North Dakota CDL Classes Explained
Which North Dakota 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 North Dakota CDL is valid nationwide. North Dakota Department of Transportation issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. North Dakota's energy boom has dramatically increased HazMat and tanker CDL demand across the Bakken region.
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 North Dakota
Class A is the license behind most of North Dakota's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-29, I-94. With oil and gas field services, grain and agriculture, coal and energy driving demand, typical North Dakota Class A work includes:
- Oil and gas field services: crude, fuel, and chemical tankers (N and H endorsements) serving the energy sector
- Grain and agriculture: grain hoppers running from elevators to processors and export terminals
- Coal and energy: bulk end-dumps, belly-dump hoppers, and heavy-haul equipment moves for the mines
- Agricultural equipment: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
Apply, test, and schedule through North Dakota Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the North Dakota 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 North Dakota
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep North Dakota moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical North Dakota Class B work includes:
- Oil and gas field services: water trucks, vacuum trucks, and single-unit haulers on well sites and plants
- Grain and agriculture: single-unit grain and feed trucks at harvest (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
- Coal and energy: on-road dump trucks and water trucks around mine and quarry sites
- Agricultural equipment: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
Apply, test, and schedule through North Dakota Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the North Dakota 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 North Dakota
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in North Dakota that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical North Dakota Class C work includes:
- Oil and gas field services: crew transport vans and light-duty HazMat deliveries to field sites
- Coal and energy: crew and shift-change buses (P endorsement) and light HazMat runs to the sites
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for North Dakota school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through North Dakota Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the North Dakota 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.