The state House has unanimously passed Senate Bill 725, which clarifies farmers’ use of Class C driver’s licenses. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supported the bill.
SB 725, introduced by Sen. Camera Bartolotta, clarifies the types of licenses that farmers are required to have when operating trucks or truck combinations with a gross vehicle weight more than 26,000 pounds. It specifically clarifies Act 170, which the General Assembly unanimously passed in 2014. That legislation says that farmers do not need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a farm vehicle, or combination, with a GVW of 26,000 pounds or greater. Recent action by State Police has left confusion as to whether farmers need a Class A license instead of the more-common Class C license. SB 725 clarifies that farmers are permitted to operate vehicles with a GVW over 26,000 pounds with a Class C driver’s license.
SB 725 passed the Senate in September and will next be sent to the Governor for final approval.