Class B Drivers License

After we purchased our new motorhome, our friend Gary, who also owns a large motorhome, informed us we needed a Texas Class B drivers license - because this motorhome is over 26,000 pounds. We figured it would be easy to get them here in Brownsville. Roger, you go first! And so the saga begins......
On February 1, Roger went to the local Dept. of Transportation office and picked up a study guide. He read it over a couple of times, studied the appropriate chapters and was pretty confident when he went to take the test the next day. The test turned out to be tests, plural for 4 tests - General Knowledge; Air Brakes; Pre-Trip Inspections; & Special Requirements. He has been driving a motorhome for years and he had gone over the study guide thoroughly so, how hard could it be? Well.............he passed the General Knowledge test with a 97 (the highest score they had seen!) but royally flunked the other 3! No problem, they said, you can come back as many times as you need to. Seems as though they have many "repeaters!"
He is frustrated, many questions about 18 wheelers, school buses, and transporting hazardous materials. I'm not the world's best cook but my food has never been called "hazardous materials" before! Multiple choice questions like "What do you do first following a breakdown?" Roger answered - "pull off the road & put on your emergency flashers" but the correct answer was "put out your triangular reflectors" - how can you do that before you pull over???? And "What year were turn signals inacted?" - the answer is 1962 in case you are interested. How hard can it be????
In addition, he did not pass the vision test. You have to have at least 20/40 vision in each eye and since his accident he is legally blind in his left eye. After checking with several employees they finally said he could fill out form C-592 B and apply for an "exemption." This form stated it was for a CDL (commercial drivers license) so Roger says "I am not applying for a CDL, I need a Class B to drive my motorhome" but, they insisted it was required. This form consists of numerous health related questions with the usual disclaimer at the bottom that basically says "I did not lie." One of the statements is "I have 20/40 vision in both eyes" so Roger takes it to the "waiver lady" and says "I can not sign this because this statement is not true" - to which she replies "You have to answer yes and sign it so I can notarize it and apply for your exemption" to which Roger replies "But, if I answer yes and sign it I won't need the exemption!" They finally settled on Roger making a notation next to the question and signing his name. He thinks he is done - oh, no - now she gives him a physical examination form that requires a physician signature attesting to his health. By now even calm, easygoing Roger has reached his limit! As he is driving home a big cement truck pulls up next to him at a red light - he looks over at the driver and thinks "if that guy can pass the stupid test surely I must be able to!"
He has a pilot license to fly a 300,000 pound airplane, carrying passengers but can't drive his own motorhome! What is wrong with this picture???
After hearing his story I suggest that maybe the employees in Brownsville do not know all the rules and that perhaps a phone call to the DOT in Austin might be beneficial. So, after relating the scenario several times and numerous transfers "up the food chain" he finally gets a lady that said he did not need a waiver for his vision because he is not getting a CDL only a Class B license and if they don't believe him have them call Austin. But, she did not know which of the 4 tests were required. By that time he had been on the phone so long his battery was almost dead so he gave up trying to talk with anyone else!
I also suggested that there might be potential for a new business here - helping people pass the driving test. Similar to "Mr. Bill" at A&M - a former student that had a lucrative business "tutoring" other students to pass the math tests! So Roger gets on the Internet and sure enough someone else had the same idea - for a mere $15.00 you could purchase a practice test and take it as many times as you needed (within a 30 day time frame.) At this point what's $15 bucks? So he purchases the program and begins his quest. After several attempts and a better understanding of the stupidity of the questions he is ready to try again. After all, how hard can it be???
Roger already knows all the employees at the local DOT office by now and they all know him but the next time he gets to meet the manager. Roger explains the story one more time and the "boss" agrees that he does not need the vision waiver for a Class B license but insists that he has to pass all 4 tests. Won a battle but not the war!
Now it is time to take the remaining 3 tests. The tests are computerized - if you answer correctly it moves to the next question, if you get it wrong the question comes back in red  You can "pend" questions you are not sure about. Roger passed the "Airbrakes" and "Special Requirements" tests but had 3 pended questions on the "Pre-Trip Inspection" test. He had to answer one correctly to pass - the anxiety mounts! - he answers #1 and it pops back red - he answere #2 and it pops back red - he answers #3 - and it goes away and he passes with an 80!!! Can't celebrate yet - now he has to schedule the actual driving test! Not as easy as it sounds because it involves moving our house!
His test is scheduled for February 9th at 2pm (remember he started this process on the 1st)  but we have to leave at noon so he can go to a parking lot and practice parallel parking. Yup, you read it right - they require you to parallel park it! I went shopping and he went to meet Natalie. She did a thorough inspection inside & outside and made sure everything worked correctly and then they went for a drive. Roger got 3 "demerits" - he merged off the highway onto an access road and got in the left hand turn lane - all commercial vehicles are supposed to stay in the farthest right hand lane (I'm not a commercial vehicle!) he didn't use his turn signal prior to parallel parking (I'm in a parking lot, not on the street!) and he "kissed" the curb when he parked (Ooops!) But, he passed!!! Not sure what they do if you don't pass - confiscate your home??!!
As they are going into the DOT office to actually get his license Natalie says "I've worked here 4 years and we've never done one of these before. I researched it some and you really only needed to take 2 of the 4 tests - the others are for CDL's only." I think I would have strangled her!
Other future applicants need to thank Roger for paving the way!
Sure glad Roger went first!