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Commercial Driver License

Georgia CDL Classes Explained

Which Georgia 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 Georgia CDL is valid nationwide. Georgia Department of Driver Services issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Georgia is one of the South's premier logistics hubs, with the Port of Savannah among the busiest in North America.

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 Georgia

Class A is the license behind most of Georgia's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285. With port and intermodal freight, automotive distribution, food and poultry processing driving demand, typical Georgia Class A work includes:

  • Port and intermodal freight: container drayage between the ports and inland rail yards
  • Automotive distribution: just-in-time parts hauling between assembly plants and suppliers
  • Food and poultry processing: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
  • Retail distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight

Apply, test, and schedule through Georgia Department of Driver Services. Not sure this is your class? Use the Georgia CDL Selector.

Study for Georgia 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 Georgia

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

  • Port and intermodal freight: yard trucks and local box trucks serving the port terminals
  • Automotive distribution: straight-truck parts delivery on local routes
  • Food and poultry processing: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
  • Retail distribution: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks

Apply, test, and schedule through Georgia Department of Driver Services. Not sure this is your class? Use the Georgia CDL Selector.

Study for Georgia 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 Georgia

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

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

Apply, test, and schedule through Georgia Department of Driver Services. Not sure this is your class? Use the Georgia CDL Selector.

Study for Georgia 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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