What is a Class B commercial driver's license​? - How to Get Licensed (2025)

Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) authorizes you to operate a single heavy commercial vehicle - most buses and straight trucks - and, in limited cases, to tow a small trailer. In 2025 this credential matters more than ever: e-commerce keeps growing, cities are investing in public transit and waste fleets, and employers need qualified Class B drivers who can start quickly and safely. In this guide, you will learn exactly what a Class B CDL is, the 2025 requirements you must meet, and the step-by-step process from Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) to skills test. We will also cover costs and training time, jobs and pay, and how Class B compares to Class A and Class C so you choose the right path. If you want a solid paycheck, predictable schedules in many sectors, and a faster route into trucking than long-haul tractor-trailers, Class B is a smart, in-demand option.

What is a Class B commercial driver’s license?

Formal definition

A Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) permits you to operate any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, towing a vehicle with GVWR under 10,001 pounds. Many states also treat large passenger vehicles designed to carry 24 or more people, including the driver, as Class B when they meet weight and configuration thresholds. In practice, Class B covers the heaviest single-unit commercial vehicles that are not pulling large trailers.

Testing, equipment, and restrictions you should know

Class B vehicles frequently use air brakes and may have manual or automatic transmissions. Your test vehicle matters:

• Air brakes: If you either skip the air-brake knowledge test or take your skills test in a vehicle without air brakes, your CDL will carry an air-brake restriction (often noted as L or Z), preventing you from legally driving most Class B equipment.
• Transmission: Testing in an automatic typically places an E restriction (automatic-only). If you want maximum job flexibility, train and test on the transmission type you plan to drive.
• Passenger operations: Driving passengers (e.g., school bus or transit) requires additional P/S endorsements and, in many states, separate behind-the-wheel testing specific to those vehicles.

Who uses a Class B CDL? Typical roles & daily duties

Roles at a glance

Safety and basic maintenance expectations

Class B drivers conduct a full pre-trip inspection (brakes, tires, lights, fluids, steering, coupling devices, doors/liftgates), complete en-route checks, and log post-trip defect reports. Daily tasks often include securing loads, using liftgates, dollies, and pallet jacks, maintaining hours-of-service logs (paper or ELD), and documenting fuel, mileage, and delivery exceptions.

Hiring outlook and stability

Municipal services, public transit, construction, and retail distribution maintain year-round demand for Class B operators. These sectors offer comparatively predictable home-daily schedules and steady overtime opportunities, making Class B a reliable entry point with advancement paths into specialized endorsements or Class A combinations.

Class B CDL requirements in 2025

Meeting Class B CDL requirements involves eligibility, medical fitness, background screenings, and federally mandated training before the skills test.

Core eligibility

Non-commercial driver’s license and identity

You must hold a valid non-commercial driver’s license (often for at least one year) and present proof of identity, Social Security number, and lawful U.S. presence per your state DMV’s document list.

Age rules

• 18+ for intrastate driving: You may obtain a Class B CDL and operate within your state boundaries.
• 21+ for interstate driving: Required to cross state lines, carry certain hazardous materials, or operate in commerce affecting interstate travel.
• Hazmat minimums: For an H (Hazardous Materials) endorsement, you must be 21+ in most jurisdictions and pass additional vetting.

Motor vehicle record (MVR)

DMVs check for disqualifying offenses (e.g., DUI/DWI, leaving the scene, using a CMV in a felony). While rules vary by state, expect that recent serious violations or multiple moving violations can delay eligibility. Employers often set stricter hiring thresholds, commonly requiring no DUIs in the last 3–5 years, no reckless driving in the last 3 years, and limited recent at-fault crashes.

Medical fitness

DOT physical and Medical Examiner’s Certificate

You must pass a DOT medical exam by a National Registry examiner and carry the Medical Examiner’s Certificate. The exam verifies:

• Vision: 20/40 in each eye (corrective lenses allowed) and adequate peripheral vision.
• Hearing: Ability to perceive a forced whisper at prescribed distance or meet audiometric standards.
• Blood pressure/cardiovascular: Within acceptable ranges or medically managed; no unstable conditions.
• General fitness: No uncontrolled diabetes, epilepsy, or conditions that impair safe operation.
  Certificates are typically valid up to 24 months; some conditions require shorter intervals and documented management.

Education

A high school diploma or GED is not always mandated by statute, but many employers and public agencies require or strongly prefer it, especially for passenger transport roles.

Background checks

TSA security threat assessment (Hazmat)

If you pursue the H endorsement, you must complete fingerprinting and a TSA Security Threat Assessment. Disqualifying criminal offenses or immigration status issues can bar issuance of the H endorsement.

Training you must complete (preview)

Before you can schedule your CDL skills test, federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules require:

• Theory training: Classroom or online instruction covering safety, regulations, vehicle systems (including air brakes), and inspections.
• Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training: Range maneuvers and public-road driving in a representative Class B vehicle.
  Your provider must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) and must submit your completion electronically. Without ELDT completions on file, DMVs will not allow you to test.

