Date : 13-Oct-2025 01:15 pm
You must start your commercial driving career with the most suitable CDL Class for yourself. And if you don’t know much about the different classes that exist in the CDL licensing process, then you have landed on the right page. We will be discussing all the important details regarding Class A & Class B CDL licensing.
In this article, we will break down all the important areas, like what the basic differences are, which types of vehicles are included in each class, what opportunities they will offer you in the future, and how our Truck & Bus driving school will help you get your dream commercial driving career smoothly.
What is a Class A CDL?
Class A CDL is the main license you need if you want to drive big trucks and combination vehicles in the U.S. This includes 18-wheelers, flatbeds, tankers, and livestock carriers. Many call it the “gold standard” license because it gives the most flexibility and job options in the US trucking market.
Class A CDL Vehicle Conditions
A CDL Class A is issued to combination vehicles whose GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 26,100 pounds or above and the towed vehicle weighs 10,000 pounds or more. This license is for operators who wish to operate combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers (or 18-wheelers), tankers, flatbeds, stock carriers, etc.
Major benefits of this license
● Highly Flexible: This license allows you to drive many vehicles that are covered in the Class B category. So, you can drive both Class A & Class B vehicles.
● More Job Options: It opens doors to local, regional, and long-haul jobs in all US states.
● High demand nationwide: Trucking companies in the U.S. always look for qualified Class A drivers. So you are never going to be off in demand.
● Higher Salaries: This license can equip you to land jobs with higher paychecks. There are higher chances of overtime pay, bonuses, and benefits as there are long-distance and the need for specialized trucking.
● Eligibility for Class B and C vehicles: The Class A automatically qualifies you to drive many Class B and Class C vehicles (with proper endorsements).
● Career Growth: You can get endorsements like HazMat, Tanker, Doubles & Triples, etc, to grow your driving career into more specialized and high-income generating jobs.
● More Authority: A Class A CDL license gives you the authority to finally buy or lease your own truck and start your own business. Thus, you can have the chance of getting independence and a much higher earning potential.
● Travel Possibilities: Long-haul driving jobs require their drivers to travel across the country. If you love travelling to new places, then getting a CDL Class A license can be an excellent choice for you.
● Job Security & Stability: The Class A drivers enjoy long-term career stability even during economic falls.
What is a Class B CDL?
The CDL Class B license is for those aspiring drivers who want to drive single commercial vehicles that do not have any attached or towed vehicles. Under this license you can legally drive buses, delivery trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks, and straight trucks.
It is one of the most commonly chosen in the US, as it includes many local and regional driving jobs. This license is mostly chosen by those who want steady work, regular schedules, and less long-haul driving.
Class B CDL Vehicle Conditions
A Class B CDL license is given to those vehicles whose GVMR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is 26,001 pounds or more and the towed vehicle weighs 10,000 pounds or less. It is mainly chosen by drivers who want to work with large single-unit vehicles like buses, garbage trucks, dump trucks, and delivery vehicles.
Major benefits of this license
● Steady Local Jobs: Class B drivers usually work locally means they can return to their home daily instead of long-haul travel.
● Doable for Bus and Truck Drivers: You can drive city buses, school buses, dump trucks, tow trucks, and other commercial vehicles.
● High Demand in Cities: Local businesses, municipalities, and transport companies across the U.S. still need Class B drivers in bulk.
● Faster Entry to Workforce: The training for a Class B CDL usually takes less time than the Class A license.
● Growth with Endorsements: You can add endorsements like Passenger (P), School Bus (S), or HazMat (H) to increase job options and income for yourself.
● Lower Training Cost: As the Class B CDL training is shorter, it also costs less than Class A programs making it budget-friendly for most people.
● Good Pay for Local Driving: Even though it may not pay as high as Class A, but many Class B jobs offer competitive wages with steady hours also.
● Good Public Sector Jobs: Many government and city positions like bus or sanitation driving jobs can provide you with more stability, benefits, and pensions.
CDL Class A Vs CDL Class B
You can check the table given below for better reference.
|
Category |
Class A CDL |
Class B CDL |
|
Vehicles Allowed |
Hybrid vehicles like Tractor-trailers, tankers, flatbeds, livestock carriers, etc |
Single vehicles like Buses, delivery trucks, dump box trucks, trucks, etc |
|
Available Job Options |
Long-haul trucking, regional freight, tanker, flatbed hauling, etc |
Bus driving, local delivery, construction, municipal services, etc |
|
Training Length |
Usually longer and more exhaustive |
Generally shorter and less intensive |
|
Flexibility |
Can operate most Class B vehicles as well |
Limited to Class B vehicles only |
|
Earning Potential |
Often higher salaries due to long-haul and specialized freight jobs |
Moderate, with stable local and regional work |
|
Lifestyle Fit |
Suited for drivers open to travel and longer hours |
Best for drivers seeking steady local routes and more predictable schedules |
Conclusion
So, these were the definitions and differences of CDL Class A & Class B licenses. You can choose as per your career goals, salary expectations, and work hour preferences. We are Fremont Truck & Bus driving school, where we have courses for both these CDL license classes. Contact us to know more about our courses and how we will help you get your CDL license smoothly.