Sign In
Commercial Driver License

District of Columbia CDL Classes Explained

Which District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia CDL is valid nationwide. District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Washington DC depends on regional carriers for government, event, and urban distribution services.

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

Class A CDL

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

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

District of Columbia Class A CDL

A Class A CDL is the most common CDL in the country and the license behind most of District of Columbia's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-95, I-66, I-295. With government logistics and supply, media and events transport, food and beverage distribution driving demand, typical District of Columbia Class A CDL work includes:

  • Government logistics and supply: defense and government logistics contractors
  • Media and events transport: event, production, and resort supply freight
  • Food and beverage distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
  • Construction materials: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials

Apply, test, and schedule through District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the District of Columbia CDL Selector.

Study for District of Columbia 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

District of Columbia Class B CDL

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

  • Government logistics and supply: base supply and municipal fleet trucks
  • Media and events transport: motorcoaches and tour buses (P endorsement)
  • Food and beverage distribution: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
  • Construction materials: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites

Apply, test, and schedule through District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the District of Columbia CDL Selector.

Study for District of Columbia 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

District of Columbia Class C CDL

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

  • Government logistics and supply: government and agency passenger vans
  • Media and events transport: hotel, airport, and resort shuttle vans (P endorsement)
  • Food and beverage distribution: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
  • Smaller school buses and activity buses for District of Columbia school districts (P and S endorsements)

Apply, test, and schedule through District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the District of Columbia CDL Selector.

Study for District of Columbia Class C CDL → Find My CDL Class

Next steps

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.

Use the CDL Selector →