House Transportation hears how H.284 could require vision checks and CDL training for some RVs

Patrick McManamon, supervisor of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Education Unit, told the Vermont House Committee on Transportation on Wednesday that House Bill H.284 would require vision testing at renewal for drivers over certain ages and would force some recreational-vehicle owners to obtain commercial driver—s licenses and training if their rigs meet federal weight thresholds.

The bill, as discussed in the committee hearing, would require anyone who renews a license and is over age 70 to get an eye exam at DMV. Separately, H.284 would require specialized training for anyone who purchases an RV with a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,001 pounds and would trigger CDL requirements where the vehicle or combination meets federal CDL thresholds (for example, a straight vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or a combination where the trailer exceeds 10,001 pounds and the combined GVWR exceeds 26,001 pounds), McManamon said.

The change would not affect most private, noncommercial RV use, McManamon said: a private Vermonter who buys a large straight vehicle for personal use is not currently required to hold a CDL unless the vehicle meets the state—s passenger- or weight-based exemptions that already trigger CDLs. He contrasted that with commercial operations: a dealer or company delivering an RV would need the appropriate CDL because the drive is a commercial activity.

Why it matters: Committee members expressed concern about safety and practical impacts. Several members said they were sympathetic to safety arguments — particularly vision standards — but noted large numbers of Vermonters could be affected and that the state lacks specific crash data that isolates RV involvement. Representative Burke and others asked staff to provide more research on other states— approaches and on crash reporting breakdowns for RVs.

Key details discussed

- Vision testing: McManamon said federal rules already require vision exams for CDL holders, and the bill would extend a DMV-administered eye exam at renewal for older non-CDL drivers if enacted. He told the committee Vermont currently has about 87,000 licensed drivers aged 70 or older; if renewals occur on a four-year cycle that implies more than 20,000 additional in-person DMV visits per year for exams.

- CDL thresholds and RVs: McManamon explained federal CDL classes. Class B covers straight vehicles whose GVWR is 26,001 pounds or more; Class A covers combinations whose combined GVWR is 26,001 pounds or more and whose trailer GVWR exceeds 10,001 pounds. He said no other state currently requires specialized training for smaller RVs under those CDL thresholds, though some states require additional training for larger vehicles.

- Training and cost: Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and related federal requirements would apply if an RV purchase required a CDL. McManamon said ELDT includes classroom/theory, behind-the-wheel range, and open-road instruction; schools and instructors must appear on the federal registry to sign off competency. He estimated entry-level training costs around $8,000 per person. He also warned that if the DMV were to offer the training directly it would need to buy appropriate vehicles for training (class A and class B units and trailers), a potentially substantial capital cost.

- Medical certification and endorsements: Medical exams for CDL drivers are federally mandated and valid for up to two years unless a medical examiner prescribes a shorter interval. McManamon said school-bus endorsements require medicals on file and that if a CDL is downgraded because a medical expires for extended periods a retest may be required (six months for school-bus operators; other CDLs may face different time frames).

Committee response and next steps

Committee members asked for additional information before the legislature moves H.284 forward. Several lawmakers urged separate consideration of vision testing for older drivers apart from the RV/CDL questions. The DMV witness agreed to provide follow-up data, including the number of active CDL holders in Vermont and whether crash reporting can be parsed to identify RV involvement. No vote or formal committee action on H.284 occurred at the hearing; members said the session was an informational briefing because presenters changed at short notice.

McManamon summarized practical implications for Vermonters: if H.284 becomes law, a Vermonter who buys a large RV for personal use could be required to obtain specialized training and, in some configurations, a CDL before operating it in Vermont; commercial drivers delivering or operating RVs for hire would already be subject to federal CDL and medical requirements. "If this was to pass, I can still drive that Penske truck down there, but the same size RV, I wouldn't be able to," McManamon told the committee, illustrating how the rule would apply differently to rental, commercial, and private operations.

The committee scheduled no vote and asked staff and DMV to return with a fuller presentation of the DMV Education Unit's role, cost estimates for training and equipment, counts of impacted license holders, and any available crash data that isolates RVs.