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The commercial classes of license are federally mandated and for the most part uniform. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) describe three vehicle groups for commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) purposes.

Scope

This regulation applies to all people who operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce.

Regulatory citations

Key definitions

  • Commercial driver’s license (CDL): A license issued to an individual by a state or other jurisdiction of domicile, in accordance with the standards contained in 49 CFR 383, to an individual which authorizes the individual to operate a class of a commercial motor vehicle.
  • Commercial learner’s permit (CLP): A permit issued to an individual by a state or other jurisdiction of domicile, in accordance with the standards in 49 CFR 383, which, when carried with a valid driver’s license issued by the same state or jurisdiction, authorizes the individual to operate a class of a commercial motor vehicle when accompanied by a holder of a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) for purposes of behind-the-wheel training. When issued to a CDL holder, a CLP serves as authorization for accompanied behind-the-wheel training in a CMV for which the holder’s current CDL is not valid.

Summary of requirements

CDL classes are determined by the manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR), or the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight (GCW). The CDL classes are as follows:

CDL classDescription
Class AAny combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Class BAny single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
Class CAny single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Class A nor that of Class B, but that either:
  • Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or
  • Is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in 383.5.
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['Commercial drivers license CDL']
['Commercial drivers license CDL']
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