How To Obtain Commercial Drivers License
The driver’s licenses are categorized according to their use: commercial or non-commercial. Non-commercial drivers are allowed to drive limited number of vehicles with the considerable limitation to the gross weight. In the same manner, if the person has finished the driving school course, one can already apply for the commercial driver’s license. Basically, the commercial driver’s license is a necessary permit before one can driver trucks, trailers, and other vehicles that are intended for transport of commercial purposes.
At the top of the requirement is for the driver to attend the basic driving school course for one to get the learner’s permit, which proceeds to intermediate permit. After the person passes the restrictive period of the permits, one can already apply for the full driver’s license. Because of the age restriction and education requirement, most drivers opt to get the non-commercial driver’s license first, to acquire the experience.
The commercial driver’s license can be narrowed down into three distinct classes:
Class A. Class A driver’s license can already driver trucks with gross weight more than 26, 001 lbs with a considerable towing capacity of more than 10, 00l lbs. As the top class of the commercial license, Class A driver’s license bears the most of privileges necessary for the road.
However, before one can get the Class A driver’s license, the driving school course for the endorsement requirement must be acquired. The endorsement includes bigger vehicles; each endorsement has its own practical tests that must be passed by the driver. Also provided, the driver must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the application.
Because most Class A driver’s license holders are hired by truck companies, the truck driving school training is a common requirement, maybe not of the state but by the industry. In fact, there are truck companies that maintain their own truck driving school to inform and educate their own drivers.
Class B. Downgrading the Class A privileges, the Class B driver’s license allows the driver to take a truck with gross weight more than 26, 000 lbs but with a maximum towage of 10, 000 lbs only. The driver is not allowed to tow a vehicle or a cargo trailer heavier than the maximum permission. Otherwise, the driver may be convicted of civil crime, involving civil penalties higher than the traffic violation penalties.
In the same way with the Class A, it is necessary for a driver to pass the driving school course, which will prepare the person for the practical tests to be administered by the Department of Motor Vehicle. For a note, 18 years old driver can already apply for the Class B license, as with the Class C.
Class C. Class C driver’s license holders are allowed to drive vehicles lower than what Class A and B can driver, but with better preference than the non-commercial ones. Class C drivers can take more than 16 passengers in the vehicle, but the gross weight must not exceed 26, 000 lbs, either combined with the towed cargo or vehicle.
