If you're looking to make a career change, getting a commercial driver license (CDL) will put you in demand with employers. However, there are different categories based on several factors, including the gross vehicle weight rating and the amount you are permitted to tow. The two most common are known as Class A and Class B. To help you understand what type is right for you, Professional Driver Institute, the premier CDL training facility in the Greater Rochester Area, NY, discusses the differences between the two.

What Is a Class A CDL?

A Class A rating lets you operate a combination of vehicles whose gross combined weight is 26,001 pounds or more, with a tow that weighs more than 10,000 pounds. This may include tractor trailers, livestock carriers, tanker trucks, flatbeds, and truck and trailer combinations, depending on the type of endorsements you add to your commercial driver license by passing a knowledge or skills test. With the right ones, you may even be able to drive certain vehicles of other classes, as well.

What Is a Class B CDL?

A Class B rating lets you operate a single vehicle whose gross weight is more than 26,000 pounds, as well as one of that type towing another of up to 10,000 pounds. Typical Class B options include city, school, and tourist buses, as well as box and dump trucks. As with the Class A license, you may need endorsements to operate particular vehicles.

If you're considering truck driving school as part of a career path, contact Professional Driver Institute, a respected CDL training facility in Churchville, NY, for more information about getting a commercial driver license. They are fully licensed and accredited and have been educating students since 1993. Visit their website to get in touch, or call (585) 293-1203 to inquire about their class schedule.