HARRISBURG – The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously passed today Senate Bill 725, legislation sponsored by Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46), allowing farmers to use a Class C driver’s license when operating farm vehicles with a combined weight of more than 26,000 pounds on roadways.
A Class A driver’s license is a graduated license above the common Class C license and requires an additional road test and fee. Act 170 of 2014 clarified that farmers did not need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) when operating farm trucks, or farm trucks hauling trailers, with a combined weight of more than 26,000 pounds. However, it was unclear as to whether a farmer could use a Class C or Class A driver’s license when operating those vehicles.
“I learned about this issue when a farmer in my senatorial district was cited by the Pennsylvania State Police for having the wrong class of driver’s license when operating a truck that was hauling a trailer near his farm that exceeded 26,000 pounds. Even though Act 170 was supposed to reduce burdens on farmers, the state police are requiring farmers to have a non-commercial Class A driver’s license with weights that exceed 26,000 pounds,” Bartolotta said. “That places an impractical requirement on farmers, and it is critical that we avert similar citations on others.”
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Colleen Greer, 717-787-1463