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CDL's for driving larger engines? *update 10-19-08*
Our new engine is a sterling cab, wieghs well over 26000 pounds I'm not sure of the excact wieght and has air brakes. At my day job I have to have CDLs to drive an f-750 that wieghs 28000 pounds and has air brakes. Tn law states any vehicle with air brakes or excedes the wieght limit of 26000 pounds you have to have a class b cdl to drive it. But there is an excemption for emergency vehicles that just doesnt make sense to me. does anyone elses dept. require cdls or anyone think they should. I think you should have to have cdls and have evoc tought by a state instructor before you can drive. Just my opinion.
10-19-08 I contacted The Tennessee DMV and they told me that a non cdl driver could drive an engine to an emergency under the excemtion law but would be breaking the law if they drove back to the station to get fuel or was just out driving. The dmv also if a non cdl driver was involved in an accident driving a large truck they would be driving a commercial vehicle without a license and could lose their license or have to do jail time. They also told me all that was needed was a class be cdl in Tn thats only 2 written test and a short on road driving test.
10-19-08 I contacted The Tennessee DMV and they told me that a non cdl driver could drive an engine to an emergency under the excemtion law but would be breaking the law if they drove back to the station to get fuel or was just out driving. The dmv also if a non cdl driver was involved in an accident driving a large truck they would be driving a commercial vehicle without a license and could lose their license or have to do jail time. They also told me all that was needed was a class be cdl in Tn thats only 2 written test and a short on road driving test.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on
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Georgia requires a minimum of a Class B CDL to be an EVO.
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Permalink Reply by Dave on
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I believe that if you drive anything over the weight of 26,000 you should have a cdl. I have a cdl and I 'am a driver of my dept. The problem I see is that there are to many people in volunteer depts. that have little expierience with heavy equipment and when they get behind the wheel the make stupid little mistakes by following to close not judging turns right andnot having enough stopping distance. I'm not saying all of them do and most of this is not their fault. But when you are not use to these things it invites disaester. I know not everyone can afford a cdl license but I do think that if you can then you should or at the least take the evoc class to learn how to control your vehicle safley. Remember we are here to save lives not take them
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Permalink Reply by united 289..{Dave} on
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John You are correct to some extent on the driving regulations.
Here in Ohio. By law we are required to complete a 16 hour driviners training law. I cannot at this time give you the O.R.C. #. It is at the station. The law actually says that every member in your department that is to be a driver must qualify in every vehicle you have. This includes your ambulace and or first response unit even if it is a Suburban. With in this course you have 8 hour book class and 8 hour drivers training. Part of this is doing a drivers course. Which is the same drivers course that is used for the class B CDL. The rest is driving on the road way. The V.S.I.F offers this course free as charge. Starting with a train the trainer. Then you go back and train your department.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Richards on
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Our department requires you to have a class B license. In Texas you can get an exempt class B license that is a non CDL. Specifically for fire or emergency apparatus. We will call a mutual aid department before we will let some one that is not signed off for one, and not having a B license 2 than let that person behind the wheel of one of our trucks. This hasn't happened yet.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Lonecke on
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I'm a NYS volunteer, and I joined when I was about 21. My jaw hit the dirt when I was handed the keys to our heavy rescue rescue truck the first time.
We aren't required to hold a CDL, not even REQUIRED to have ECOV training- your clearance to drive comes from your chief officer who 'clears' you for driving your vehicles. I took EVOC anyway, just to feel better about myself and my abilities, but no, up here none of it is mandatory.
That being said, a lot of our guys are CDL certified because they've been driving trucks since they were my age. I swear we have two guys that could park a tower ladder in an envelope if the idea pleased them.
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Permalink Reply by Glenn Young on
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I agree that cdl should be required for career ff, and that we should be selective as to who drives firetrucks, not everone can handle larger vehicles. Training should be manatory for everyone and not just a couple hrs. training.
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Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
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I contacted The Tennessee DMV and they told me that a non cdl driver could drive an engine to an emergency under the excemtion law but would be breaking the law if they drove back to the station to get fuel or was just out driving. The dmv also if a non cdl driver was involved in an accident driving a large truck they would be driving a commercial vehicle without a license and could lose their license or have to do jail time. They also told me all that was needed was a class be cdl in Tn thats only 2 written test and a short on road driving test.
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Permalink Reply by Rob on
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i've got my cdl A, and i got my cdl b back when i was 19, before i could drive fire trucks due to insur. the cdl testing is more easy then evoc. and in maine its thirty bucks for the written test and 5 for the driving test. the addition to driving fire trucks should be the tank endorcement, which would add another 10 bucks to a maine test. the best thing that can be done is getting more experience, i drive for a living, and can drive circles around most people, the more time spent in the trucks the better. its a hard thing to do, but the best if possible.
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter Nation WebChief on
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Several posts in this thread have been deleted.
A reminder to all:
- Personal attacks have no place here
- Firing back at personal attacks is no different than doing the original post.
- Such posts will be deleted and result in suspension or termination of account(s) if warnings are ignored.
Keep posts on the topic, not each other.
Thanks
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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This is what I expalined to begin with.... An Emergency Operations Exemption.
Now, call them back and ask them if the unit was involved in a MVA and the driver had NO CDL, but the Officer riding on the truck HAD a CDL, what would the implications be to the officer's license who knowingly allowing a NON-CDL driver to drive that unit.
Here's where it gets interesting...
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that would be tricky. But I know I drive the truck or have a cdl holder to drive the truck when they can. I did ask them about a non cdl driver getting to the scene and they said that was fine but they couldnt drive back to the station. I asked them what we were supposed to do. (I already knew what they would say) They said let the truck set there until a licensed driver was able to get it. Wich we all know wont really work.
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Permalink Reply by Joey "BigShow" De Piano on
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We have the same fight going on about every other year in NJ no cdl is required for Emergency Vehicles, I am not sure a 100% on this but my understanding is since DOT and DMV runs the CDL or mandates it the question on responsability was the feds stand but the Lawyers say it is discremination now here is the "loop hole"..not sure on wording either but it came down to if you require a special license under DOT law they are suppose to be paid the international truckers rate..thus crippling the vollies cause that would mean these towns with low man power daytime and little calls will have to hire a p/t or f/t paid driver
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