If you are considering getting your commercial driver’s license (CDL), you have likely heard about the different classes of license available. Most often, you’ll hear comparisons between the class A vs class B CDL. There is also a class C license, although this is less common.

So, which class of CDL do you need to become a truck driver? The short answer is that a class A license is more universal and is usually a better option. However, if you are planning to drive a smaller truck, a class B CDL may be enough for your needs.

What Vehicles Require a Class A CDL?

You will need a class A commercial license to drive a combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and a towing capacity of more than 10,000 pounds. A standard semi-truck is a type of combination vehicle since it has two different parts: the tractor and the trailer.

The majority of over-the-road (OTR) trucking jobs require a class A CDL. Given the expense to ship freight over a long distance, it makes sense that the vehicle would need to be larger in order to be more efficient.

With a class A license, you can also drive vehicles that require a class B CDL. This is true as long as you have all the necessary endorsements in order to do so.

What Vehicles Require a Class B CDL?

There are two types of vehicles that fall under the requirements for the class B license. You can operate a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more without an attached trailer or a combination vehicle hauling a trailer that weighs less than 10,000 pounds.

With a class B CDL, you can drive straight trucks/box trucks (including many delivery vehicles), buses (with the proper endorsement), and construction vehicles.

This license also meets the requirements for class C vehicles, which include smaller vans with more than 16 passengers and other miscellaneous commercial vehicles.

Which License Should You Earn?

In most cases, earning a class A CDL is a good choice. This gives you more flexibility in choosing a career. Even if you decide to drive a smaller vehicle instead, you will keep your options open.

Additionally, most regional or local jobs that involve a class B vehicle require previous experience. It is usually easier to get your foot in the door with an OTR job, at least for a year or two. A class A CDL allows you to do this.

However, there may be some circumstances when a class B CDL is sufficient. If you already know which company you will be working for and you know that they only require a class B license, it may be quicker to just earn this license. If you do this, you should be confident that you will not want to switch to a class A vehicle in the future. In the case that you do need to earn your class A license later, you may need to go back to school to do so.

Get Your Class A CDL

Phoenix Truck Driving School offers high-quality class A CDL training. You can earn your license and hit the road in as little as four weeks with our accelerated programs.

To learn more about becoming a truck driver, contact us today.

In addition to the standard commercial driver’s license (CDL), there are a variety of endorsements. These are additional certifications you can add to your license by passing written exams in addition to the general knowledge test. The hazardous materials (hazmat) endorsement is one example and allows you to transport potentially dangerous substances.

Why Earn the Hazmat Endorsement?

Endorsements widen the range of CDL jobs that are available to you. With a hazmat endorsement, you can haul many types of specialized freight, including fuel. In most cases, a tanker endorsement will also be necessary. This is because many hazardous materials are in a liquid or gaseous form.

Jobs hauling hazmat require attention to detail and extreme care. They will typically pay more than other types of freight because of the heightened responsibility.

Keep in mind that you will almost always need prior trucking experience to get a hazmat job. Most require a year or more of accident-free over-the-road (OTR) driving. So, why not wait to earn your endorsement? The simple answer is it requires more work for you to go back in and take another written test once you decide you want to pursue a career in hazmat hauling compared to taking all of the exams at one time. Even if you never use the hazmat endorsement, it’s nice to have it available.

What You Need to Earn Your Endorsement

In addition to meeting the requirements for a standard CDL, you will need to pass a background check for the hazmat endorsement. The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) runs this check.

You will then need to pass the written exam. This includes multiple-choice questions that come from Chapter 9 of the CDL Manual. This chapter covers hazmat safety and regulations and includes 7 subsections.

These subsections are:

1. The Intent of the Regulations

You will need to understand why hazmat regulations are necessary. The manual lists three broad goals: “contain the material,” “communicate the risk,” and “ensure safe drivers and equipment.”

2. Who Does What

Each individual or organization involved in transporting potentially dangerous substances has an important role to play.

As a brief overview:

• The shipper prepares the shipment according to regulations.
• The carrier checks that the shipper prepared the shipment correctly and reports accidents to proper authorities.
• The driver double-checks that both the shipper and the carrier have followed regulations and transports the freight safely.

3. Communication Rules

This section of the CDL manual outlines the different classes of hazmat. The shipping papers must list the proper class. Additionally, any vehicle hauling hazmat must have one or more placards outlining the class(es) of the freight. You will need to know how to identify hazardous substances correctly.

