CDL Licenses - Understanding The Commercial Driver’s License
Created by an act of congress, the commercial driver’s license, commonly known as the CDL, officially became the license required for truck drivers and certain other types of commercial vehicles. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was an effort to improve the safety of US highways by requiring that drivers are qualified to drive commercial vehicle. The law established a set of standards to be administered by the states when qualifying a driver for a CDL. While each state issues a CDL, the U.S. Department of Transportation sets the guidelines and requires drivers to obtain a CDL permit by first passing a written CDL exam, passing a DOT physical and drug screen and then completing a CDL skills test. The CDL skills test includes both a CDL pre-trip inspection and basic vehicle control test.
Different classes of the CDL allow drivers to drive different types of vehicles. The vehicles are categorized by weight an vehicle type. Common commercial vehicles include tractor trailers (semis), school buses, dump trucks and any vehicle transporting quantities of hazardous materials with warning placards required by the DOT.
CDL Classifications
States are able to issue CDLs only after a written and practical test have been given by the State or approved testing facility. A driver needs a CDL if the vehicle meets one of the following definitions of a CMV.
Class A CDL - Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds (11,793 kg) provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds (4536 kg). A common class A vehicle is a tractor trailer also known as a semi.
Online Class A CDL Training Options
Class B CDL - Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds (11,793 kg), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR. Common vehicles include school buses, dump trucks and straight trucks.
View Available Online Class B CDL Training
Class C CDL - Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.
Class C CDL Training Coming Soon!
CDL Endorsements
Additional testing is required to obtain any of the following endorsements on the CDL. These can only obtained after a CDL has been issued to the driver:
Semi trailer Double or Triple (Written Test)
Passenger Vehicle (Written and Driving Tests)
School Bus (Written and Driving Test, Background Check, Sex Offender Registry Check and P endorsement)
Tank Truck (Written Test)
Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials (Written Test)
