Do you need cdl license to operate 26000 gvw truck or below that has air brakes?

Answer 1

Only if the vehicle is designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver) or is carrying a quantity of hazardous material sufficient to require placarding under FMCSR guidelines.

Answer 2

If it's a commercial use vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 18,000 lbs. or more in the State of New York, if it's a vehicle transporting hazardous materials which require the display of placards, or if it's a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver), then yes.

Otherwise, you do not.

Answer 3

The presence or absence or air brakes does not determine whether or not a vehicle requires a CDL. The only state which requires a CDL for intrastate commercial use vehicles under 26,000 is New York (they require one for vehicles 18,000 lbs. GVWR and above).

The only circumstances (other than the above) in which you would need a CDL for that type of vehicle is:

• if it were a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver). In this case, it would require a minimum Class C CDL with Passenger endorsement, and without a "no air brake" restriction.
• if it were transporting a quantity of hazardous material which required the display of placards under the FMCSR. In this instance, it would require a minimum Class C CDL with Hazmat endorsement, and again without the "no air brake" restriction.

The term "air brake endorsement" is often used erroneously in the US. On US licences - CDL or otherwise - there is no air brake endorsement. If one does not complete the written air brakes test and perform the road test in an air brake equipped vehicle, they receive a "no air brake" restriction on their CDL. However, this is only applicable to vehicles requiring a CDL - there is absolutely no requirement for the operator to have any knowledge of or proficiency with airbrakes whatsoever in a vehicle which doesn't require a CDL.

Answer 4

The type of brake system you have - hydraulic, air over hydraulic, or air - has absolutely ZERO effect on whether or not a vehicle requires a CDL.

There are two circumstances in which such a vehicle would require a CDL. They are...

• Buses designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver). This would require a CDL (Class C minimum for a vehicle under 26,000 GVWR) with a "P" - Passenger - endorsement. In the case of a school bus, it would require the "S" - School Bus - endorsement, which also requires a background check.
• Vehicles transporting a quantity of hazardous materials which requires placards to be display in accordance with CFR 49. This would require a CDL (again, Class C minimum for a vehicle under 26,000 GVWR) with the "H" - Hazardous Materials - endorsement.

Answer 5

Air brakes make no difference as far as requiring a CDL goes. The only times you need a CDL for a vehicle under 26k is when it's either a passenger bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver) or a vehicle carrying a quantity of hazmat which requires the display of placards. If it's a commercial use vehicle with a GVWR in excess of 10,000 lbs. and operating across state lines, you will, however, need a DOT medical card.

Answer 6

No, not in Maryland, nor in any other state.

There are three instances where a vehicle with a GVWR of under 26,000 lbs. requires a CDL - the air brakes don't matter insofar as the required class of license is concerned.

The first instance is buses with enough seats to transport more than 15 persons (this includes the driver). If the instance of a bus with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or less, a minimum Class C CDL with "P" endorsement for passengers ("S" if it's a school bus) is required.

The second instance is when it's a vehicle transporting a quantity of hazardous materials which requires placards to be displayed in accordance with CFR49 regulations. In which case, a minimum Class C CDL with hazmat endorsement would be required.

The third instance is when the vehicle is towing a trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs., the Gross Combined Weight of truck and trailer is in excess of 26,000 lbs., and it's being operated in a manner which doesn't fall under an exemption clause (emergency vehicles, military vehicles, private use recreational vehicles, farm vehicles). A Class A CDL would be required in this instance.

In any of those three instances, if the vehicle was equipped with air brakes, you would have to taken and passed the written air brakes test, and also have done your road test in a vehicle equipped with air brakes. Otherwise, you'd get a 'no air brakes' restriction - there isn't an endorsement (although I think air brakes should be an endorsement on all license classes and types), and it prohibits you from operating a vehicle which requires a CDL and is equipped with air brakes - you can still operate an exempt use vehicle or a vehicle not requiring a CDL at all with them.

If that vehicle is commercial in nature, has a GVWR in excess of 10,000 lbs., and is operated across state lines, a DOT medical card will be required. The state of Maryland may require a DOT medical card, regardless - the DMV are the ones to give a definitive answer on that, as I'm not the most well versed in Maryland's laws regarding that.

Answer 7

Only if it's a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver) or else is carrying a quantity of hazardous material which requires placards to be displayed.

Answer 8

Only if it's carrying a quantity of hazardous material which requires the display of placards, or else is a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).

Answer 9

Air brakes do not have any effect on whether or not a vehicle requires a CDL.