Driving a Blitz in Europe

[Phil Waterman]

I’ve been reading with interest what license you need to drive what size CMP where. Just wanted to add a comment though a C60 at 17,000 to 20,000 lbs doesn’t require a commercial rated drivers licenses’ to drive here in the states (the lower limit it is 26,000 or trailer over 10,000). I opted to keep my heavy commercial drivers licenses’ just in case I do have a problem and start having some Police officer start questioning if I qualified to drive a rig like a CMP. Figured big ugly and right hand drive was enough going against me.

In another issue regular vs commercial driving licenses is one that has come up with some of M series trucks which even though the data plate says less than 26,000 lbs is the air over hydraulic brakes. Some of the Highway Enforcement Officers think that this requires a commercial license with the air-brake endorsement. We have also run into a problem with military vehicles that qualify for antique license plates but weigh over 26,000 lbs some people and some Police think they can be driven with a regular license and others think that it requires a commercial driver’s license.

The fun really starts though when one of our Club Convoys comes up on a toll gate the attendants invariably wave us through and when we come up on a weigh station they get really confused do they stop us or not.