---
title: "CDL Class A vs Class B: Which License Do You Need?"
description: "CDL Class A vs Class B compared: the weight rules, what each lets you drive, the extra tests for Class A, typical jobs and pay, and which to get first."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/cdl-class-a-vs-class-b/
updated: 2026-10-11
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Licenses · Class A vs B

# CDL Class A vs Class B

It comes down to what you tow.

Side by side

Both are commercial driver's licenses, and both open up good paying work. The difference is set by weight in federal rules, and it decides which jobs you can take.

In short

A Class A CDL covers combination vehicles with a combined weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds, such as tractor-trailers. A Class B covers single vehicles rated 26,001 pounds or more towing 10,000 pounds or less, such as dump trucks, box trucks and buses. Class A holders can usually drive Class B vehicles too, so Class A opens more jobs.

**Sources checked October 11, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

|  | Class A | Class B |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles | Tractor-trailers, flatbeds, tankers with trailers | Straight trucks, dump trucks, buses, cement mixers |
| Weight rule | Combination 26,001+ lb, towed unit over 10,000 lb | Single vehicle 26,001+ lb, towing 10,000 lb or less |
| Extra knowledge test | Combination vehicles | None beyond general and air brakes if equipped |
| Can drive the other class? | Usually yes | No |
| Typical work | Long-haul, regional, flatbed, tanker | Local delivery, construction, transit, waste |

## Which to get

If you are not sure, Class A gives you the most choices. If you want to be home every night driving a dump truck or a city bus, Class B can be quicker and cheaper.

### Find CDL schools near you

Tell us your ZIP and we will send Class A and B programs.

[Find training near me](#smc-form)

## Straight answers

### Is Class A harder to get than Class B?

It takes more training and an extra knowledge test, and the skills test uses a combination vehicle.

### Can I upgrade from Class B to Class A later?

Yes. You will need the combination vehicle test and entry-level training for Class A.

### Which pays more, Class A or Class B?

Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers, which includes many Class A jobs, earned a median $58,640 in May 2025. Class B pay depends a lot on the industry.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm)
- [49 CFR 383.91: Commercial motor vehicle groups (Class A, B, C)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-383/subpart-F/section-383.91)
- [FMCSA: Commercial Driver's License](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license)
- [BLS OOH: Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm)

## Keep looking

- [How to get a CDL](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/how-to-get-a-cdl/)
- [CDL permit test](https://shapemycareer.com/test-prep/cdl-permit-test/)
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