Another Illinois-Class-B-License-Cry-For-Help

[fvdreamwrights]

Hi all, I've been following threads here for almost eight years now and I'm finally ready to pull the trigger on getting a 40ft pusher--but before buying, I'd like to be able to drive it legally. Living in Illinois makes that somewhat difficult, with the whole "you need a license to get a license" catch-22 situation around getting your Class B Non-CDL drivers license.

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but is there anyone in the northern half of IL that would let me pay them to drive me to the DMV in their Class-B rig, then let me drive it long enough to pass the non-CDL test there?

I've called CDL-truck-rental agencies and they all had never even heard of the non-CDL class-B's, so renting a truck from them is not an option for getting the license as far as I know. I'd rent an RV for the test but finding something over 26k lbs with air brakes that's got a minimum-rental-period of less than a week is equally tricky.

If anyone with a class-B or higher license has got some time to kill and wanted some extra cash please lmk, I'd be extremely grateful!

 

[Stovebolt-SKO]

Before you go to the trouble and expense of borrowing someone's rig, make sure you understand the requirements and the testing for a non-commercial Class B.


Still plenty to know and be tested on and you don't want to fail because you weren't prepared.


John
CDL-A

 

[fvdreamwrights]

I appreciate it Stovebolt, I've spent the last week studying all the provided literature. In addition to the literature for the actual CDL class A and B tests, since I figured it would be good to have the knowledge even if I never got a commercial license. May actually go the CDL route in the future, but don't want to drop the money on it when I know I likely won't be needing to do anything with it in 2025. Either way, I'm consistently passing the CDL practice exams available online (I'm not aware of any practice non-CDL tests besides what they provide in the manual), so I think I'm ready to take the test. Just need someone with the right papers/experience sitting there next to me.

 

[s2mikon]

This may be the problem, I have a class B straight truck and I have a Class A CDL licence. I want my son to get his class B CDL so he can drive it, but my insurance co won't put him on the insurance because he doesn't have a class B licence. Now if he gets a learners permit first I can get him insured but my rate gets jacked up until he becomes an experienced driver. They always want to jerk you around by the short hairs.

 

[nikitis]

I appreciate it Stovebolt, I've spent the last week studying all the provided literature. In addition to the literature for the actual CDL class A and B tests, since I figured it would be good to have the knowledge even if I never got a commercial license. May actually go the CDL route in the future, but don't want to drop the money on it when I know I likely won't be needing to do anything with it in 2025. Either way, I'm consistently passing the CDL practice exams available online (I'm not aware of any practice non-CDL tests besides what they provide in the manual), so I think I'm ready to take the test. Just need someone with the right papers/experience sitting there next to me.

Do you have links to the CDL practice exams online? I'd like to try them.

 

[sportyrick]

there is no such nonsense if you have your bus re-titled as an RV, in Missouri anyways. Anyone can drive it if it's an RV, no age limit or restriction, air brakes or not, stick or automatic, no weight limit, it can weigh 80,000 and a 16 year old can drive it, not that I would condone that but you get the drift.

 

[Dbacks2k4]

Most 40-foot pushers are going to have air brakes which can be a tricky test so study that carefully. The order of operations for safe start are easy to get tripped up on!

 

[fvdreamwrights]

CDL Practice Test Links

Do you have links to the CDL practice exams online? I'd like to try them.

Sure thing. Here's the practice tests for IL:
Free Illinois CDL Practice Tests – 2025 CDL Test Questions

For the non-commercial written test, everything is taken from this pamphlet:
https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_x142.pdf
Some of the questions can be tricky with their wording, so memorize all that you can from the pamphlet and take your time reading the questions when you take your test. The good news is you only need to get 20 of the 25 questions correct.

I also found these two videos helpful, they're for the CDL but if you know how to get the CDL then you should be able to get the non-commercial no problem imho:

I also recommend checking out Cheese Wagon's safety check:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/requested-pre-trip-safety-inspection-checklist-33026.html

 

[fvdreamwrights]

Update: Got my non-commercial class B license!

Alright, after 12 hours at the DMV I finally got things sorted (what a fiasco, lol).

