Class B vs Class A DL in Texas

[justdee]

Interesting development today at the Texas DPS office getting a new DL.
Long story short, I've had a Texas Class C DL my whole life, up until this past May/June when I went up to Wisconsin to drive AG trucks hauling fertilizer. There I took a test and got a DL with class BCD, this was covering what they call an AG CDL. I had to get a physical just as any CDL driver would be required. When I received that DL from WIS, they voided my Texas DL.
I went today to get my Texas Class C back, nothing else. As she was looking over my WIS DL, she saw the CDL and it began a discussion. She wanted to know if I wanted to keep the CDL rating. I explained to her that it wasn't really a full regulation CDL but this led me to ask her what I would need to be legal driving my 1 ton truck pulling a 5th wheel. I was under the impression I would need a Class A as the trucks GVWR is 12,000 lbs and the 5th wheel is 15,000 lbs, putting me over the 26,001 lbs commonly associated with a Class A.
This stumped her. She went to speak to a superior and to the troopers there in the office. She explained to them I wanted to do and the weights that would be in play. The troopers told her since it was a 'personal use' vehicle, not commercial, that all they would require of me if stopped on the highway would be a Class B.
She then called the DMV, which is a separate division and they told her I would need a Class A. That muddied the water.
Bottom line, for today, she went off what her superiors and the troopers told her. I walked out with a Class B since I was tested in WIS for a B and AG CDL.
When I inquired about the requirements for obtaining a Class A, should I go that route, she gave me that information. The study material is in Chapter 6 and has 20 questions, I have to get 16 right. Then I schedule a driving test with my truck and RV at a DPS office.
According to her, and her co-workers, the Class B is all I need.
Thoughts? Experiences you may have had with troopers?

 

[exps01]

Reading the DPS guidelines, you'd need a class A due to the weights. What push it into class A vs class B is the GCWR is 27,000 lbs (exceeding 26,001 limit) and the individual vehicles' GVWR is 12,000 and 15,000 pounds (exceeding 10,000 limit individually). I think if it was a motorhome, a class B would suffice as it's a single vehicle and any toad would likely be under 10,000 GVWR. I'm specifically looking at numbers' 1 and 2 under the class A and B requirements. Class C would be insufficient in both cases.

I'm not from Texas, so don't have personal experience. I was just curious and read the DPS website and CDL handbook guidelines and that's the way I read it.

 

[justdee]

I should have included this document. She had me fill it out and to check box 4. Non-CDL Exempt Vehicles.

 

[James Veen]

Ask for non-commercial. You will not need a physical

 

[justdee]

An update on my license.
Not having a Class A drives license has been bugging me as my trucks GVWR is 12,100 and my 310RL is 15,000, putting me at 27,100.
As exps01 and James Veen kindly mentioned, I needed to upgrade.
I finally called the DMV (Texas) last week and they were super helpful over the phone.
I had been under the assumption that I'd need to take a written test for the non-CDL Class A before I took the driving test. No, that was not the case. They checked my records online and the test that I took in Wisconsin for the Class B, non-CDL, was the sufficient equivalent for the Texas non-CDL Class A. All I need to do was go into the local office in Terrell, pay $11 for the driving test/new license, then bring the truck/RV to Canton for a driving test. They got me scheduled while I was on the phone.
I went in on Wednesday and paid the $11. Took the truck/RV to Canton this morning, we took a quick 15 minute drive around Canton, and I was done. New Class A, non-CDL license should be in the mail shortly.
Peace of mind and the legal way of doing things.

 

[Fishfnatic]

Got my class A exempt this spring because of dually and 310RL. Multiple choice test and 15 minute drive.

 

[George]

I studied the confusing Texas DPS page for months off and on while creating this chart.
Bottom line is at the bottom of the chart. 😜 One ton trucks probably need a Class A, ¾ ton trucks probably don't. It boils down to GCWR.
Many motorhomes need a Class B licensed driver. They will not need a Class A license if the toad is under 10,000 pounds.
I believe it to be accurate. Please let me know if I missed something.

 

[justdee]

George, what I'd say to modify on that is the fact that us RV guys need a NON-CDL license, A or B. That was the confusing part for me, trying to find in the regs what the heck I needed to test for in regard to the non-CDL Class A. In my case, I had taken a short written exam, 20 questions, up in Wisconsin so I could drive big ag trucks. Texas said that was equivalent so I just need to take the driving test. Which was a short loop through town. No backing up, no parking maneuvers, etc.

 

[George]

George, what I'd say to modify on that is the fact that us RV guys need a NON-CDL license, A or B.

Good Point. I updated the file to "Operators of recreational vehicles driven for personal use who are exempt from obtaining a CDL may still need a non-CDL Class A or B driver license."

 

[Bozo]

An update on my license.
Not having a Class A drives license has been bugging me as my trucks GVWR is 12,100 and my 310RL is 15,000, putting me at 27,100.
As exps01 and James Veen kindly mentioned, I needed to upgrade.
I finally called the DMV (Texas) last week and they were super helpful over the phone.
I had been under the assumption that I'd need to take a written test for the non-CDL Class A before I took the driving test. No, that was not the case. They checked my records online and the test that I took in Wisconsin for the Class B, non-CDL, was the sufficient equivalent for the Texas non-CDL Class A. All I need to do was go into the local office in Terrell, pay $11 for the driving test/new license, then bring the truck/RV to Canton for a driving test. They got me scheduled while I was on the phone.
I went in on Wednesday and paid the $11. Took the truck/RV to Canton this morning, we took a quick 15 minute drive around Canton, and I was done. New Class A, non-CDL license should be in the mail shortly.
Peace of mind and the legal way of doing things.

I assume you drove the combo to the site to take the driving test? See the irony?