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Commercial Driver License

Arkansas CDL Classes Explained

Which Arkansas CDL class you need depends on vehicle weight, what it tows, and the type of operation, not just the truck size. The three classes are set by federal rule (49 CFR 383.91) and are the same in every state, so a Arkansas CDL is valid nationwide. Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Arkansas hosts major national retail and food distribution networks with dense interstate freight traffic.

A Class A Tractor-trailers & combinations › B Class B Straight trucks & heavy buses › C Class C Passenger, school bus & HazMat
A
Highest Authority

Class A CDL

🚛 GCWR 26,001 lbs+ with towed unit over 10,000 lbs
Most Common

A Class A CDL is generally used for combination vehicles, including tractor-trailers, when the gross combination weight rating is 26,001 pounds or more and the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds.

Knowledge Test Topics

  • General Knowledge
  • Air Brakes if equipped
  • Combination Vehicles
  • Vehicle Inspection
  • Basic Vehicle Control
  • Road Test

Common Job Types

  • Tractor-trailer driver
  • Regional freight driver
  • Heavy combination vehicle operator
  • Class A delivery driver

Class A CDL in Arkansas

Class A is the license behind most of Arkansas's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-30, I-40, I-55. With retail distribution, poultry and food processing, steel and metals driving demand, typical Arkansas Class A work includes:

  • Retail distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
  • Poultry and food processing: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
  • Steel and metals: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials

Apply, test, and schedule through Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Not sure this is your class? Use the Arkansas CDL Selector.

Study for Arkansas Class A CDL → Find My CDL Class
B
Single Heavy Vehicle

Class B CDL

🚚 GVWR 26,001 lbs+, limited towing

A Class B CDL is generally used for a single commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, plus limited towing.

Knowledge Test Topics

  • General Knowledge
  • Air Brakes if equipped
  • Vehicle Inspection
  • Basic Vehicle Control
  • Road Test

Common Job Types

  • Straight truck driver
  • Dump truck driver
  • Large bus driver
  • Box truck driver
  • Concrete mixer driver

Class B CDL in Arkansas

Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep Arkansas moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical Arkansas Class B work includes:

  • Retail distribution: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
  • Poultry and food processing: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
  • Steel and metals: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
  • Transit and school districts: city buses and full-size school buses across Arkansas (P and S endorsements)

Apply, test, and schedule through Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Not sure this is your class? Use the Arkansas CDL Selector.

Study for Arkansas Class B CDL → Find My CDL Class
C
Passenger, School Bus & HazMat

Class C CDL

🚌 Below Class A/B threshold, special operation

A Class C CDL may apply when the vehicle does not meet Class A or B weight definitions but is used for passengers, school bus operation, or placarded hazardous materials.

Knowledge Test Topics

  • General Knowledge as required
  • Passenger or School Bus endorsement if applicable
  • HazMat endorsement if applicable
  • State-specific requirements

Common Job Types

  • Shuttle driver
  • Small passenger vehicle driver
  • School activity driver
  • HazMat delivery driver

Class C CDL in Arkansas

Class C applies to lighter vehicles in Arkansas that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical Arkansas Class C work includes:

  • Retail distribution: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
  • Poultry and food processing: farm crew transport when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers
  • Smaller school buses and activity buses for Arkansas school districts (P and S endorsements)
  • Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers

Apply, test, and schedule through Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Not sure this is your class? Use the Arkansas CDL Selector.

Study for Arkansas Class C CDL → Find My CDL Class

Not sure which class applies to you?

Answer a few questions about your vehicle and operation, and the CDL Selector gives you a starting point in under a minute.

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