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Future Prevost owner
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I tend to be hard nosed when it comes to licensing for RV’s. If a person is going to drive an RV over a certain size, ot tow a camper trailer over a certain weight I want to know they are qualified to share the road with me. If that sounds snobbish or egotistical, so be it.
Our coaches in particular require certain knowledge and skills, and without them the driver should stay off the highway. If you pull one of these 3 axle fifth wheel campers that are a gazillion feet long you should demonstrate an ability to drive it, and that includes parallel parking it and backing in a straight line. If you have a coach and pull a trailer you should have the same class a truck driver has for that rig.
I am not hung up on a driver of a personal vehicle having a medical, or a commercial class A or B. What I am hung up on is that drivers need to pass the written test and demonstrate their driving skill in a road test. If it means the industry gets to sell fewer coaches, so be it.
I am sure others see the same lack of skills. I have emailed, spoke on the phone, met and answered posts on this forum from people that have never done a brake check, and in fact never even knew there was a way to check them. I have seen people who had the campground golf cart driver back the coach into the space. I have had motorhomes with a toad pull into my lane before the toad even cleared my front bumper. I have watched RV drivers with big heavy rigs tailgate cars and speeding, ignoring their tires are speed rated and not caring if the car being tailgated tries to stop. Our insurance is affected and if those folks are 3 feet awy in the next lane we have some risk.
Even if the state of domicile does not require or offer a non-commercial class B or even an A try to get some training, even if it only the written test.
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The State of South Carolina requires a Class E non-commerical license for a vehicle over 26,000 LBS, and a Class F non-commercial if towing something. Written test first then a skills test. A learners permit can be issued for wither Class E or Class F. Then the skills test.
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in Florida according to our research no additional license beyond normal is required. This seems a bit lax to me coming from the perspective of airplanes, where I flew a a Captain for around 10,000 hours, and training was an integral part of the equation.
Had several suggestions to go to Lazy Days and take their short course in RV driving. Plan to do that. But it seems better than nothing, but pretty slim to meet a minimum training requirement. However plan to do that. Very reasonable, $150 a couple I think.
The local vo-tech/college programs offer Class A tractor trailer training. But the investment much larger at close to $3K. Less for Class B at closer to 1K. But still based on trucks, not busses. The most logical training is for school bus drivers, but you have to apply for a “job”? Then it’s free, but you are expected to drive a school bus for at least a while.
Just not much RV/Bus training generally available. Suggestions welcome?
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I think driver training is important. But I also think a person who takes driving a large vehicle serious is capable of learning the “book” part of training by studying the CDL bool available from any state DMV independently. The practical training can also be self taught. The problem from my perspective as relates to any motor home or bus conversion for first time owners is the coach itself tends to be so overwhelming the focus shifts away from the driving skills and knowledge.
The written portion of a large vehicle driver license is intended to have the applicant demonstrate a knowledge of the laws relating to the operation of a commercial vehicle which do not relate to our operation of the coach, but also to teach about things we all need to know, such as a pre-trip inspection, and some practical lessons on driving a large vehicle. This is a good example of the typical CDL manual:
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/safety/attachments/CDLManual.pdf
The actual driving skills that vary from those needed for a car are also important. Our coaches are both big and ponderous. Obviously we all have to know how to make turns with such a large vehicle without the rear wheels going up and over the curb. We have to pay close attention to bridge weight limits as well as height clearances. We have to know our stopping distances and how to apply that to driving practices. We cannot tailgate because we may take as much as three times the stopping distance of some cars for example. We have to learn how to change lanes and judge where our corners are. Most of our driving skills are going to come from practice. The concern is how many of us are willing to go to an empty parking lot, set up cones and practice making turns, backing, parallel parking, and all the other maneuvers that we need to know, especially when it comes to getting into a campsite or driving in close proximity to other vehicles such as on city streets.
Formal driver training has a real value because the instruction focusses on not only the practical aspects of driving a large vehicle, but there is a heavy emphasis on safety. We are in “no man’s land” when it comes to training. What little is offered is inadequate or expensive. Some such as Lazy Days is intended to make a person feel comfortable enough to want to buy an RV. They seem to drive around their sales lot and campground, but I am unaware of the training including highway travel. Commercial driving schools are designed to teach students how to drive a semi, and how to pass the written test with emphasis on the laws relating to the CDL. Those schools tend to be expensive.
As much as I would like to see every driver of vehicles larger than the average pick up truck possess some verification they are qualified to drive that large vehicle, I know it is not going to happen. The RV industry has fought efforts to do so because it realizes a lot of potential buyers would fail the test adversely affecting sales. Think about that for a while. The current laws allow people who couldn’t pass a driving test, to drive the vehicles they cannot demonstrate an ability to drive.
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One place folks can inquire is Charter Bus Companies. Most of the larger ones have their own driving classes. It may be possible to participate in a class for a fee. Or, maybe with an understanding is to agree to drive for them on your schedule, weekend fill in etc, Usually when you complete the training and take your Driver’s License test you will be put with a trainer for a few days.
Might be worth a thought.
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Jon, That link to the TN CDL was good. Skimmed it all, need to study some of the sections in detail. But still a bit intimidated since it doesn’t cover the hands on operational parts. Just have to take it slow and easy at first until I gain that experience?
Mikee, I did an internet search on charter opportunities. Looks like the companies around here want a CDL and experience to apply. But I didn’t call them about sitting in on class yet. Do long haul bus charter companies have to do full training programs even if a person is already basically qualified? I flew airplanes professionally, and a new hire class is trained from the beginning on both specific type related aircraft systems and procedures, even if already fully qualified. For example, a new Southwest pilot goes through repetitive type training, even if they already hold a B737 type rating.
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Bob,
The amount of hands on training you get is “on the job” training. Once we have our coaches the real learning begins because there are not only variations between models and model years of the chassis, but also there are substantial differences between converters, and each converter’s designs evolved so they also have variations.
What is initially important is to learn how to safely drive the coach, starting with a pre-trip inspection. As a pilot you know and understand the process and why. Then when you are satisfied with the condition of the coach, you start driving, again making sure you fully understand how it is different to drive than a car, and that you have to respect those differences.
As you use the coach things are going to arise. Some stuff will need repairs. Some stuff will be noticed by you for the first time and you will question it. Some stuff will be perfectly normal but you just never noticed it or realize it. It is likely there will be no books so your education is not going to be as formal and structured as it is in the plane. This forum will be a huge help to you because as we approach 2800 members you can be assured not only has someone gone through the learning curve on your type conversion, they are going to be here to answer questions.
As to the driving think of it as a new pilot working on your instrument rating. You will not do as well as a more experienced driver because you haven’t yet developed the hand / eye coordination needed to keep the coach in the lane. You lack the intuition that tells you you can make the turn, when to begin the turn, and how close you are to other cars, the curb and other obstacles. But with practice it not only all comes together, it happens in such a way that you are not even conscious of your brain and muscles working together in the background to allow you to thread the needle.
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Hi,
As youi know in aviation, even though you may hold a type rating you have to go thru the company specific training, ie their ops manual for that airplane.
In bus driving companies cover the full range from complete training class to a simple driving test. Usually a trip around the block. So there is no one answer, it is company dependent.
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