Commercial vehicles come in many shapes and sizes, from tractor-trailers hauling freight across the state to buses carrying passengers around town. Because these vehicles differ in weight, design, and purpose, commercial drivers may need different types of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
Georgia recognizes three main CDL classes: Class A, Class B, and Class C. The license a driver needs generally depends on the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), whether it is towing another vehicle, and what the vehicle is designed to transport.
Understanding these classifications can also give Georgia motorists a better idea of the training and qualifications required of commercial drivers who share the road with them.
What Is a Commercial Driver’s License?
A CDL allows a qualified driver to operate certain commercial motor vehicles. These vehicles can be much larger and more challenging to operate than a typical passenger car, so drivers must meet additional licensing and testing requirements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) divides commercial motor vehicles into three groups for licensing purposes: A, B, and C. Georgia follows the same basic CDL classification system.
What Is a Class A CDL?
A Class A CDL generally applies to a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds when the vehicle being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds. Tractor-trailers are a common example of vehicles that may fall into this category.
A driver with a Georgia Class A CDL may also operate vehicles covered by Classes B and C, provided they have any necessary endorsements. Since Class A covers large combination vehicles, this license is commonly associated with commercial trucking and freight transportation.
What Is a Class B CDL?
A Class B CDL applies to a single vehicle with a GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds. It also covers a vehicle in that weight category towing another vehicle with a GVWR of no more than 10,000 pounds.
Class B vehicles are sometimes called heavy straight vehicles. Depending on the vehicle and required endorsements, this category can include certain large buses, delivery trucks, and other heavy commercial vehicles.
In Georgia, a driver with a Class B CDL may also operate vehicles included within Class C. However, a Class B license does not allow someone to operate a vehicle that requires a Class A CDL.
What Is a Class C CDL?
Not every commercial vehicle is especially large or heavy. A Class C CDL covers certain commercial vehicles that do not meet the weight requirements for Class A or Class B.
In Georgia, a Class C CDL applies when a vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is used to transport hazardous materials in quantities that require placards.
In other words, vehicle weight is not the only factor that determines whether a CDL is necessary. What the vehicle carries can matter just as much.
What Are CDL Endorsements?
Having the right CDL class does not necessarily mean a driver can operate every vehicle within that class. Some vehicles and types of cargo require additional endorsements that show the driver has met specific requirements.
Georgia recognizes endorsements for several commercial driving activities, including:
- P: Passenger vehicles carrying 16 or more people, including the driver
- S: School buses
- T: Double or triple trailers
- N: Tank vehicles
- H: Hazardous materials
- X: Tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials
Federal entry-level driver training requirements may also apply to drivers obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or obtaining certain endorsements for the first time.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a CDL in Georgia?
Georgia allows drivers to apply for a CDL beginning at age 18. However, drivers aged 18 to 20 are generally restricted to intrastate commercial driving, meaning they can operate commercial vehicles only within Georgia.
First-time Class A and Class B applicants generally must obtain a commercial learner’s permit before receiving a full CDL. Georgia requires applicants to hold the permit for at least 14 days before applying for the full license.
These requirements give new commercial drivers time to develop experience before operating qualifying vehicles on their own.
Contact the Marietta Truck Accident Lawyers at The Taylor Law Firm for Legal Help
Commercial driver’s license requirements are designed to make sure drivers have the knowledge and skills needed to safely operate large or specialized vehicles. Even with these requirements in place, however, commercial vehicle accidents can happen and may leave motorists, passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians with serious injuries.
For more information, contact our experienced truck accident attorneys at The Taylor Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve clients throughout Marietta and Douglasville, Georgia, helping injured individuals understand their legal options and take the next steps toward seeking compensation.
The Taylor Law Firm — Marietta
253 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA 30060, United States
The Taylor Law Firm — Douglasville
3150 Golf Ridge Blvd Ste 101, Douglasville, GA 30135, United States