ELDT explained: the 2025 rule you must follow

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) is a federal standard that sets the minimum curriculum and provider rules for anyone obtaining a CDL for the first time, upgrading (for example, Class B → Class A), or adding the H, P, or S endorsements. If you fall into any of those categories, you must complete ELDT before your state will even schedule your CDL skills test.

The two parts of ELDT

• Theory training (classroom or online): A structured curriculum that covers safety practices, road rules and federal regulations, vehicle systems, pre-trip and post-trip inspections, vehicle control theory, air-brake operation, space/ speed/ hazard management, cargo securement, and incident reporting. Online delivery is permitted as long as the provider is registered and reports your completion.
• Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training: Hands-on training with a registered provider on both range (backing, offset, alley dock, straight-line) and public road (lane changes, intersections, railroad crossings, safe stops, speed control, hill management). BTW must be completed in a representative Class B vehicle.

TPR reporting is not optional

Your provider must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) and must electronically upload your theory (and where applicable, BTW) completion. No upload, no test date - DMVs check the TPR before issuing you a skills-test appointment.

Where ELDT Nation fits

ELDT Nation delivers the theory portion online - self-paced video lessons, quizzes, progress tracking, and a certificate when you pass. After theory completion, we submit your record to the TPR, then help you locate a local BTW provider so you can finish hands-on training and move straight to scheduling your state skills test.

Step-by-step: How to get your Class B CDL in 2025

Use this roadmap if you’re asking how to get a Class B CDL as efficiently as possible while staying compliant.

Step 1: Research your state DMV rules

Check your DMV’s CDL page for fees, appointments, acceptable identity documents, residency proofs, and testing locations. Confirm whether your state requires appointments for CLP testing, what the minimum CLP holding period is, and whether they allow third-party skills test sites. Create a folder with your driver’s license, Social Security proof, residency documents, and medical card so nothing delays you.

Step 2: Study and apply for your CLP (commercial learner’s permit)

The class b cdl permit authorizes supervised practice in a Class B vehicle. Expect these written tests:

• General Knowledge (all CDL applicants)
• Air Brakes (needed to avoid the air-brake restriction)
• Vehicle Inspection or Combination of vehicle-specific items depending on the state

Most states set a passing score around 80%, though exact cut scores vary. Book your test, bring your documents, and be prepared for vision screening. After you pass, you receive a CLP. The holding period is typically 14 days before you may take the skills test; some states require longer if you have not completed BTW.

Step 3: Complete ELDT theory training (online, self-paced)

Enroll with ELDT Nation for your theory portion. You’ll work through interactive videos, take module quizzes, and track progress in your dashboard. The pass mark is typically 80% overall. When you finish, ELDT Nation submits your completion to the TPR - this is what unlocks your ability to schedule the skills test later. Download your certificate of completion for your records.

Step 4: Get your DOT physical and medical card

Schedule a DOT exam with a provider on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The examiner checks vision, hearing, blood pressure, cardiovascular/respiratory health, neurological stability, and medication use. If you meet standards (with or without corrective lenses), you’ll receive a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (valid up to 24 months; shorter if a condition requires monitoring). Keep this card with you and provide it to your DMV when requested.

Step 5: Background check & fingerprinting (only if pursuing Hazmat)

If you plan to add the H endorsement, complete fingerprinting and a TSA Security Threat Assessment. Start this early - it can take days to weeks. If you are focusing on buses, you will instead plan for P (Passenger) or S (School Bus) requirements with your state and provider.

Step 6: Practice driving and pre-trip (BTW with a registered provider)

Enroll in behind-the-wheel (BTW) training with a TPR-listed school using a Class B vehicle. You’ll practice:

• Range maneuvers: straight-line back, offset back, alley dock, turns in tight cones, hill starts.
• Public road driving: lane changes, mirror scans, speed control, railroad crossings, right-of-way, safe following distance, emergency stops.
• Pre-trip mastery: component identification (brake chambers, slack adjusters, steering linkage, suspension, tires, lights), defect reporting, and air-brake tests (leak check, low-pressure warning, spring brake activation).
  Your instructor will sign off when you demonstrate competence and consistency, preparing you for the skills test.

Step 7: Schedule your CDL skills test

With CLP in hand, ELDT theory recorded in the TPR, and BTW completed, schedule the skills test. It has three parts:

1. Pre-trip inspection: You must verbally identify and inspect components and explain defect criteria.
2. Basic control/skills: Backing maneuvers in a timed, cone-defined course.
3. On-road driving: Real-world operation with proper gear selection, mirror use, signaling, space management, and compliance at intersections and rail crossings.
   If your vehicle has air brakes, expect to demonstrate the air-brake test sequence precisely. Examiners score safety habits, control, compliance, and communication.

Step 8: Upgrade to a full Class B CDL at the DMV

After you pass, return to the DMV with your score sheet, identification, medical card, and fees. You’ll be photographed and issued either a temporary paper CDL or your plastic card by mail. Verify your record shows no unintended restrictions (for example, automatic-only) unless they reflect your test vehicle.

