Class 3 license

[Stuntcarpenter]

Hey Guys,

I’m considering getting my class 3 license. I think it would be beneficial to my business and also be able to help my freind haul snow in the winter when he has a hard time finding drivers.

My question is would attending a commercial driving school be a necessity for getting a class 3 or would a few hours driving my friends dump truck be sufficient?

I plan to ready all the rules beforehand. My truck and trailer are already commercial so I know most of the rules when it comes to weights

[raab]

Originally Posted by Stuntcarpenter

Hey Guys,

I’m considering getting my class 3 license. I think it would be beneficial to my business and also be able to help my freind haul snow in the winter when he has a hard time finding drivers.

My question is would attending a commercial driving school be a necessity for getting a class 3 or would a few hours driving my friends dump truck be sufficient?

I plan to ready all the rules beforehand. My truck and trailer are already commercial so I know most of the rules when it comes to weights

Depends on the truck. If it’s a manual I would drive it until you can shift it without grinding gears up and down through the range. Most guys go get their Class 2 on a hydraulic brake school bus because it’s easier then doing the Class 3 with air brakes.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Stuntcarpenter

My question is would attending a commercial driving school be a necessity for getting a class 3 or would a few hours driving my friends dump truck be sufficient?

I'm current in process of getting my Class 3 and this simply comes down to your skill and comfort level driving the truck. I asked while getting my Q "why would anyone take the driver's training for Class 3, for the price of it, you could take the test 16 times"? She said most people taking it don't have their own truck, so they can practice, and then they bring an instructor in at the end of the class, so you can take the test using their truck. Her advice, if you have your own truck, or access to one, just take the test without the driver's training.

Keep in mind it's a four part process for commercial trucks though:

-Air brakes course and practical exam;
-Air brakes knowledge exam (I had to go to the registry office for this);
-Road knowledge exam; and,
-Drivers test.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by raab

Most guys go get their Class 2 on a hydraulic brake school bus because it’s easier then doing the Class 3 with air brakes.

After Humbolt though, I'm pretty sure you have to complete MELT for Class 2, and you don't for Class 3, at up to 50 hours course and $5k.

[raab]

Originally Posted by Trochu

After Humbolt though, I'm pretty sure you have to complete MELT for Class 2, and you don't for Class 3, at up to 50 hours course and $5k.

Yea, it’s been awhile since I looked at it. Thought about that afterwards.

[doublehaul]

There was a discussion on this a month or two ago

[Big Grey Wolf]

Just told wife story when got my first trucking job with paving company. I had never driven gravel truck before, shop mechanic checked me out on one trip. Company gave me one of their new trucks to drive following year.