4. Loading and Unloading

Subsection 4 gives requirements for loading and unloading hazmat. After studying this section, you should understand the general rules that apply to all types of potentially dangerous substances as well as specific regulations for various classes.

5. Bulk Packaging

There are specific requirements for hazmat in bulk packaging. This includes tank vehicles. In addition to these rules, keep in mind that you will need to earn your tanker endorsement to transport hazardous substances in a tank truck.

6. Driving and Parking Rules

Parking a vehicle with hazardous materials is different from parking a standard dry van. There are some areas where you cannot park a vehicle with these substances. Certain classes, namely explosives, have additional requirements.

7. Emergencies

It is important that you know how to handle any emergency that could arise while transporting hazmat. This section covers how to respond to crashes, fires, and other issues.

Earn Your Hazmat Endorsement

All of our Phoenix Truck Driving School locations offer the hazmat endorsement. We can help you start your trucking career with the skills you need to succeed and can get you on the road in as little as four weeks.

To learn more about our CDL training in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, contact us today.

Throughout your training and into your career, you are likely going to hear a wide variety of trucking terms. The industry has its own unique vocabulary, and this article gives definitions for some of the most common trucking-related acronyms, words, and phrases.

Definitions Related to Training

• CDL – A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required to drive a commercial vehicle. You earn this license by passing a written test and a skills test.
• CLP – After passing the written portion of the CDL test, you will earn your commercial learner’s permit (CLP). This allows you to drive a commercial vehicle under the supervision of a CDL holder.
• Endorsement – There are additional written tests you can take during your CDL exam and passing these gives you endorsements, which are added qualifications that allow you to drive specialized vehicles.
• Restriction – Whereas endorsements give you the ability to drive more types of vehicles, restrictions limit what/how you can drive. For example, having the air brakes restriction on your license means you can’t drive a vehicle that uses air brakes.

Definitions Related to Regulation

• DOT – The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the trucking industry.
• Drug Testing Consortium – Drug testing is a requirement for all commercial drivers. Some companies use consortiums, which combine the testing pools of multiple motor carriers into one larger pool for random testing purposes.
• ELD – Most long-haul truckers are required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track the number of hours that they drive.
• FMCSA – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a sub-agency of the DOT and sets regulations that trucking companies must follow.
• HOS – There are limits for the number of hours a trucker can drive and be on duty before they must take a break, and these are known as hours of service (HOS) regulations.
• Placard – Trucks carrying hazardous materials (hazmat) are required to display a placard that gives information about the substances that are being transported.

Definitions Related to Trucking Careers

• DAC Report – Many trucking companies use Drive-a-Check (DAC) reports for hiring purposes. It is required for motor carriers to check the motor vehicle record (MVR) of new drivers, although this does not always have to be using DAC reports specifically.
• Dry van – The most straightforward type of truck driving is transporting non-refrigerated goods and materials, known as dry van.
• Flatbed – Flatbed semi-trucks haul a platform instead of an enclosed trailer and freight must be tied down to keep it secure. This type of vehicle is often used for oddly shaped or oversize cargo, and flatbed jobs typically pay more than dry van hauling.
• Linehaul – Linehaul jobs involve traveling between two terminals for a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight company. They tend to be more predictable and involve more home time than long-haul trucking.
• LTL – LTL shipping allows multiple companies to send a smaller amount of freight, which is sorted at terminals. LTL jobs include linehaul and pick-up and delivery (P&D).
• OTR – Over-the-road (OTR) is what most people think of when they think of trucking. It involves staying on the road for weeks at a time and traveling across the country to deliver goods and materials.
• Owner-Operator – An owner-operator truck driver owns their semi-truck and will either contract with a motor carrier or find their own freight with load boards. Being an owner-operator is one of the highest-paid career options in trucking but requires an initial investment to purchase a vehicle and comes with additional responsibilities.
• Pay-per-mile – Most long-haul trucking jobs are pay-per-mile. The rate is usually given in cents per mile (CPM) and the mileage can be calculated in a variety of ways depending on the company.
• P&D – Whereas linehaul LTL drivers travel between terminals, P&D drivers pick up shipments at the terminal and bring them to customers, or vice versa. These jobs involve a lot of city driving but typically allow drivers to be home each night.
• Reefer – Refrigerated trucks (reefers) haul temperature-controlled items, often fresh food. These jobs are in high demand year-round but do require care and attention to make sure the temperature stays constant.
• Tanker – Tank vehicles, also called tankers, transport liquids, gases, or dry bulk. Fuel trucks are one of the most common varieties. If the freight is a fluid, the tanker endorsement is required.

