When is a CDL required?
HAS commercial driver’s license The requirement is based solely on the weight of the truck, for example, a flatbed truck or semi-trailer. This is called GVW or ‘Gross Vehicle Weight’. If your truck has a GVW of more than 26,000, then the truck driver will need to have a CDL. This is the federal requirement. However, if you are traveling across the country, check each state’s laws to make sure they haven’t added more stringent provisions. If you don’t follow the particular state guidelines, you could be fined a significant amount of money, or worse. You should be able to check with any state’s DMV or DOT for their specific requirements.
Whenever you plan to buy a big truck, be sure to find out the GVW and whether a CDL is required to drive it before you buy. We hope you now have a good understanding of what it means when you hear that a utility vehicle is “under CDL.”
How to get a commercial driver’s license
First, you should know that there are three classes of CDLs; Class A, Class B and Class C. Pretty simple.
Class A – This class is for a vehicle combinationFor example, if you are towing a car behind a utility unit. If the combination of both vehicles is 26,001 pounds or more, you must have a Class A CDL.
Class B – This class is for heavy straight vehicles. The most common license, if you are going to drive a vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more, you must have a CDL Class B
Class C – This is for small vehicles, any individual vehicle or a combination of vehicles, which does not fit into the two previous classes. For example, if the vehicle is designed to carry 16 or more passengers, such as a school bus, or if the vehicle is used to transport hazardous materials, the driver must have a Commercial Driver’s License Class C
Now how do you get a CDL?
There are a series of tests that you will have to pass. That includes a test based on your knowledge and, in addition, a test based on your set of trading skills. It’s basically like when you get your normal driver’s license, but on a much larger scale. Anyone can drive a car but you need to be skillful to drive a heavy truck.
The type of knowledge test you will take will depend on the type of license you are seeking, as well as the type of vehicle you plan to drive. Here are some examples of knowledge tests you could take:
General Knowledge: All individuals applying for a CDL will take this general knowledge test.
Passenger Transportation – This is a test taken by anyone who is going to get their license to drive a bus.
School Bus Test: Obviously, this test is taken by people who apply to drive school buses.
Air Brake Test – A special test required for people who drive any truck equipped with air brakes, such as a semi-trailer.
Combination Vehicle Test – This is a test for people who are specifically going to be driving vehicles and also towing vehicles behind them.
Hazardous Materials Test – Another obvious test, this test applies to drivers who will be transporting hazardous materials.
I hope the information I have provided here has given you an idea of all aspects of commercial driver’s licenses. Now you can go find one and know what to expect.
