Trucking Information
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Types of Commercial Driving Licenses
If you are interesting in a truck driving career, you will need to know the types of commercial licensees that are available. Knowing the differences will help you decide on which type of license you would like to pursue.
Class A CDL
A Class A license allows a driver to operate any vehicle with a semi-trailer or trailer with two or more axles. The combination of the vehicles has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 26,001 pounds. You must have a Class A CDL to tow trailers with more than 10,000 pounds of GVWR.
Vehicles you may drive with a Class A CDL are:
- Semi-Truck or Tractor-Trailer
- Tankers
- Truck & Trailer Combinations
- Livestock Carriers
- Flatbeds
- Class B & C Vehicles
Class B CDL
With a Class B license, a driver can operate a single vehicle, which is a commercial vehicle that has an attached cab and cargo area with a combined weight of over 26,001 pounds. Also, trucks with a GVWR of over 26,001 pounds that is towing a trailer that has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less.
Vehicles you may drive with a Class B CDL are:
- Straight Trucks
- City, Tourist & School Buses
- Box Trucks
- Segmented Buses
- Dump Trucks with Small Trailers
- Class B Vehicles
Class C CDL
Lastly, this license allows a driver to operate any vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) and vehicles that transport hazardous materials (Hazardous Materials Transportation Act).
Vehicles you may drive with a Class C CDL are:
- HAZMAT Vehicles (small trucks)
- Tank Trucks
- Passenger Vans
Endorsements
Now that you have chosen your CDL license, it's time to think about the endorsements you want to put on it. An endorsement is an authorization to your CDL license that permits you to operate certain types of commercial motor vehicles. Endorsements require taking specialized tests. Also, each class license can have multiple endorsements.
(X) Tanker and Hazardous Waste - This is a combination endorsement that allows you to transport hazardous waste in a tanker.
(H) Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) - You can transport hazardous materials (e.g., flammable liquids).
(N) Tanker - You can driver a tanker (permanent or temporary tank attached to the vehicle). To drive a tanker containing hazardous waste, you will need the Tanker and Hazardous Waste endorsement.
(P) Passenger Transport - This endorsement allow you to transport a certain number of people (e.g., a commuter bus).
(S) School Bus/Passenger Transport - This is different than the P endorsement in that you can drive a school bus. Please note: background checks, a fee(s) and a special application form are required.
(T) Doubles & Triples - You can tow a double or triple trailer. Please note: it is illegal to tow a triple trailer in some states and you must have a Class A license to tow them.
Class Licenses & Endorsements
For each CDL license, you may hold one or more endorsements for the following:
Class A
- P Endorsement
- S Endorsement
- T Endorsement
- N Endorsement
- H Endorsement
- X Endorsement
Class B
- P Endorsement
- N Endorsement
- H Endorsement
- S Endorsement
- X Endorsement
Class C
- S Endorsement
- H Endorsement
- P Endorsement
Trucking Regulations
Know the Latest Hours of Service Rules to Stay Compliant
Property-Carrying Drivers
11-Hour Driving Limit - May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
14-Hour Driving Limit - May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.
30-Minute Driving Break - Drivers must take a 30-minute break when they have driven for a period of 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption. The break may be satisfied by any non-driving period of 30 consecutive minutes (i.e., on-duty not driving, off-duty, sleeper berth, or any combination of these taken consecutively).
60/70 Hour Limit - May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Sleeper Berth Provision - Drivers may split their required 10-hour off-duty period, as long as one off-duty period (whether in or out of the sleeper berth) is at least 2 hours long and the other involves at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth. All sleeper berth pairings MUST add up to at least 10 hours. When used together, neither time period counts against the maximum 14- hour driving window.
Adverse Driving Conditions - Drivers are allowed to extend the 11-hour maximum driving limit and 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours when adverse driving conditions are encountered.
Short-Haul Exception - A driver is exempt from the requirements of §395.8 and §395.11 if: the driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location, and the driver does not exceed a maximum duty period of 14 hours. Drivers using the short-haul exception in §395.1(e)(1) must report and return to the normal work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours, and stay within a 150 air-mile radius of the work reporting location.
Passenger-Carrying Drivers
10-Hour Driving Limit - May drive a maximum of 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty.
15-Hour Driving Limit - May not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours, following 8 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time is not included in the 15-hour period.
60/70 Hour Limit - May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days.
Sleeper Berth Provision - Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth, and may split the sleeper berth time into two periods provided neither is less than 2 hours. All sleeper berth pairings MUST add up to at least 8 hours.
Adverse Driving Conditions - Drivers are allowed to extend the 10-hour maximum driving time and 15-hour on-duty limit by up to 2 hours when adverse driving conditions are encountered.
Short-Haul Exception - A driver is exempt from the requirements of §395.8 and §395.11 if: the driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location, and the driver does not exceed a maximum duty period of 14 hours. Drivers using the short-haul exception in §395.1(e)(1) must report and return to the normal work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours, and stay within a 150 air-mile radius of the work reporting location.
