Trouble With The PENNSYLVANIA DMV ?

I signed up for a private trucking school ($1000 up front) and passed a DOT physical with no trouble. classes start next week. Since I have been working slow and steady on the High Road Training Program ( awesome resource- thanks!) for a while I decided to stop by my state of PA DMV license center and pick up the commercial drivers manual and whatever else I thought could be useful. One item I got was a list of testing centers and a list of required documents -

current driver's license
2 proof of residency (utility bill, mortgage papers or lease)
social security card
valid passport or birth certificate with raised seal

it seems excessive but I have pretty much everything i need except the actual social security card I got when I was 14 years old.... and that could be a problem, because until I was 17 and the state trooper at the DMV looked at my application for a driver's learner permit and informed me that I put the wrong date on my application I had no idea my family always celebrated my birthday on the wrong day. Of course the social security folks had no problem sending my paperwork through with the wrong date of birth. I was the last of ten kids and it was only a few days off so no big deal, right? well maybe not.

I went to the local social security office today to get a replacement social security card with my drivers license, birth certificate and passport - all that have my correct birthdate- and was informed that they couldn't issue me a new social security card with the wrong birthdate ( understandable) and I would have to get one with a correction to show the right birthdate. The clerk that was inputting the information to the California database ( i was born in california) tried twice and screwed up both times because she had never done it before and got kicked out of the california system. She gave me her card and told me to call her in 4 weeks if I hadn't heard back from Social Security with a status.

well that might be a problem because I am assuming I can't do any behind the wheel training without some type of learner's permit, correct? My classes start next week.

I'm thinking that I might just go to a testing center and try to take the test (even if I fail) and if they allow it with my documentation I will know I can go in for the test with the documents I have. I think I need to call the school and let them know that I may not be able to start until this is resolved.

Any ideas here would be welcome

Hi Chris- I just started school and mine said that I had to have the learners permit to even attend (I'm in Mi) so ya, contact them and tell them what's going on. They may even be able to help you get it resolved.

Chris, what school will you be attending in the PA area? I am also in the Pa area and from what I have gone through so far. You need to have your DOT physical before heading over to Penndot in order to take your permit test. This however is not written in stone. It all depends on the person at the desk. But for the most part you will need your DOT card first. Also, I would still go to class next week. Again, most schools do not require you to have the permit the second you walk in the door. What a good school will do is go over some things in class for a few days that will be on your general knowledge test and air brake test. And then after a few days require you to start going to penndot in order to get your permit and air brake endorsement. Again, I don't know of one school that requires it right off the bat. You do not need your permit until you start getting behind the wheel of their trucks because it's required by law. Hope this helps you out. Anything I can help you with, just holla.

I'm going to Smith & Solomon on Richmond street, Philadelphia. I might be getting my shorts bunched up over nothing because the proof of citizenship and residency is to change license to PA from out of state. I'll give my contact at school a call and ask them what i need to take the permit test as a PA licensed driver- hopefully it is only my Valid PA drivers license.

I'm going to Smith & Solomon on Richmond street, Philadelphia. I might be getting my shorts bunched up over nothing because the proof of citizenship and residency is to change license to PA from out of state. I'll give my contact at school a call and ask them what i need to take the permit test as a PA licensed driver- hopefully it is only my Valid PA drivers license.

I took my CDL-A Permit Test yesterday (December 1, 2015) at PennDOT's Harrisburg, PA facility, and all I was asked to present was my current Pennsylvania Driver's License, the completed application, and the medical certificate. Once that was processed, I took the 70 question General Knowledge/Combination Test and the 25 question Air Brake Test.

I hope that's all you need to have when you go to PennDOT.

Keep us posted.

Steve

Thanks Steve, I called my contact at the trucking school and she is going to check with an instructor and get back to me. Hopefully PennDOT will be asking for the same in Philadelphia too.

Thanks Steve, I called my contact at the trucking school and she is going to check with an instructor and get back to me. Hopefully PennDOT will be asking for the same in Philadelphia too.

Harrisburg is the main dictator of everything that happens in the entire state of Pa. So I am almost certain that Philly runs its DMV offices the same as Harrisburg. Also, I was considering S&S for a while but decided to go else where. The range where we practice is just around the corner from your school. Also, S&S at their Delaware location is having an open house this friday. And U.S. Express will be there doing a recruiting driving. Would be worth it to go there and just listen to their sales pitch. This way you have a handle on what various companies and their going rates are. Just an FYI....

Thanks boomshaker I heard back from S&S today and they are confirming what you said- All I need is my medical, a PA driver's license and to pass the test to get a permit. For now I'm putting feelers out to those companys with a liberal pet policy... I'll check out USXpRESS and see if we are a good fit.