Hydraulic Brakes

[keithnel]

What is the biggest truck you can run without having air brakes? I want a class B, CDL but do not have a truck to take the test in. I was told I could rent a U- Haul type to use for it, but would not have the air brake endorsement.

 

[Packmule]

You can rent a box truck from Penske and ather rental companys with air brakes. Very reasonable rates, and most are automatic which gives you an edge in testing.

Dan

 

[keithnel]

Outstanding- I was not aware of that. Would you have to have a CDL licensed driver to pick it up for you?

 

[Packmule]

No. You can rent a box truck with air brakes that is under 26,000# (25,500) and it does not require a CDL to operate it.
Call you Penske dealer and they can help you with what you are wanting to do.

Dan

 

[raceman]

Maybe I am not reading this right. First off the mule is right on just call Penske.

Now I am missing something on the air brakes. Air Brakes is an endorsement that you can get simply by the written or computer test. Why do you need a truck to obtain that?
Depending on what state you are in you can test where they have trucks or talk to a driving school and get one to use. What state are you in? and sorry if I am just misunderstanding your question.


Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[ATeam]

When Diane and I got our Class B CDLs in Minnesota, we were required to both pass the air brake written test and take the road test in an air-brake-equipped vehcile to receive the air-brakes endorsement. With no air-brake-equipped truck to road test with, we would not have been able to demonstrate air-brake knowledge when we did the pre-trip inspection as the examiner watched and questioned us.

We did not try to rent an air-brake-equipped truck from Penske, but the rental company we did call refused to rent us one since we did not then have CDLs with air-brake endorsements. For our road test, we rented an air-brake-equipped truck from a company that provides them at the test location for that purpose.

 

[Packmule]

Phil is correct on having a airbrake equipped truck for the road test, you must have air brakes because it is a big part of your pre=trip inspection. In SC it is required that you test for CDL's in an air brake equipped truck.
I had my CDL's when I rented the Penske truck for my wife to test in so it was not an issue, but I remember the guy telling me that anyone could rent the air brake trucks because of the GVW being 25,500# that a CDL was not required. He may have been wrong, therefore I may be wrong. Check with Penske and the DOT in your state to be sure.

Dan