Learn More About the Trucking Industry

At Phoenix Truck Driving School, we give our students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. We help you learn about the trucking industry and our programs allow you to earn your CDL in as little as four weeks.

To get started on the road to a trucking career, contact us today.

After earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL), there are many career decisions you will be able to make. Before deciding what type of freight you want to haul and what company you will work for, one of the big-picture choices is what length of route you are interested in. There are three main categories: local, regional, and over-the-road/OTR.

It’s most common to start out with over-the-road trucking because you will gain the experience that the majority of local and regional companies look for. However, some shorter routes do hire new drivers and it can also be helpful to think about your long-term career goals when starting out. Understanding the differences between local, regional, and OTR hauls can help you plan for your future as a trucker.

Over-the-Road Trucking

OTR is what most people imagine when they think of a trucking job. It involves spending multiple weeks at a time on the road hauling goods and materials. The length of each route varies, but you can expect to travel throughout all of the continental United States. Some companies even travel into Canada or Mexico, although there are additional considerations for international routes.

Over-the-road jobs are the most common for new drivers because they give you time to get more comfortable handling a semi-truck. Local and regional jobs often require you to handle difficult driving conditions more often such as night driving, navigating a city, and potentially backing into loading docks or businesses without loading docks multiple times a day. OTR will give you exposure to all of these, but it is more spaced out. For this reason, many local or regional carriers will prefer to hire drivers with one year or more of over-the-road experience.

Pros

• Higher pay, especially for specialized freight or experienced drivers
• See the country while earning high pay
• Most typical of the trucking lifestyle, which many drivers who thrive in OTR jobs find exciting

Cons

• Time away from home
• May not be ideal if you don’t enjoy the lifestyle of long-haul trucking

Examples of OTR Jobs

• Dry van
• Reefer trucks
• Flatbed trucking
• Any freight that must travel a long distance to reach its destination

Regional Jobs

In most cases, the day-to-day life of a regional trucker is fairly similar to that of an OTR driver. The difference is the regional routes involve less time on the road at once, usually 1-2 weeks. Many of these jobs allow you to be home every weekend. The routes run through one region of the country. West coast runs are one example.

Pros

• Pay is usually greater than local jobs
• More home time than OTR
• Still involves some travel and aspects of the trucking lifestyle

Cons

• Often more competition for jobs than OTR
• Will typically pay less than OTR
• More likely to have a set “routine,” which can be a pro or con depending on your preferences

Examples of Regional Jobs

• Linehaul driving for less-than-truckload (LTL) freight
• Many types of freight that travel OTR also have regional routes available (dry van, reefer, flatbed, etc.)

Local Driving

Local driving jobs allow you to stay close to home. They are more competitive and often require more experience before you will be hired. This is because most local positions require a great deal of city driving and you will need to know how to maneuver a large vehicle in tight areas.

Pros

• Home daily or nightly
• Ability to become familiar with the routes and routine

Cons

• Competitive hiring processes
• Lower pay than OTR or regional, although this can change with time and depend on the company
• Traveling the same routes every day can become boring, depending on your personality/preferences

Examples of Local Jobs

• LTL pick-up and delivery (P&D)
• Delivery trucks
• Passenger-carrying jobs (shuttles, limousines, buses, etc.) with the appropriate endorsement
• Some types of specialized freight

Start Your Driving Career

No matter what type of route you are interested in, Phoenix Truck Driving School can help you get started. We offer programs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas and can get you on the road and earning in as little as four weeks.

To learn more about how we can help you start your local, regional, or over-the-road trucking career, contact us today.

A class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) gives you the ability to operate most types of commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks. However, some specialized types of trucks or varieties of freight require additional certifications. CDL endorsements can be added to your license; to earn one, you’ll need to pass additional written exams.

