Class A and B are vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.

• Class A also requires a towed unit of 10,001 pounds or more (i.e., tractor-trailer.)
• Class B may not have a towed unit (i.e., bus, dump truck, etc.)  If it has a towed unit it would be under 10,001 pounds.

Class C is a vehicle whose gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is below 26,001 pounds but is carrying 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous material.

Which class of license do you need?

Certain vehicles, like a school bus or tanker vehicle, can only be driven when the proper endorsement is added to the CDL.  All CDL endorsements are an additional $9.00.  Here is a list of all endorsements:

• H – Hazmat (hazardous materials) allows drivers to carry hazardous material in placard amounts.  Under the US Patriot Act, this endorsement requires the driver to pass a Federal TSA and DOT background check every five (5) years or hold a valid TWIC card in order for it to be applied to a driver license.  The background check can take 30 - 90 days to complete and costs from $80 to $110.  This endorsement requires a 30-question written knowledge test every five (5) years.  Must complete the theory portion of the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the written knowledge test when adding the hazmat endorsement to the license for the first time.

• N – Tanker allows drivers to drive a tank vehicle to transport any liquid or gaseous materials that have a rated capacity of 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of over 1,000 gallons.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test.  No driving skills test is required.

• X – Tanker/Hazmat Combination is required for transporting materials such as gasoline.  This endorsement requires a 30-question hazmat written knowledge test and a 20-question tanker test.  No driving skills test is required, and the fee for this endorsement is $18.  See the hazmat endorsement above for details on how to apply.

• T – Doubles and Triples allows Class A drivers to pull two (2) and three (3) trailers at once.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test.  No driving skills test is required.

• P – Passenger allows Class A, B, or C drivers to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.  This endorsement requires a 20-question written knowledge test and a driving skills test in a representative vehicle.  Must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the driving skills test when adding this endorsement to the license for the first time.

• S – School Bus is an addition to the passenger endorsement.  This endorsement requires a 20-question passenger written knowledge test and a 20-question school bus test.  When renewing the school bus, a written knowledge test must be taken.  A driving skills test is required in a school bus and the fee for this endorsement is $18.  Must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to taking the driving skills test when adding this endorsement to the license for the first time.

A CDL may have restrictions placed on the license due to wearing corrective lenses, not taking written knowledge tests, or using equipment during the driving skills test.  Here is a list of restrictions:

• A – No restrictions
• B – Driver must wear corrective lenses
• E – No manual transmission equipped CMV
• J – Restricts the driver for any other CDL restriction deemed necessary by the division
• K – Intrastate only while driving commercially
• L – No air brake-equipped CMV
• M – No Class A passenger vehicle
• N – No Class A and B passenger vehicle
• O – No tractor-trailer CMV
• V – Federal variance documents required
• Z – No full air brake CMV

Entry-level drivers must complete the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Regulations.  This includes drivers applying to:

• Obtain a Class A or Class B for the first time.
• Upgrade an existing Class B to a Class A.
• Upgrade an existing Class C CDL to a Class B or Class A CDL.
• Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

The ELDT regulations establish a Federal standard for training CDL applicants. Applicants must complete this training before they are permitted to take the CDL driving skills test or, in the case of the H endorsement, the written knowledge test.  Drivers will search for a training provider using the upcoming Training Provider Registry.

The ELDT regulations are not retroactive; individuals who were issued a CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement prior to February 7, 2022, are not required to complete training for the respective CDL or endorsement.

If an applicant obtains a CLP before February 7, 2022, obtains a CDL before the CLP, or a renewed CLP expires, the applicant is not subject to the ELDT requirements.

Any individual who meets one of the exceptions for taking a driving skills test in 49 CFR Part 383 is also exempt from the ELDT requirements.