Question: In your last article you talked about Class D driver’s licenses. Can you write about the other driver’s license classes?

Answer: Thank you for the question and yes I can. Class A, B and C licenses are called commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). A CDL allows you to drive all Class D vehicles, in addition to certain types of vehicles included in each driver’s license class.

Class C License

With a hazardous materials endorsement, a Class C license holder may transport hazardous materials in a Class D vehicle. With a tanker endorsement, you may carry hazardous liquid or gaseous materials in a permanently-mounted or portable tank.

Class B License

A Class B license, with necessary endorsements, allows the holder to operate all Class C and D vehicles and all other single-unit vehicles. The holder of a Class B license may tow only vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less when operating a Class B power unit.

Class A License

With appropriate endorsements, a Class A license is valid for any vehicle or trailer combination.

For more information about CDLs and CDL requirements, see the Minnesota Commercial Driver’s Manual, which includes the Minnesota School Bus Driver’s Handbook. These are available on the Driver and Vehicle Services Website at drive.mn.gov.

Note: If you operate any class of vehicle as an employer or employee, you may be subject to commercial motor carrier requirements. These requirements may apply to single unit and combination vehicles of more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (such as construction vehicles), vehicles used to deliver packages and other items, and vehicles designed or used to transport more than eight passengers, including the driver. In order to legally operate these vehicles, you may need to possess a valid U.S. Department of Transportation medical examiner’s certificate. You may also be subject to restrictions on the number of hours you drive and to vehicle maintenance and inspection requirements.

For more information, contact the Minnesota State Patrol at (651) 350-2000 or the Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations at 651-215-6330.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).