have way too good of a memory. I was trying to forget about those episodes. . .
ReplyDeleteADDENDUM #3
ReplyDeleteOKAY I'LL STAND CORRECTED ON THAT, BUT WHY ISN'T IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND TALKED ABOUT??? IN THE OLD DAYS, IF YOUR VEHICLE WAS OVER 1 & 1/2 TONS YOU HAD TO HAVE A CLASS A(TRUCKERS) LICENSE ... I DROVE ON AN ARKANSAS COMMERCIAL LICENSE FOR 3 YEARS(OF COURSE I DID) BEFORE I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET A TEXAS CLASS A....
SURE DO HOPE YOU GET THE TEST PASSED... EVERYTHING HAS TO BE UP TO SNUFF, THOUGH; INSPECTION(THEY'LL DO ONE) LIABILITY INSURANCE(EXTORTION), BECAUSE OF AGE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL...HEE HEE!!!
WHOEVER DRIVES THE RIG DOWN THERE FOR YOU HAS TO HAVE THE 'RIGHT' LICENSE TOO, ALSO!!!
My son has CDL, he will have to drive it in for the test.
DeleteI don't know how hard it is to get a CDL these days, but it was easy when I got mine in the 70's, when I was driving a truck. As a keepsake, I kept my Contra-flow license to drive a bus on the wrong side of the Houston freeways, before the HOV lanes were built! Remember the cones they used to put down?
ReplyDeleteBut things change, and I just have a regular license now.
I hope you get the parallel parking down pat.
Happy Tails and Trails, Penny.
I am now trying to get an apointment set up when my son (who has a CDL) can take me in for a test. Hope it is before he goes back to work next week.
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