What is the driving scope of an M-class driver's license?
3 Answers
M-class is the driver's license for wheeled self-propelled machinery. Additional information: Classification of wheeled self-propelled machinery: Wheeled self-propelled machinery is divided into rail-type wheeled self-propelled machinery and ordinary wheeled self-propelled machinery (including tire-type and wheel-hub-type). The former includes train locomotives, motor cars, rail cars, rail motorcycles, rail cranes, and special railway construction machinery (excluding ordinary freight carriages). The latter includes automobiles, tire cranes, road rollers, tractors, harvesters, and special construction machinery (excluding automobile trailers). Permitted vehicle types: (1) A1: Large passenger vehicles (other permitted vehicle codes: A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M); (2) A2: Heavy and medium-sized full trailers and semi-trailers (other permitted vehicle codes: B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M); (3) A3: Urban buses with a capacity of 10 or more people (other permitted vehicle codes: C1, C2, C3, C4); (4) B1: Medium-sized passenger vehicles (including urban buses with a capacity of 10 to 19 people, other permitted vehicle codes: C1, C2, C3, C4, M); (5) B2: Heavy and medium-sized trucks; heavy and medium-sized specialized operation vehicles.
Before obtaining my M license, I specifically researched its scope. It primarily permits the operation of agricultural machinery. For example, vehicles like wheeled tractors and combine harvesters used for plowing and sowing fields are allowed. Small agricultural transport vehicles commonly seen in fields, as well as tractors with trailers, are also legal. The key point is to look at the overall vehicle characteristics: the engine power must be within 11 kilowatts, and the designed speed should not exceed 40 km/h. Remember, the M license does not allow riding regular motorcycles. My neighbor, Old Wang, was fined last time for riding an agricultural tricycle like a motorcycle on the road. In actual driving, you also need to check the vehicle category registered on the driving permit.
Having driven agricultural machinery for seven or eight years, I'm very familiar with the scope of the M license. Simply put, it covers self-propelled machinery with tracks or wheels and smaller engine power, like rice transplanters and silage harvesters used for fieldwork. One easily overlooked detail: the M license allows operating agricultural trailers, but the total mass must not exceed the limit. Two years ago, our cooperative's new alfalfa baler with a small trailer was non-compliant because the empty trailer weight exceeded 450 kg. By the way, specialized machinery like road sweepers is also included.