Here's a summary of what happened, for those interested:
-I went to the Woodstock DMV to take the tests. I passed the written test, but because of the weather they cancelled all driving tests. Because I had recently moved, they also submitted a change-of-address form for a new license.
-That was a mistake, because the DMV worker that submitted the form didn't know that new permits/licenses CANNOT be issued without a physical, plastic license, so when I showed up the next morning at the Elgin DMV with my $400 truck rental and the paper license from the Woodstock DMV, I was essentially told to f*** off. I was shocked by how mean-spirited the worker at the Elgin DMV was, she almost seemed to enjoy telling people to go home, or telling them that there was nothing she could do to help them. Maybe she was just having a bad day. Anyways, before leaving I was approached by a sympathetic cop who suggested I go back to the Woodstock DMV where I had taken the written test and explain what had happened there, and maybe they would be able to make something work. So I packed up my things and drove the rental to Woodstock (I had gone to the Elgin DMV because it's so much closer to the rental location) and when I arrived the nice ladies from the day before immediately saw me and intervened when the clerk at the front tried turning me away. They realized what had happened (an inexperienced worker had processed the change-of-address before driving test could be completed) and brought it to the manager, who cancelled the change-of-address application and set me up for the driving test. It's funny, the mean-spirited worker at the Elgin DMV told me they could NOT cancel the change-of-address form once submitted...
- Took the driving test, was just the standard class-D test but in a big truck. Beforehand one of the desk-workers who had a CDL saw me studying the CDL pre-trip inspection and told me that I wouldn't need to do any of that--they only have a couple of workers who have a CDL/know anything about driving trucks, and they usually work at the desks instead of grading driving tests. She said the important thing to remember was just to watch your air brake pressure and immediately pull over if the alarm goes off, or you'll soon find yourself flying out the windshield when the emergency brakes go off.

Tl:dr is to never let them change anything on your license/records until AFTER you take the tests, unless you want to wait several weeks for your new license to arrive in the mail, just to go apply for yet another new one after taking your final test. Also avoid the Elgin DMV, they might be more knowledgable but they also just don't give a damn, at least the Woodstock workers were willing to help when they could.

 

[s2mikon]

I'm glad you got it done. Also thank you for doing it right and learning the air brakes. Best wishes for your new project.

 

[cadillackid]

there is no such nonsense if you have your bus re-titled as an RV, in Missouri anyways. Anyone can drive it if it's an RV, no age limit or restriction, air brakes or not, stick or automatic, no weight limit, it can weigh 80,000 and a 16 year old can drive it, not that I would condone that but you get the drift.

some states require a Non CDL class B.. basically a way of them hopiung that people who drive these big RV's have some knpwledge of how to drive them.. I think its something like 15 states have such laws..



some states have a mini pre-trip just for you to show them that you know what the air brake parts are.. they dont have you actually explain slack adjusters or do the DOT bleed down tests during the exam.


people can often self-study for these rather than having to pay 1000s to a company for training and proctoring of the test..

 

[fvdreamwrights]

Do you have links to the CDL practice exams online? I'd like to try them.

Hi Nikitis, just a heads' up that I replied to your question with the links yesterday morning but because it contained links it is still pending admin review.

 

[J-C-C]

So, I got to know, so does having a non CDL Class B license exempt one from taking a driving school to avoid acquiring points?
I am asking not what common sense might suggest but what is actual law.
For example, driving one's own private personal vehicle, on vacation, while unemployed and receiving a moving violation, a CDL holder is not allowed to op out of getting points by taking driving school, which IMO, common sense would allow.

 

[fvdreamwrights]

So, I got to know, so does having a non CDL Class B license exempt one from taking a driving school to avoid acquiring points?
I am asking not what common sense might suggest but what is actual law.
For example, driving one's own private personal vehicle, on vacation, while unemployed and receiving a moving violation, a CDL holder is not allowed to op out of getting points by taking driving school, which IMO, common sense would allow.

That I unfortunately do not know--perhaps someone else here who has a bona-fide CDL could chime in.

 

[SkyMaster]

I have a Class A and my DMV wont allow me to attend a driving school to avoid the points.
Sort of understandable but I believe it should be applied according to what vehicle you're operating when given the citation.
If you are exercising the privileges of your commercial license than you should have to deal with the points, and rightly so, but my personal truck, not so much.

 

[ewo1]

FYI

RV driver license requirements - State Listings

Here is a listing I found showing what is required from each state to drive an RV. From my basic non professional understanding, what your HOME state requirement is , and the tag on the bus should be from your home state, follows you across the country as you drive away into the sunset...

www.skoolie.net