Should I get my Class B?

No class B CDL is for straight trucks like a 10 wheel dump truck, Class A is for combination vehicles with a gross of 26,001 and over, this is the same in every state,

 

Yes, you don't need to wait, like I posted before, FuzzFace2 might have been able to cross state line back in 83', but today if your under 21, you can obtain a CDL, but wont be able to travel out side the state your licensed in, this is called "INTRASTATE", once you turn 21, your CDL will change to a "INTERSTATE", dmv's have a web site, you can go on the site and read this, or? just take a drive to the nearest CDL office, and talk with them in person, Texas is the same way, CDL's are governed Federally

 

Class A is any combination pulling over 10,000lbs
Class B is a non combination vehicle that weighs over 26,000lbs.
Basically Class B is any Bus or striaght truck over 26,000lbs.
Same rules apply for Class B as Class A you need a medical card and you're under the same DOT hours of service. You have to go through weigh scales (you can over load a straight truck same as a semi truck no different trust me there are places out there that when they want to put 800 cases in a 28 foot straight truck they will put 800 cases in a 28 foot straight truck there is a food distributor in my town that does that kind of thing on a regular basis. You ever seen a 28 foot straight truck with 800 cases in it? You can't even move inside of something like that you have to dig you're way in and dig you're way out) and the DOT can pull you over like any big rig semi no different on that end. The pre trip requirements are also exactly the same minus the fifth wheel that is the only difference. I have a passenger bus endorsement so I have taken both the Class A and Class B CDL tests (I guess you could say I am a gluten for punishment) and actually I failed the Class B CDL test my first time, I screwed up the air break test. The air break test on the Class B is the same as the Class A it is the exact same standard. Actually taking the Class B test first and taking it again was very helpful because by the time I took my A test I had done the pre trip a couple of times at the CDL yard and had been to the CDL yard a few times so I knew what it was all about.

The backing is obviously different, but the actual manuvers are the same straight line offset and parallel. The road test in the Class B is the same as the Class A can't hit any curbs stuff like that. Although they do have you do a couple different things in the Class B like they made me go into a parking lot and turn around and because I was in a passenger bus I had to do a proper railroad crossing. Buses have different rules for going over railroad tracks then semi trucks do.

If you go to a truck driving school to get a Class B license what most of them will do is throw you in the passenger bus program and when you go to take the Class B test they will have you take it in a bus and you just do everything the passenger bus does. By the way the passenger bus test and pre trip is a tad different then the Class B test if you were just looking to drive a straight truck the maneuvers are the same the pre trip is the same except when you do you're pre trip you want to point out that the bus has a first aid kit and a bodily fluid clean up kit. Those are worth points on that test and you need to mention them.

If you are brave and take the Class B School Bus test (School Bus has it's own endorsement) They are going to ask you about loading and unloading students you are going to have to test the stop sign on the school bus and point all that out. Also the 8 way lights on the school bus have to check those in the pre-trip.

They are going to ask you how you have children cross the street. There is a procedure for that. Obviously rail road crossing you have to stop put the four ways on open the door and window look both ways then proceed over the tracks. You can not even if the bus is empty without passengers fly over the railroad tracks, you have to stop and open the doors it's the law.

Same with HAZMAT does not matter if you are in a semi or straight truck when you come to a RR crossing and you have HAZMAT you must stop, put on the four ways and look both ways before crossing the railroad tracks. Also no shifting while going over the railroad tracks that goes for both Class A and Class B.

 

This is from the FMCSA web site

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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


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Drivers

Overview

Drivers have been required to have a commercial driver's license (CDL) in order to drive certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) since April 1, 1992. The types of vehicles and operations requiring a CDL are outlined below. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed and issued standards for State testing and licensing of CDL holders. These standards require States to issue CDLs to certain CMV drivers only after the driver passes knowledge and skills tests administered by the State and related to the type of vehicle the driver expects to operate. Drivers are required to obtain and hold a CDL if they operate in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce and drive a vehicle that meets one or more of the classifications of a CMV described below. Restrictions are placed on a CDL when a driver takes the Skills Test in a vehicle which lacks critical equipment present in particular types of CMVs. Examples of these restrictions are listed below. Therefore, to avoid restrictions, drivers should take the Skills Test in the same type of vehicle for which they are seeking a CDL to operate.

• Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)
• Endorsements and Restrictions

Classes of License and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLP)

Pursuant to Federal standards, States issue CDLs and CLPs to drivers according to the following license classifications:
Class A: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.
Class B: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.
Endorsements and Restrictions

Endorsements

Drivers who operate special types of CMVs must pass additional tests to obtain any of the following endorsements placed on their CDL:
[TABLE="class: table table-bordered table-blue, width: 596"]
[TR]
[TH="width: 115"]Endorsement code[/TH]
[TH="width: 481"]

Description​

[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]T
[/TD]
[TD]Double/Triple Trailers (Knowledge test only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]P
[/TD]
[TD]Passenger (Knowledge and Skills Tests)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]N
[/TD]
[TD]Tank vehicle (Knowledge test only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]H
[/TD]
[TD]Hazardous materials (Knowledge test only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]X
[/TD]
[TD]Combination of tank vehicle and hazardous materials endorsements (Knowledge test only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S
[/TD]
[TD]School Bus (Knowledge and Skills Tests)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]CLP Endorsements - Only 3 endorsements are allowed on the CLP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]P
[/TD]
[TD]Passenger, A CLP holder with a "P" endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV carrying passengers, other than Federal/state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by 49CFR383.25(a)(1).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]S
[/TD]
[TD]School Bus, A CLP holder with an "S" endorsement is prohibited from operating a school with passengers, other than Federal/state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as prescribed by 49CFR383.25(a)(1).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]N
[/TD]
[TD]Tank Endorsement, A CLP holder with an "N" endorsement may only operate an empty tank vehicle, and is prohibited from operating any tank vehicle that previously contained hazardous materials that have not been purged of any residue.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Restrictions

[TABLE="class: table table-bordered table-blue, width: 745"]
[TR]
[TH]Restriction code[/TH]
[TH]

Description​

[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 114"]L
[/TD]
[TD="width: 612"]If the driver does not pass the Air Brakes Knowledge Test, does not correctly identify the air brake system components, does not properly conduct an air brake systems check, or does not take the Skills test in a vehicle with a full air brake system, the driver must have an "L" no full air brake restriction placed on their license.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Z
[/TD]
[TD]If the driver takes the test in a vehicle with an air over hydraulic brake system, then they will have a "Z" no full air brake restriction placed on their license. In either case the driver is not authorized to operate a CMV equipped with full air brakes.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E
[/TD]
[TD]If the driver takes the Skills Test in a vehicle that has an automatic transmission, then an "E" no manual transmission restriction is placed on their license.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]O
[/TD]
[TD]If the driver takes the Skills Test in a Class A vehicle that has a pintle hook or other non-fifth wheel connection, they will have an "O" restriction placed on their license restricting them from driving any Class A vehicle with a fifth wheel connection.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]M
[/TD]
[TD]If a driver possesses a Class A CDL, but obtains his or her passenger or school bus endorsement in a Class B vehicle the State must place an "M" restriction indicating that the driver can only operate Class B and C passenger vehicle or school buses.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]N
[/TD]
[TD]If a driver possesses a Class B CDL, but obtains his or her passenger or school bus endorsement in a Class C vehicle; the State must place an "N" restriction indicating that the driver can only operate Class C passenger vehicle or school buses.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]V
[/TD]
[TD]If the State is notified by the FMCSA that a medical variance has been issued to the driver, the State must indicate the existence of such a medical variance on the CDLIS driving record and the CDL document using a restriction code "V" to indicate that there is information about the medical variance on the CDLIS record.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]