Class A CDL, Class B, Class C… What’s The Difference?
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If you are looking into getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you have probably noticed that you have found the three types of CDL licenses. These are Class A, Class B, and Class C. As you are applying for the license, you’ll have to pick one, but what’s the difference? What classification is better for your needs as a truck driver? And do you need to do something different for each class?
This article is going to go over what a class A CDL, a Class B CDL, and a Class C CDL is and what their differences are. Then you will be better prepared to get your commercial driver’s license and also to get the right one!
The Differences Between The Licenses
A CDL allows you to drive 18-wheelers, trucks, and other larger vehicles across the roadways of the United States. Starting things off, a Class A license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds. In layman’s terms, this allows you to drive tractor trailers, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.
A Class B CDL is required to operate any single vehicle that isn’t attached to a trailer, such as commercial trucks that have a cab and cargo area that weigh more than 26,000 pounds combined. These vehicles can include straight trucks, buses, box trucks, and dump trucks that have small trailers.
Finally, a Class C CDL lets you operate a single vehicle with a gross combination weight rating that is less than 26,001 pounds or a vehicle that is either towing a cargo of less than 10,000 pounds or has 16 or more passengers. These vehicles can include double trailers, triple trailers, buses, and tank trucks.
A Class A CDL Rules The Roost
If you are conflicted about what CDL to apply for, or you just want to make sure that you can drive nearly every commercial vehicle under the sun, then you should try to get a Class A CDL. This license allows you to drive every other vehicle in the licenses under it, and it covers most of what you will drive. Unless you are driving a very niche combination vehicle that requires a class B or C CDL, Class A is going to give you all the qualifications you need to get out on the road.
Regardless of what CDL you decide to take, you will still need to take a written exam as well as a driving skills test to prove that you have the skills and knowledge needed to operate a commercial vehicle. Now, sometimes you might not have a lot of choice with what license you apply for, because your job could require a certain type. But if you do have a choice, go for Class A.
Once you get your class A CDL, you might want to look for a job with our teams at Logisticize, because we are going to ensure that your license is put to good use!
