A commercial driver's license is required to operate a commercial vehicle. A specific license and endorsement may be required depending on the size and nature of the load.
Classes of CDL licenses:
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
Parameters:
(1) type of vehicle - single vs combination (tractor and trailer, other)
(2) gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) in pounds
(3) trailer and its GVWR
(4) special type of load (hazardous material, passengers, school bus)
Vehicle |
GVWR |
Trailer |
Special Load |
Class |
single |
<= 26,000 |
none |
no |
none |
single |
<= 26,000 |
none |
yes |
C |
single |
> 26,000 |
none |
NA |
B |
combination |
<= 26,000 |
none |
no |
none |
combination |
<= 26,000 |
none |
yes |
C |
combination |
> 26,000 |
<= 10,000 |
NA |
B |
combination |
> 26,000 |
> 10,000 |
NA |
A |
Situation |
Endorsement |
double or triple trailers |
T |
hazardous material |
H |
tank vehicle |
N |
hazardous tank vehicle (both H and N) |
X |
passenger |
P |
school bus |
S |
Exemptions: A variety of exemptions exist for farming, emergency, recreational and personal-use vehicles.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,