A Class B CDL authorizes its holder to operate any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, including any such vehicle towing a trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. Class B is the typical CDL for straight trucks — anything that doesn't bend in the middle. Dump trucks, garbage trucks, transit buses, large box trucks, cement mixers, and many delivery vehicles all fall under Class B.
What you can drive with a Class B CDL
Class B covers the most common urban and local commercial driving roles. With Air Brakes (which is technically a removed restriction rather than an added endorsement), you can operate any air-brake-equipped Class B vehicle. Add the Passenger endorsement and you can drive transit buses; add School Bus and you can drive a yellow school bus; add Hazmat and you can carry placarded loads in a Class B vehicle. The one thing Class B does not authorize is towing trailers heavier than 10,000 lb — for that, you need a Class A.
Common Class B jobs
The fastest-hiring Class B jobs in 2024–2025 are local delivery (LTL package, beverage distribution, food service), municipal work (waste management, parks, public works), construction support (dump trucks, concrete mixers), and transit (city bus, paratransit, charter shuttle). Many Class B roles are home-every-night with hourly wages, regular schedules, and benefits — making them attractive to drivers who want to avoid the OTR lifestyle. Pay typically ranges from $42,000 to $68,000 depending on city, employer, and union status.
How to get a Class B CDL
The application process mirrors the Class A path: DOT physical, ELDT at a registered provider, General Knowledge plus any required endorsement exams at your state DMV, CLP, 14-day wait, then a three-part skills test in a representative Class B vehicle. Many community colleges offer Class B-only training programs that are shorter and cheaper than full Class A programs — typically 3 to 5 weeks versus 7 to 12 weeks. If you later want to upgrade to Class A, federal ELDT requires you to take an additional Class A upgrade course at a registered provider.
Class B vs. Class A — which to pursue first?
If your goal is over-the-road or regional freight, go straight to Class A — there's no benefit to stopping at Class B first. If your goal is a stable local job (transit, sanitation, local delivery), Class B is faster and cheaper to obtain, and it covers most of the work you'll actually be doing. Read our Class A guide and our CDL salary breakdown to make the call.