Our schools cover material for the following endorsements:

Hazmat

The Hazardous Materials (hazmat) category includes a variety of substances that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has labeled as potentially harmful. Hazmat haulers can earn more per mile, although these jobs come with additional responsibilities and strict requirements for routes and procedures. This endorsement also requires a background check through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Tanker

Tank vehicles, also called tankers, transport liquids or gases. Some tankers transport dry bulk, although these do not require an endorsement to operate. You will need to understand the unique considerations for hauling fluids, including surge. In many cases, jobs will require both tanker and hazmat endorsements. This combination is known as the X endorsement.

Doubles/Triples

Long combination vehicles (LCVs) have two or three trailers attached instead of the single trailer of a typical semi-truck. Since it is possible to transport more freight at a time with these trucks, the doubles/triples endorsement may help you earn higher pay after graduation.

Passenger (Fort Bliss Campus Only)

A Passenger endorsement allows you to operate a vehicle with more than 16 passengers, including the driver. Examples include buses, airport shuttles, and limousines. However, the certification does not cover school buses. Our Fort Bliss campus is the only Phoenix Truck Driving School location that covers material for the Passenger endorsement. Having one might open up more local driving opportunities and many passenger-carrying drivers are able to return home daily or nightly.

Benefits of Adding Endorsements to Your License

Endorsements show potential employers that you have additional skills and knowledge about different areas of the trucking industry. Earning these certifications before you start your career gives you more flexibility to pursue a specialized job later. Although it is more common for jobs with hazmat, tankers, or LCVs to require prior experience, not all of them do. If you are particularly interested in one of these options, you may be able to find companies hiring recent graduates. Otherwise, you can get experience with a more standard type of trucking and then work your way toward your goals over time.

Because jobs requiring endorsements involve a higher level of responsibility, they typically also pay more. Some companies will include a mix of specialized and more general freight and will pay you more per mile based on your endorsements, whether you use them on a specific haul or not.

The Road to Your Truck Driving Career

Phoenix Truck Driving School can help you earn your CDL as well as endorsements. We give our students valuable skills and have a job placement assistance team to help them find an opening that matches their needs and desires.

To learn more about our CDL training programs, contact us today. 

Earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is the first step to starting a rewarding career in the trucking industry. In order to do this, you will need to pass a two-part exam. The first portion consists of multiple-choice questions and the second half requires actually driving a semi-truck. Both of these are broken down further into subsections that cover different aspects of trucking safety and operation. As a student at one of our CDL schools, we will help you understand the material for these exams and will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.

More information about the CDL exam:

Written Test

The written CDL test is in a multiple-choice format. After you pass, you will receive your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and any applicable endorsements.

General Knowledge Exam

The first part of the written exam is known as the general knowledge test and passing this is necessary to earn your CDL. It covers basic information about how to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Some topics you’ll need to know include regulations for different types of freight, the basic requirements for a pre-trip inspection, and definitions related to CMVs.

Endorsements

Endorsements are additional certifications added to your license. To earn these, you will need to pass additional written tests, which you will take at the same time as the general knowledge exam. Our schools all cover material from the hazardous materials (hazmat), tanker, and doubles/triples exams, and our Fort Bliss location also prepares you for the passenger endorsement test.

Air Brakes

A portion of the written CDL test covers material related to air brake systems. Passing this is necessary to remove the air brakes restriction. You will also need to pass the skills test with a vehicle that has air brakes.

Skills Test

In order to earn your full CDL after getting your CLP, you will need to pass the skill tests. This consists of three parts.

Pre-Trip Inspection

During the pre-trip inspection portion of the skills test, you will need to complete a full internal and external inspection of the CMV you are driving. This involves identifying and checking over 100 different parts of the vehicle.

Basic Vehicle Control Skills

For this portion of the exam, the evaluator will use off-road tests to evaluate your basic semi-truck maneuvering skills. They may choose to test straight-line backing, offset backing to either the left or the right, parallel parking (conventional or driver side), and/or alley dock backing.

On-the-Road Driving

The final part of the skills test requires you to drive your CMV on the road while the examiner evaluates your performance. If certain traffic situations don’t occur naturally on the test route, the administrator may ask you to describe how you would respond.

Prepare for Your CDL Test

While you can study for the CDL exam on your own, attending truck driving school is usually a better option. Many companies prefer to hire program graduates and you also have the advantage of working with experienced instructors who can help answer any questions you may have.

To learn more about how we can help you pass your CDL test, contact us today.

