No matter which type of commercial truck you are going to drive, you need a valid license to be eligible for driving. Get essential information on CDL in this article before choosing your online CDL classes.

What is CDL? 

CDL stands for Commercial Driver’s License. This license is a must-have for those who want to drive a commercial motor vehicle in the United States. After getting a permit and completing your CDL instruction phase which takes from 2 to 4 weeks, you will need to take a CDL Exam. It includes three parts: vehicle inspection, backing skills, and road test. 

You will need a CDL if your vehicle is among those with a gross combined weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, plus the GVWR of the vehicle/trailer being towed is more than 10,000 pounds. Depending on the kind of job and vehicle you are getting, you can choose to study for the type of license you need only.

Which type of Online CDL Classes do you need?

Class A CDL

A Class A CDL shows that you are a certified and competent licensed professional truck driver with specialized skills and knowledge. You will need a Class A license if you want to drive interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce. Class A CDL will offer you the most job opportunities and earning potential when you get it as it allows you to drive more vehicles freely than Class B and C. 

Vehicles requiring a Class A license are mostly tractor-trailers that drive long distances. When having a Class A CDL and the proper endorsements, you will be able to drive tractor-trailers (or Semi, Big Rig, or 18-wheeler), Truck and trailer combinations, Tanker vehicles, Livestock carriers, Flatbeds, and most Class B and Class C vehicles. 

Class B CDL

Class B CDL is required when you need to operate any single vehicle that isn’t hitched to a trailer. Class B CDL holders are allowed to drive such vehicles as straight trucks, large buses (city buses, tourist buses, and school buses), box trucks (including delivery trucks and furniture trucks), dump trucks with small trailers. You can also drive some Class C vehicles with Class B CDL and the correct endorsements.

Class C CDL

A Class C CDL is the most common type of license – this is a basic license and the class that most private citizens must have to drive a car. The Class C license allows drivers to transport 16 passengers, large vans, small trucks, cargo, or hazardous materials (HAZMAT), or combination vehicles not described in class A or B (e.g: a small truck towing a trailer). 

Why should you take Online CDL Classes?

Online CDL classes can be finished within 24 hours

It’s now so simple to study CDL online, which even helps improve your CDL pass rates while saving you tons of time. Many drivers can finish the CDL training in less than 24 hours. 

When you join an online class, you are free to watch videos and take interactive tests with questions from the CDL exam. This lets you learn all the necessary information and knowledge at your own pace. The flexibility of an online class provides you with the opportunity to learn while still working – you can learn on your own schedule rather than leave the office early or skip your dinner.

They offer a faster process

It will be a lot quicker when you enroll in a CDL class online. All you need to do is just fill out all your necessary documentation online, anywhere, anytime, with any device. You can complete your paperwork even before the staff step one foot into the office. This is also a big plus during the COVID-19 pandemic – it’s faster, safer, and touch-free.

Conclusion

Now you can go ahead and study and test for your CDL without going to school or a company-sponsored training program. Hope that after this post, you can get all the basic information about online CDL classes so you’ll know which one you need to make the best decision for your career.