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Commercial vehicles vary widely in size and purpose. A delivery truck, passenger bus, tanker, and tractor-trailer may each require different driving skills and license qualifications.
There are three main types of commercial driver’s licenses: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Wisconsin follows this system, and the type of CDL a driver needs depends mainly on the vehicle’s weight, design, and use.
A Class A CDL generally covers large combination vehicles.
In Wisconsin, this includes a combination with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual weight, or registered weight over 26,000 pounds when the towed vehicle has a GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight over 10,000 pounds.
Common Class A vehicles may include:
A Class A CDL generally gives a driver the broadest range of commercial driving privileges. However, endorsements or restrictions may still control which vehicles that person can legally drive.
A Class B CDL generally applies to heavy single vehicles.
Wisconsin requires a Class B CDL for a single commercial vehicle over 26,000 pounds. It can also cover such a vehicle towing another vehicle with a GVWR, actual weight, or registered weight of 10,000 pounds or less.
Examples may include:
A driver with a Class B CDL cannot automatically operate the large combination vehicles covered by a Class A license.
Class C covers certain commercial vehicles that do not meet the weight requirements for Class A or Class B.
In Wisconsin, a Class C CDL may be required for a commercial vehicle weighing 26,000 pounds or less that carries hazardous materials requiring placards or is designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver.
A CDL class is only part of the licensing system. Drivers may need endorsements to operate certain vehicles or transport certain cargo.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognizes several CDL endorsements, including:
Drivers must pass additional tests to receive these endorsements. Passenger and school bus endorsements require both knowledge and skills testing.
A commercial driver’s license may also have restrictions. These limit the types of commercial vehicles the driver is allowed to operate.
For example, restrictions can apply based on the type of transmission, braking system, or vehicle used during a skills test. A driver may also be limited in the type of passenger vehicle they can operate.
Drivers and trucking companies should make sure the CDL class, endorsements, and restrictions match the vehicle being driven.
Federal rules require entry-level driver training for many new commercial drivers.
The requirement generally applies to drivers getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time. It also applies to drivers upgrading from Class B to Class A or obtaining a passenger (P), school bus (S), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.
Wisconsin CDL applicants must also complete the required knowledge and skills tests. The exact tests depend on the license class, endorsements, and type of vehicle.
Commercial drivers are expected to have the proper license for the vehicles they operate. A driver without the required CDL class or endorsement may not have completed the testing needed for that vehicle.
After a serious truck accident, the driver’s qualifications may become part of the investigation. Records may show whether the driver had the correct license, endorsements, and training.
A licensing problem does not automatically prove that the driver caused a crash. However, it may be important when it relates to the driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle involved.
The three main types of commercial driver’s licenses are Class A, Class B, and Class C. The license a commercial driver needs depends on factors such as the vehicle’s weight, design, and use. Endorsements and restrictions can further determine which vehicles the driver is qualified to operate.
Reach out to PKSD to schedule a free consultation. Our team proudly represents clients throughout Milwaukee and across Wisconsin, working to help you obtain the justice and full compensation you deserve.
PKSD Milwaukee
1110 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr #320, Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 333-3333
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jeffery A. Pitman, who has more than 28 years of legal experience and handled thousands of personal injury cases while obtaining millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in Wisconsin.
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