can we drive to canada and back with no cdl??

[Arvik]

I'm having nightmares about being stopped at border to Canada and having them say I cant drive through with no cdl? any recent experiences out there. would love to go tool around in the Yukon and BC but don't want to get my rig impounded at border. thoughts?

[Robin97396]

You won't get impounded. They'll just refuse to let you cross until you have a driver with an air brake endorsement. For most of us that means getting a class "B" license, usually considered a bus license.

I checked with my DMV about an air brake endorsement on my current class "C" license. There are no subdivisions involving air brake endorsements on a class C license. The choices are either class B or class A. Class A is for truckers and there are things involved with maintaining that license, like physicals and random drug testing.

Regardless of what you do to your bus, it's actually still a bus. The class B bus license is the only one that makes sense. It shouldn't affect your insurance, to my knowledge.

I'd like to go up through Canada panning my way to Alaska and back.

Canadians, please speak up. Are you required to get a class B license to operate a bus in Canada? Are there any restriction or requirements for you to be able to drive your bus in the US?

[gbstewart]

if you are legal in your state, you will be legal in here in Canada. just make sure your insurance is good here. where more concerned on bringing in fruit , meat, and guns
the worst case is that they say no for some reason and just turn you around.
come on down
gbstewart

[Njsurf73]

In Massachusetts you can get a "class c" which allows an airbrake endorsement and doesn't push you into CDL territory

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[turf]

i think you need a passport now too

[family wagon]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

You won't get impounded. They'll just refuse to let you cross until you have a driver with an air brake endorsement. For most of us that means getting a class "B" license, usually considered a bus license.

I checked with my DMV about an air brake endorsement on my current class "C" license. There are no subdivisions involving air brake endorsements on a class C license. The choices are either class B or class A. Class A is for truckers and there are things involved with maintaining that license, like physicals and random drug testing.

Mostly agree: my state doesn't offer an air brake endorsement on the class D license either. It's only offered on the CDL licenses, and probably only on classes A and B. But class B does require a DOT medical card renewed every two years just as class A does. Random drug testing, at least here, is something that an employer might impose on its employees; it isn't imposed by the state as a condition of holding a CDL.

[Robin97396]

That's a perfect example of the differences between state licensing. Get solid information specifically from your state's DMV. Follow your state's licensing rules and you'll be accepted in all states.

Canada is apparently a little more difficult for us south of the border folk. Not a Taco Bell reference.

Oregon doesn't even have a class "D" license, unless that's the 16 year old training permit. I'd have to get a class B to have an air brake endorsement in order to allow me to enter Canada. I'm going south first, and it will probably be a very long while before I miss snow enough to head north again. Alaska is pretty cool.

[cadillackid]

in ohio a Class C is considered a CDL and is what you get for any Bus.. and then you can get an air brake endorsement on top of that...

the rule in ohio is you MUST maintain a medical on file if you want to have a CDL and drive out of state.. if you dont drive out of the state you can have a CDL C with B and no medical.. ,

I dont dig cold weather and clouds so im safe.. i wont be going to Canada..
and I dont speak spanish nor drink Tequila so no worries about me going south of the border..

-Christopher

[Robin97396]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

in ohio a Class C is considered a CDL and is what you get for any Bus.. and then you can get an air brake endorsement on top of that...

the rule in ohio is you MUST maintain a medical on file if you want to have a CDL and drive out of state.. if you dont drive out of the state you can have a CDL C with B and no medical.. ,

I dont dig cold weather and clouds so im safe.. i wont be going to Canada..
and I dont speak spanish nor drink Tequila so no worries about me going south of the border..

-Christopher

Canada has relatively hot summers. It's a good trip. So is Alaska. You'd enjoy the trip during warmer weather.

[REDD]

I dont dig cold weather and clouds so im safe.. i wont be going to Canada..
and I dont speak spanish nor drink Tequila so no worries about me going south of the border..

-Christopher[/QUOTE]


Dude! I'm further south than at least five of your northern states....It gets up into the nineties here....also freakin' cold!

It would be a GREAT trip between June and August up the west coast through BC to the Yukon....I'm from BC.

[Robin97396]

I lived in Kamloops for about a year as a kid, near the LaGondola restaurant.

[Clayton]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

in ohio a Class C is considered a CDL and is what you get for any Bus.. and then you can get an air brake endorsement on top of that...

the rule in ohio is you MUST maintain a medical on file if you want to have a CDL and drive out of state.. if you dont drive out of the state you can have a CDL C with B and no medical.. ,

I dont dig cold weather and clouds so im safe.. i wont be going to Canada..
and I dont speak spanish nor drink Tequila so no worries about me going south of the border..

-Christopher

I am in Alberta, Canada. It gets real cold in the winter, but the summers are amazing. Alberta is known for big blue skys too. And to make it even better, the Canadian dollar is only worth about 75 cents US so it's a cheap place to visit. Take a look https://www.travelalberta.com/ca/

[Alan N]

Originally Posted by jester

I'm having nightmares about being stopped at border to Canada and having them say I cant drive through with no cdl? any recent experiences out there. would love to go tool around in the Yukon and BC but don't want to get my rig impounded at border. thoughts?

The border people generally don't care about your driver's license.
If your bus has air brakes you must have an air brake endorsement in BC.
The folks at the border don't care but if you get stopped without it you have trouble.
Don't forget to check out the NW Territories, well worth the trip.
Have fun.

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by turf

i think you need a passport now too

That's to get back IN, not to go to Canada. They'll take a driver's license. We don't.

[slaughridge85]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

That's to get back IN, not to go to Canada. They'll take a driver's license. We don't.

USA, USA, USA, USA we make the most best sense of any country, you know this, you all know this... bigly...

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

That's to get back IN, not to go to Canada. They'll take a driver's license. We don't.

When some of my colleagues have to cross into Canada, they need a passport both ways, at least where they cross. Could be because it's for work...

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[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

When some of my colleagues have to cross into Canada, they need a passport both ways, at least where they cross. Could be because it's for work...

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Yeah, all I got is some experience from 3-4 years ago. Things change. Could be that Canada has decided that we're all whack-a-moles and want to discourage us.

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

Yeah, all I got is some experience from 3-4 years ago. Things change. Could be that Canada has decided that we're all whack-a-moles and want to discourage us.

It is my understanding that they are just mirroring our policy.

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[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

It is my understanding that they are just mirroring our policy.

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We could be saying the same thing here.

[Robin97396]

The government seems to have an increasing need to keep tabs on each of us. They know where you are as long as you've got your smart phone with you.