Class A vs Class B CDL
A Class A CDL lets you drive combination vehicles (tractor-trailer) with a gross combination weight of 26,001 pounds or more when the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds, and it also covers everything a Class B can drive. A Class B CDL covers single vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more (dump trucks, straight trucks, buses) towing no more than 10,000 pounds. Class A opens far more jobs and pays more; Class B is faster to earn and enough for local dump, delivery and bus work.
Pick Class A if
- You want over-the-road, regional or port work
- You want the widest job market and the highest pay ceiling
- You may want to add doubles/triples or tanker later
Pick Class B if
- You want to drive dump trucks, cement mixers, box trucks or buses
- You want to be home every night and start earning fastest
- You plan to work for a city, school district or construction company
Both require ELDT
Class A and Class B both need ELDT theory before the permit test and behind-the-wheel training before the skills test. If you start with B, the upgrade to A later is a $20 upgrade theory course plus Nixon's $1,200 upgrade program.
Related questions
Can a Class A driver drive a Class B truck?
Yes, with the right endorsements (for example P for a bus). Class A covers Class B and C vehicles.
Is Class B easier to get?
The skills test uses a single-unit vehicle with no trailer, so most drivers find it easier and faster.
Reviewed September 2026 by Nixon Trucking School, Pomona CA. Fees quoted for the DMV and TSA change; check dmv.ca.gov and tsa.gov for current amounts.