Newbie Question

Topic 1815 | Page 1

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Al C.'s Comment
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I'm thinking about getting a CDL. Total newbie here. I have been looking and looking online but cannot find any info on what types of trucks are typical for a class A, B and C. I understand it has to do with weights and such. I would be most interested in driving a smaller delivery truck of some sort, like a beer truck or something, not necessarily a tractor and trailer. Also do cdl schools offer all classes? It seems like most schools I look at primarily just handle semis. Any help is appreciated. This is an awesome site.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Kiwi303's Comment
member avatar

I'm thinking about getting a CDL. Total newbie here. I have been looking and looking online but cannot find any info on what types of trucks are typical for a class A, B and C. I understand it has to do with weights and such. I would be most interested in driving a smaller delivery truck of some sort, like a beer truck or something, not necessarily a tractor and trailer. Also do cdl schools offer all classes? It seems like most schools I look at primarily just handle semis. Any help is appreciated. This is an awesome site.

On this site there is the High Road CDL Training resource. A is a truck over 26,001 pounds loaded ready to go with 5th wheel or trailer over 10,000 pounds, really anything that bends in the middle. B is for big trucks 26,001 and over that don't bend or have a trailer less than 10,000 pounds. C is small trucks under 26,000 and over 16,001, D is your basic car licence, anything under 16,000 pounds.

Simple visualisation: A = Big Bendies B = Big solids C = Little rigs D = Itty bitty cars

A beer truck would likely be a B class.

We run it the other way here in NZ, starting with your car licence (vehicles under 6000Kg including trailers) as Class 1 and go up to the big rigs at Class 5 (combinations over 18,000Kg up to 44,000Kg) instead of starting with the big rigs at Class A and going up to the personal cars at Class D.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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