Mississippi CDL Classes Explained
Which Mississippi 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 Mississippi CDL is valid nationwide. Mississippi Department of Public Safety issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Mississippi supports growing automotive and food processing freight along key Southeast freight corridors.
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 Mississippi
Class A is the license behind most of Mississippi's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-20, I-55, I-59. With automotive manufacturing, poultry and food processing, shipbuilding logistics driving demand, typical Mississippi Class A work includes:
- Automotive manufacturing: just-in-time parts hauling between assembly plants and suppliers
- Poultry and food processing: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
- Shipbuilding logistics: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
- Timber and paper: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
Apply, test, and schedule through Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Not sure this is your class? Use the Mississippi CDL Selector.
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 Mississippi
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep Mississippi moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical Mississippi Class B work includes:
- Automotive manufacturing: straight-truck parts delivery on local routes
- Poultry and food processing: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
- Shipbuilding logistics: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
- Timber and paper: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
Apply, test, and schedule through Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Not sure this is your class? Use the Mississippi CDL Selector.
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 Mississippi
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in Mississippi that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical Mississippi Class C work includes:
- Poultry and food processing: farm crew transport when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers
- Shipbuilding logistics: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for Mississippi school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Not sure this is your class? Use the Mississippi CDL Selector.
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.