To be a professional truck driver, you need a Class A or Class B Commercial Drivers License. You can go to truck driving school to earn either a Class A or Class B license, but first you should understand what’s the difference between a Class A and Class B CDL. Find out by watching this Class A vs Class B CDL video, or read on below.
What can I drive with a Class B CDL ?
Drivers with a Class B CDL can drive a truck or a truck/trailer with a maximum gross weight of up to 26,000 pounds. Tractors or vehicles being pulled cannot weigh more than 10,000 pounds (and that contributes to the total combined weight limit mentioned above).
Class B CDL drivers often drive school buses, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and road work vehicles like cement mixers. Class B holders can also operate farm machinery, though many states do not require a Class B CDL for farm work.
How much can I earn with a Class B CDL?
The average annual salary for a driver with a Class B CDL is $67,671 in the U.S., according to the employment site Glassdoor. Top earners can take home more than $90,000 a year with a Class B license, while the national average for drivers on the low end of the scale is about $50,000. The range of salaries varies widely depending on the region or state where you live.
What can I drive with Class A CDL?
Drivers with a Class A CDL can drive trucks and trailers with a maximum gross weight of 80,000 pounds – far more than allowed with a Class B CDL. You also need a Class A CDL if they want to drive commercially outside of the state where you license is issued.
Class A licenses are required to drive semi-tractor trailers, often referred to as “semis” or “18-wheelers.” While most Class A license holders drive semis, this license also allows you to drive vehicles listed in the Class B CDL section above.
How much can I earn with a Class A CDL?
In the U.S., the average annual salary for drivers with a Class A CDL is currently $103,742 a year, according to the career site Indeed. Top Class A CDL drivers can earn more than $200,000 annually. On the low end of earnings, drivers with Class A CDLs average $51,444 a year.
Which is better – a Class A or Class B CDL?
That depends on what type of truck(s) you want to drive and the type of job you’re seeking. For example:
- If you want to drive a school bus or a cement mixer, a Class B CDL is enough
- If you want to drive a semi-truck or drive a commercial truck across state lines, you need a Class A CDL
Can I have both a Class A and a Class B CDL?
Good news – a Class A CDL covers everything in the Class B CDL category. So if you’ve been wondering if Class A covers Class B, the answer is yes.
If you have a Class B CDL and obtain a Class A CDL, the Class A license will replace your Class B.
So technically, you will never have both a Class A and a Class B, because a Class A license will cover everything in the Class B category.
Just remember, this doesn’t work in reverse – you can’t drive Class A with a Class B license.
Which class CDL is the best?
If you want to drive everything up to and including a semi-truck, a Class A CDL is definitely best for you. If you want to limit your options to the types of vehicles listed in the Class B CDL section above, then a Class B CDL could be the right choice for you. What class CDL is the best is up to you!
Do I need to go to a CDL school or training program to earn a CDL?
Yes. CDL training programs are required for both Class B and Class A licenses.
I want to drive a semi-truck. How do I find a good Class A CDL training school near me?
Wherever you live right now, we encourage you to check out our Halvor Gold paid CDL training program.
We cover the cost of lodging for trainees outside of our local training areas. We offer paid CDL training and paid OTR training as part of our federally recognized ELDT program.
If you live east of the Mississippi River, and you meet our training requirements, we’ve got a program for you. Apply for a good-paying truck driving job today!
