Do I Need A Cdl To Drive An Rv With Air Brakes

A commercial driver s license is a driver s license required to operate large or heavy vehicles.

Do i need a cdl to drive an rv with air brakes.

It s one of the most common questions we hear when we re telling people about the awesomeness that is this style of travel. Every state issues different types of licenses so it s not always as simple as do i need a commercial driver s license cdl to drive my rv that weighs over 26 000 pounds or not. What is a commercial driver s license exactly. The cdl is a federal minimum standard but states make their own laws about how they license drivers.

However you may need an air brake certification or special license based on the weight of your skoolie depending on your state of origin. Driving a school bus for personal use. However if you happen to be a rare bird driving a big rig motorhome in hawaii you might need a cdl. There are also some large towing combination lengths that might require a cdl in some states.

And the good news is in the majority of cases no you do not need a special license to drive an rv. Drivers of vehicles with air brakes that don t otherwise qualify as a commercial vehicle. According to the federal motor carrier and safety administration you do not need a cdl with air brake endorsement to drive a vehicle that is under 26 000 gvwr that has air brakes. Even though a vehicle is equipped with air brakes it doesn t automatically mean the driver must have a cdl.

That said there are some more specific rv license requirements to keep an eye on depending on the total weight of the vehicle and the state you re planning to drive it in.