If you are looking for a career where you can experience the freedom of the open road and earn great pay, trucking may be for you. There is a shortage of drivers and this high demand translates into increased job stability and the ability to make more than $66,000 a year.* The first step to entering the trucking industry is earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL). Trucking school is the most common way to do this and choosing the right institution can help you start your career with the tools you need to succeed.

Some factors to consider when choosing a CDL school:

Comprehensive Training

A trucking school program should include a combination of classroom and hands-on training. The classroom portion is important for the written CDL test. After you pass this exam, you will earn your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and should have an understanding of basic trucking safety and operation. Your chosen program should also include actual truck driving and pre-trip inspections and you should be trained with a real semi-truck, not with a simulator.

Experienced Instructors

Instructors are a central part of your experience at trucking school. They should have industry expertise and be able to clearly explain concepts to students. A good way to determine whether the instructors at a given school are a good fit for you is to attend an open house, which may give you the opportunity to meet a few of your potential teachers. You can also talk to current and former students or ask school representatives about the credentials of their instructors.

Endorsements

Depending on the type of trucking you plan to pursue, you may need endorsements. These are certifications added to your CDL. If there are endorsements you know you will need, you should make sure your chosen program includes those. At Phoenix Truck Driving School, we offer hazardous materials (hazmat), tanker, and doubles/triples endorsements at all of our campuses, plus a passenger endorsement at our Fort Bliss school.

Job Placement Assistance

You should check if the school you are interested in has a job placement assistance program. This can make it easier to find a company to work with after graduation. It can also be helpful to look at employment information to see student placement rates.

What About Cost?

While the quality of the program should be your primary concern, cost also plays a role. Keep in mind that trucking school will always have some cost associated with it, whether this is direct in form of tuition or indirect in the form of agreeing to work for a specific company. It is a good idea to do some research, and to also consider what options there are for covering tuition.

Our Trucking Schools

Phoenix Truck Driving School has locations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. We offer high-quality training, and our experienced instructors know how to help students succeed in the industry.

To learn more about our trucking school programs, contact us today.

*Professional truck drivers earn a mean annual wage of $46,370. The top 10% of truck drivers make more than $66,840 per year according to the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are many reasons that people consider a career in trucking. The freedom of the open road, the opportunity to earn more than $66,000 a year*, and the short time it takes to train are all benefits of this industry. If you are debating whether or not to become a truck driver, this article lists some signs that it might be time to earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL).

1. You Love the Open Road

As an over-the-road (OTR) trucker, you will get to travel the nation while earning competitive pay. You will often wake up in a different place every day. If you enjoy the idea of seeing the country and love driving, hitting the open road as a truck driver could be a great career move.

2. You are Independent

Trucking is an industry that allows you to be relatively independent. While you will have to make sure you get to your destination on time and follow certain requirements in the process, you have a lot of freedom to make day-to-day choices without a boss looking over your shoulder. You can choose where to stop, what to listen to, et cetera. Even if you become a team driver, your days still won’t typically involve a lot of interaction since your driving partner will be sleeping while you drive and vice versa.

3. You are Motivated to Succeed

Truck drivers are typically paid by the mile. This means that your ability to deliver freight efficiently has a direct impact on your income. As you gain more experience, you will be able to build a strong reputation and learn how to get more miles, earning a bigger paycheck in the process. You may even choose to become an owner-operator, which is when you purchase or lease a semi-truck and run your own trucking business. Overall, trucking is a career that rewards individuals who are committed to their own success.

4. You Want to Make a Difference

For many people, it’s important to know that their work is making a valuable contribution to society. Without truckers, our nation’s economy would stop functioning. Hospitals would run out of supplies, grocery store shelves would be empty, and gas stations would not have any fuel. Every day as a trucker, you will know you are making it possible for many other industries and individuals to get the items they need.

How to Get Started

If you are interested in a career as a truck driver, the first step is earning your CDL. To do this, you will need to pass a written exam as well as a skills test that evaluates your ability to drive a semi-truck. Attending truck driving school can help you prepare for and pass these tests and many companies prefer to hire CDL school graduates.

Our Programs

At Phoenix Truck Driving School, we can get you on the road and earning in as little as four weeks. We have locations in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as a location for military members and their families at Fort Bliss in Texas.

If you are ready to become a truck driver, contact us today.

*Professional truck drivers earn a mean annual wage of $46,370. The top 10% of truck drivers make more than $66,840 per year according to the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics.