CDL Classes Explained: How to Choose the Right License for Your Trucking Ambitions

What are the Different Classes of CDL?

If you’re pursuing a career in commercial driving, or simply interested in what it’d take, the first step would be to determine which class of Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs) is the best fit for you. Whether you’re aiming to drive a massive 18-wheeler across the country or transport school children safely, knowing which CDL you need will put you into position to get the right training. In this comprehensive CDL guide, we’ll cover the various CDL classes, explain the types of vehicles each license allows you to operate, and highlight the training and endorsements available to you.

The Importance of a CDL

A CDL is more than just a license; it’s a credential that opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the transportation industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ​(FMCSA) mandates that drivers of commercial vehicles possess a CDL to ensure that all drivers have the necessary skills and knowledge to safely operate large and potentially dangerous vehicles.

Class A CDL: The License for Heavy Combined Vehicles

What is a Class A CDL?

A Class A CDL permits you to operate any combination of vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, as long as the vehicle being towed is heavier than 10,000 pounds. In other words, this license is for those looking to drive large tractor-trailers (semi-trucks) or haul heavy loads across long distances.

What Can I Operate with a Class A CDL?

• Tractor-Trailers: Commonly referred to as semi-trucks.
• Flatbeds: Trucks carrying large, heavy items on open, flat trailers.
• Tankers: Vehicles that transport liquids, including fuel and chemicals.
• Livestock Carriers: Trucks specially designed to safely transport various animals.

Which Jobs Require a Class A CDL?

A Class A CDL unlocks opportunities for long-haul trucking, local delivery jobs, and specialized transport roles. The demand for this particular license is strong and consistent because trucks requiring this license are responsible for transporting nearly every product used by consumers.

What is an Endorsement on a Class A CDL?

Additional endorsements are special permissions added to your license that permit you to operate in special circumstances that aren’t covered by the standard Class A CDL. These require knowledge and skills assessments beyond the basic testing. Some common endorsements include:

• T (Double/Triple Trailers): Enables the pulling of double or triple trailers, as opposed to just one.
• H (Hazardous Materials): Allows for the transportation of hazardous materials.
• N (Tanker Vehicles): Permits tanker vehicle operation, particularly when hauling liquids.

Class B CDL: The License for Heavy Single Vehicles

What is a Class B CDL?

A Class B CDL lets you operate a single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or a vehicle towing another vehicle that does not exceed 10,000 pounds. This license is for those who plan to operate large, heavy vehicles that do not require the complex maneuver training required for tractor-trailer combinations​.

What Can I Operate with a Class B CDL?

• Straight & Box Trucks: The cab and storage compartment in the back are connected with one axle, so the vehicle is one unit.
• Large Buses: These include school buses, city buses, and tourist buses.
• Dump Trucks: Used often in construction or for the transportation of loose material like sand or gravel.

Which Jobs Require a Class B CDL?

A Class B CDL unlocks many city-based or shorter-distance driving roles, like bus driving or local deliveries on smaller scales. It also opens opportunities in the construction industry, where drivers can operate dump trucks or similar heavy machinery.

What Are Some Class B CDL Endorsements?

Certain endorsements are required for specific situations, like:

• P (Passenger): Allows for driving passenger vehicles like buses.
• S (School Bus): Specifically enables operating a school bus.
• H (Hazardous Materials): Permits the transportation of hazardous materials.

Class C CDL: The License for Small Commercial Vehicles

What is a Class C CDL?

A Class C CDL is required to operate vehicles that do not fall under Class A or B but are designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials. This license is less complex than A and B but still requires specific skills and knowledge​.

What Can I Operate with a Class C CDL?

• Passenger Vans: Enables transportation of 16 or more passengers.
• Small Buses: Hotel, hospital, or other company shuttles.
• Hazardous Material Vehicles: Small trucks or vans that carry hazardous materials.

Which Jobs Require a Class C CDL?

Class C CDL holders often work in niche markets, such as driving shuttle buses and vans or transporting hazardous materials in smaller quantities.

What Are Some Class C CDL Endorsements?

Given the nature of the vehicles operated, endorsements are often necessary:

• P (Passenger): For driving passenger vans or buses.
• H (Hazardous Materials): Required to transport hazardous materials, even in small quantities​.

How to Get a CDL

Now that you have an understanding of the different CDL classes and the specific career opportunities each presents, you can start your journey toward obtaining one. The FMCSA requires that drivers pass both a knowledge test and a skills test to acquire the particular CDL they have their eyes on. It would be impossible to pass these tests without the effective and comprehensive training that prepares you for not just the test, but the road and career beyond it.

Which CDL Training School is Best?

At New Sound CDL School, we understand from firsthand experience that obtaining your CDL is more than just getting a license – it’s about launching a successful career and creating a sustainable, rewarding life. Our program is designed with your future in mind, so we offer top-tier training with seasoned instructors who equip you to take the transportation industry by storm with skill and confidence. Ours is a comprehensive approach that lets you work closely with your instructors to establish CDL expertise in a friendly, collaborative, and exciting environment.

Why NST CDL School is the premier choice:

• Expert Instructors: Our instructors are seasoned professionals with decades of shared experience behind the wheel across multiple countries and various truck and cargo types. As well as field experience, they’re certified trainers with years spent educating students in the classroom and on the course. They’re a hand-picked team of dedicated experts committed to your success with personalized guidance throughout your training.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Our curriculum covers all aspects of commercial driving, from understanding the rules of the road to mastering the hands-on skills needed to operate large vehicles safely. We ensure that our students have not only mastered everything they’ll encounter on the CDL test, but also on the road in the real world.
• Professional Facilities: We invest in the best equipment and training tools to ensure that you are learning on the same type of vehicles you’ll be driving in your career. As the next generation of the transportation industry, we refuse to cut corners in equipping you rightly.
• Job Placement Success: With strong connections to leading transportation companies like McLane, Swift, and Sysco, we work hard to get you on the road and earning money as quickly as possible. We’re not just training you to pass the CDL exam; we can also help connect you with a prosperous career as soon as you’ve graduated.
• Multilingual Trainers: Our trainers are fluent in English, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian, so language doesn’t have to be a barrier to your progress. If you don’t speak English, no worries!
• Financial Assistance: We understand that paying for school before starting your career can be a challenge, so we offer multiple avenues to make things work. Simply reach out to us for more information and we can help! 

Begin Your Career Today!

Don’t wait to embark on your journey to becoming a licensed commercial driver; apply now! The NST CDL School is here to provide you with the education, skills, and support you need to succeed.

Contact us today to learn more about our programs, or visit us to see what we’re all about! With our team, you’re not just getting a license – you’re gaining a partner committed to your lifelong success in the transportation industry. Let’s drive your future forward.