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Commercial Driver License

Florida CDL Classes Explained

Which Florida 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 Florida CDL is valid nationwide. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Florida combines high port volume with year-round agriculture hauling and major construction freight demand.

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 Florida

Class A is the license behind most of Florida's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-4, I-10, I-75, I-95. With citrus and produce hauling, port and cruise logistics, construction materials driving demand, typical Florida Class A work includes:

  • Citrus and produce hauling: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
  • Port and cruise logistics: container drayage between the ports and inland rail yards
  • Construction materials: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
  • Tourism supply chain: event, production, and resort supply freight

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

Study for Florida 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 Florida

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

  • Citrus and produce hauling: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
  • Port and cruise logistics: yard trucks and local box trucks serving the port terminals
  • Construction materials: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
  • Tourism supply chain: motorcoaches and tour buses (P endorsement)

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

Study for Florida 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 Florida

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

  • Citrus and produce hauling: farm crew transport when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers
  • Tourism supply chain: hotel, airport, and resort shuttle vans (P endorsement)
  • Smaller school buses and activity buses for Florida school districts (P and S endorsements)
  • Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers

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

Study for Florida 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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