Step 9: Add endorsements as needed

Consider P (Passenger), S (School Bus), N (Tanker), or H (Hazmat) depending on your target job. Each may require additional written tests and, for P/S, BTW and skills testing in the appropriate vehicle. If you add H, ensure your TSA approval has cleared first.

Step 10: Start applying for jobs

Build a clean, one-page resume highlighting training provider, clean MVR, ELDT completion, skills test scores, and any endorsements. Expect employer insurance screens, a short road test, and possibly a DOT drug test as part of onboarding. With your Class B in hand, you can target transit, school districts, waste management, construction materials, beverage distribution, and parcel carriers - fast-hiring sectors that value new Class B drivers.

Endorsements & restrictions for Class B drivers

Endorsements let you specialize your Class B commercial driver’s license for passenger service, hazardous materials, and liquid cargo. Restrictions limit what you can operate based on how you trained and tested. Plan your mix carefully so your license matches the jobs you want.

Passenger-focused endorsements

P - Passenger

• What it allows: Carry 16+ passengers (including the driver) in commercial service: shuttle, coach, charter, and many municipal routes.
• How to earn it: Pass a Passenger written test and complete behind-the-wheel (BTW) training and a skills test in a representative passenger vehicle. Expect evaluation of ADA ramp/lift operation, safe stops, mirror usage, and passenger management.

S - School Bus

• What it allows: Operate yellow school buses for student transport.
• How to earn it: Hold P, then pass an S written test and additional BTW/skills tests in a school bus. You must know loading zones, railroad crossing procedures, red/amber light use, stop-arm laws, and child-check protocols. Many districts also require background checks beyond CDL rules.

Freight-focused endorsements

H - Hazardous Materials

• What it allows: Transport placarded hazardous materials in a Class B vehicle.
• How to earn it: Complete ELDT theory for Hazmat, pass the H written exam, and clear a TSA Security Threat Assessment with fingerprinting. Renewals require periodic re-vetting.

N - Tanker

• What it allows: Haul bulk liquids or certain gaseous loads in tanks (individual tank >119 gal or aggregate >1,000 gal) on a Class B chassis.
• Often paired with: H to form X (Tank/Hazmat) for fuel, chemicals, and similar cargo.

Restrictions you want to avoid

• Air-brake restriction (L or Z): Issued if you skip the air-brake knowledge test or test in a vehicle without air brakes. This restriction blocks most real-world Class B jobs, since buses and heavy straight trucks typically use air brakes.
• Transmission restriction (E): If you test in an automatic, you may receive an automatic-only restriction. Choose your test vehicle to match employer fleets.
• Passenger/school bus limitations: Without P or S, you cannot carry passengers in those vehicles regardless of your base Class B.

Tip: When planning endorsements for a Class B CDL, think in terms of job families: P/S for passenger operations; N/H (or X) for liquid or fuel hauling. Build only what you need now, then add more as your career expands.

Vehicles you can (and cannot) drive with Class B

A Class B commercial driver’s license qualifies you for single heavy vehicles and only small trailers. The deciding line is the trailer’s GVWR.

Jobs, pay and benefits for Class B drivers

Where the demand is strongest

Municipal and public agencies (transit systems, school districts, waste and recycling) hire Class B drivers year-round to keep essential services moving. Construction and materials companies rely on straight trucks and dump trucks for aggregates, asphalt, and equipment moves tied to active job sites. Retail and parcel distribution uses box trucks for store replenishment and last-mile freight, while regional transit operators run fixed routes with predictable schedules. These sectors create a steady pipeline of openings for new and experienced Class B holders.

Earnings and benefits you can expect

Pay varies by region, union status, and shift, but patterns are consistent: entry-level Class B roles (municipal, parcel, entry dump/straight truck) commonly start at competitive hourly rates with overtime potential, moving higher as you gain route familiarity and endorsements. Experienced bus and dump truck operators can command premium rates on peak shifts (nights, early AM, or construction seasons) and may qualify for differentials tied to passenger service, hazardous materials, or premium routes. Benefits are a major draw: many employers offer medical, dental, vision, 401(k) or pension plans, paid time off, uniforms, and job security through consistent local demand.

Career ladder and specialization

Class B is a reliable entry point with multiple growth lanes. You can add endorsements - P/S for passenger and school bus work; N/H (or X) for tank and fuel hauling - to access higher-pay niches. Many drivers later upgrade from Class B to Class A to unlock tractor-trailer and heavy combination opportunities while retaining their passenger or tanker credentials. In select markets, seasoned Class B drivers pursue owner-operator arrangements with straight trucks (final-mile, expedite, or contract municipal services), though insurance, compliance, and steady contracts are critical prerequisites. Whatever path you choose, a clean MVR, strong safety habits, and professional route performance are the levers that move you into better pay, schedules, and equipment.