How do you get your CDL?
Apart from the federal guidelines spelled out by the U.S. Department of Education and the aforementioned PDTI and FMCSA, each state also has its own requirements for awarding commercial driver’s licenses. In general, however, the requirements for each state usually require you to complete the following three steps:
- Get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP)
- Earn a certificate of completion from a PDTI- or FMCSA-certified CDL class
- Pass a commercial driver’s license skills exam
To learn more about any additional requirements in your state, we invite you to check out our state-by-state guide to earning your CDL here.
What Kind of Vehicle Requires a CDL?
You must hold a current, valid CDL anytime you’re planning on driving certain types of vehicles. This is a national requirement per the 1986 Commercial Motor Vehicle Act (CMVSA). Vehicles that fall into this category include:
- Any vehicle with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of more than 26,001 lbs.
- Any combination of vehicles exceeding the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. when the vehicle being towed weighs more than 10,000 lbs.
- Vehicles designed to transport 16-or-more people (including the driver)
- Any vehicle required to be placarded while carrying hazardous materials
It is important to note that there are multiple types of commercial driver’s licenses, and operating the some of the aforementioned vehicles will require the driver to hold a specific CDL. It is also necessary in many states for the license holder to have certain endorsements prior to operating some vehicles.
What are Class A, B and C Licenses?
There are three different classes of commercial driver’s licenses. The specific license required to drive a particular vehicle is determined by the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of the vehicle being operated. A brief look at Class A, B and C licenses follows below.
Class AClass BClass C
What is a Class A License?
The Class A License is required for truckers who operate a combination of vehicles with a GCWR greater than 26,001 lbs., including a towed vehicle heavier than 10,000 lbs. Examples of such vehicles include:
- Flatbeds
- Livestock carriers
- Tankers
- Tractor-trailers and tractor-trailer buses
- Truck and trailer combinations
It should be noted that individuals who hold a Class A License, and have the right additional endorsements, may also be allowed to drive Class B and C vehicles.
What is a Class B License?
Class B Licenses are required for drivers who intend to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or greater, or any Class B single vehicle that is towing another vehicle of 10,000 lbs. or less. Examples include:
- Box trucks
- Dump trucks with small trailers
- Large buses
- Straight trucks
With the correct endorsements, a Class B may additionally authorize the driver to operate certain Class C vehicles.
What is a Class C License?
The least-commonly required type of CDL, the Class C License is necessary for those who are operating vehicles that do not fall under the descriptions for Class A or B, and are specifically intended to transport at least 16 people (including the driver) or HAZMAT (hazardous materials). Examples of these include:
- Combinations of vehicles not falling under the Class A or B designation
- Passenger vans
- Small HAZMAT transportation vehicles
What are CDL Endorsements?
Federal endorsement codes can be added to your CDL after you’ve passed specific written knowledge or road skills tests. These endorsements may be required by your state, in combination with your Class A, B or C license, in order to operate specific vehicles within state borders.
The following is a list of the current federal CDL endorsements for 2017:
- H Endorsement – Required to drive vehicles carrying HAZMAT (hazardous materials)
- N Endorsement – Required to operate tank vehicles
- P Endorsement – Required for carry more than a specific number of passengers
- S Endorsement – Required to drive a school bus
- T Endorsement – Required to tow either a double or triple trailer
- X Endorsement – Required to operate a combination of hazardous materials carriers and tank vehicles
Truck Driving as a Career
Regardless of the type of commercial driver’s license you’re pursuing, your end goal is obviously the same – a career in professional trucking. In this section, we’ll take a quick look at some exciting employment and salary trends that should make you feel good about your decision to work on our nation’s highways and interstates.
Simply click on either of the tabs below find out about the long-term job prospects for truck drivers across the United States, and to learn how much you can expect to earn while driving professionally in your state.
Employment Outlook
The 10-year job outlook for truck drivers in America is strong. According to the most-recent data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for new Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers is expected to increase by 5% through 2024. That’s an increase of approximately 98,800 new positions for ambitious, skilled professionals like you!
An area expected to see particularly-strong growth is the oil and gas industry, where the anticipated increase in domestic U.S. resource extraction is expected to create significant boom in opportunities for CDL Class A and B drivers in the coming years.
Salary
Per the latest figures available in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for commercial truck drivers in the U.S. was $40,260 as of May 2015. This is well above the national median of $36,200 for all occupations in the country at that time, and represents a strong incentive for anyone who already enjoys being behind the wheel.
