New Hampshire CDL Classes Explained
Which New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire CDL is valid nationwide. New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. New Hampshire connects New England freight networks and serves growing distribution needs in the Manchester corridor.
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 New Hampshire
Class A is the license behind most of New Hampshire's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-89, I-93, I-95. With electronics and manufacturing, granite and construction materials, tourism and resort supply driving demand, typical New Hampshire Class A work includes:
- Electronics and manufacturing: dry-van and flatbed freight between manufacturers, suppliers, and distribution centers
- Granite and construction materials: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
- Tourism and resort supply: event, production, and resort supply freight
- Healthcare distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
Apply, test, and schedule through New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep New Hampshire moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical New Hampshire Class B work includes:
- Electronics and manufacturing: plant-to-warehouse straight trucks and local deliveries
- Granite and construction materials: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
- Tourism and resort supply: motorcoaches and tour buses (P endorsement)
- Healthcare distribution: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
Apply, test, and schedule through New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in New Hampshire that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical New Hampshire Class C work includes:
- Tourism and resort supply: hotel, airport, and resort shuttle vans (P endorsement)
- Healthcare distribution: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for New Hampshire school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the New Hampshire 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.