I am now a class B CDL holder with passenger endorsement!!!

meow-bounce YES! WOOOO!lets-fucking-go

    • JustSo [she/her, any]
      ·
      edit-2
      4 days ago

      You doing bus driving tho fr? That's sick as hell.

      Fellow hexbearians, remember to always thank your driver. Even if you have crippling social anxiety like me. Even if you're too stoned for the words to come out coherently.

  • JustSo [she/her, any]
    ·
    4 days ago

    FUCK YES. (I don't 100% know what this means- do you get to be a bus driver? that'd be so sick) OMG YOU GET TO BE A TRUCKER!

    YES HAHA FUCK YES. Congratulations!

    Backbone of the economy. We salute you.

    I would love if you posted vague non-identifying updates if you're pursuing this as a career. I keep thinking about it myself.

    (Damn. I'm having flashbacks to student union protests I attended back when I was an unruly little youth where major logistics and construction unions marched in solidarity with us. Felt so good for our scrawny marxist selves to be backed up by the big lads in stickered helmets when the police came to meet us in the middle. WEW. Totally irrelevant but just, fuck yeah.)

    • Justice@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      3 days ago

      Since you're actually asking(maybe?)

      In the US, and I think Canada, but also other countries have equivalent systems, we have non-commercial driver's licenses and commercial driver's licenses (CDL, you often see).

      Non-commercial is your normal person license to drive normal sized, relatively light vehicles legally. Usually it's denoted on your license as Class C. Class M is for motorcycle typically. You can also hold non-commercial Class A and B, but those are less common, typically found with retired drivers only.

      Class A CDL is the big trucks over 26,001lbs (from memory, been years, might be wrong). There's some length limit too and people can google that if they care because, like I said, it's been years

      Class B CDL is big, heavy vehicles but not the big rigs. Typically busses, although some trucks can qualify. I think cement trucks is an example from memory. Heavy trucks that aren't towing a lot.

      Class C is for like normal sized vehicles that have passengers. I believe school vans are in this group as an example.

      There's also endorsements (that's what they're called) that are required to drive certain vehicles. For example, air brakes, that all the big tractor trailers have, is a requirement along with a class A CDL to legally operate a tractor trailer. The person's license gets additional letters (depending on the state but it's pretty uniform now days). Like in PA I think, from memory, air brakes is indicated with the letter L under endorsements. There's a bunch of others like H for hazardous materials handling. P for passengers is what the OP got and probably one or two others (they test them all simultaneously or consecutively usually. Just one big test)

      If you have a US license you can see your own endorsements and restrictions (like medical devices required. Glasses being the most common). For most drivers there will be no endorsements and probably no restrictions either besides glasses. Some people can get restrictions like they need special mirrors to drive safely and stuff like that. I only ever saw glasses and some restrictions specific to CDLs (like the drivers not being allowed to drive manual transmission tractors- only automatic. This is caused if they tested in an automatic. Makes sense)

      • Alisu [they/them]
        ·
        3 days ago

        Oh you have it the other way around. In Brazil we go from A (motorcycles) to B (cars) and then there's C (Vehicles capable of hauling 3500 kg and up), D (Vehicles with more than 8 passengers) and E (Semitrucks). B to E are cumulative, they include previous ranks, A is separate

        • Alisu [they/them]
          ·
          3 days ago

          A dodge ram would need a C driver's license to be driven in here

          • Justice@lemmygrad.ml
            ·
            3 days ago

            That's interesting and also somewhat comical. It makes more sense than the US system though where you can test in a small vehicle, like a VW Jetta or something, then as soon as you have your license you can legally hop in a Dodge Ram without restrictions (possibly a few if you're under 18. But after that there's no distinction at all).

            Also the US CDL system works so that if you hold a Class A then you are also legally able to drive Class B and C as well. And if you hold B you can drive C as well. Although the additional endorsement requirements typically mean someone cannot go from being a big tractor trailer driver to bus driver without first doing additional training and evaluation.

            Someone who only drives the big trucks is unlikely to have the passenger endorsement. There's also some special endorsement for hauling school children ("S" I believe) which they probably don't have. So it's more than just what class CDL they hold. Luckily the federal government at least got most of the commercial driving requirements more locked down and not a free for all the way non commercial is. You also have to be 21 to drive interstate, if I remember correctly. There's medical evaluations like at least every two years or so, but it can more often if someone has a condition that can affect driving.

            One of the few things that somehow got regulated in a "common sense" way here. But it almost doesn't matter because the majority of drivers are non commercial with essentially no requirements beyond a basic medical exam when you're young and passing the written and practical tests. Then you're good to go for 70 years as long as you don't get unlucky or do dangerous stuff like drink and drive.

            • Alisu [they/them]
              ·
              2 days ago

              Oh, you can definitely drive a big car, it just can't pass the 3.5T limit, which some dodge ram models do. It's weird because some smaller vehicles can carry more than those huge trucks. Yeah, we also have some qualifications for specific commercial purposes, like carrying dangerous chemicals. My license takes 10 years to expire (thank fucking bolsonaro for this stupid change) it's convenient, but it's bad, 10 years is way too long

    • JustSo [she/her, any]
      ·
      edit-2
      4 days ago

      With one of those you don't really need permission.

      The number of times someone's appropriated an armoured vehicle from the military even in my comfortable ass country is hilarious. When the police radio chatter eventually makes it online it always cracks me up. "FARK HES GOT A TANK" lmaooo
      *dude proceeds to head to the local police station specifically to run over cop cars on some pettier-than-Marvin-Heemeyer beef* chefs-kiss

  • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 days ago

    Oh man that's such good news and I'm happy for you, congrats! possum-party

    Could you give me a ride to the store now I need to get a vape and some snacks, thanks.

    • JustSo [she/her, any]
      ·
      4 days ago

      braver than the cops.

      fr fr Wish they didn't have to be. Mind you the bar IS pretty low.

  • propter_hog [any, any]
    ·
    4 days ago

    Hey, congratulations! It took me three times to pass the A. That's a hell of an accomplishment for you.

  • Justice@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    3 days ago

    Nice

    I used to work in Hell... aka at the DMV counter (yeah, like Marge's sisters in that episode of the Simpson's). One of the few good feelings was seeing people excited to get their first license or upgrade to commercial. The bus drivers especially were always a diverse group, young and old, all types. I don't recall any commercial drivers ever being an overt asshole either despite them getting objectively fucked over more than non-commercial (normal) drivers.

    But yeah congrats and good luck with the driving

    • Skeleton_Erisma [they/them, any]
      hexagon
      ·
      edit-2
      4 days ago

      Not as hard as I thought it would be!

      Air brakes and inspections are easy to memorize

      The skills are simple and contained in the yard so there's no surprise variables.

      Driving test only went around town with a little bit of urban traffic and a freeway test