Pennsylvania CDL Classes Explained
Which Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania CDL is valid nationwide. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Pennsylvania sits at the crossroads of Northeast freight, with the PA Turnpike serving as a major coast-to-coast route.
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 Pennsylvania
Class A is the license behind most of Pennsylvania's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-76, I-78, I-80, I-81. With steel and metals, pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution, food processing driving demand, typical Pennsylvania Class A work includes:
- Steel and metals: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
- Pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
- Energy and natural gas: crude, fuel, and chemical tankers (N and H endorsements) serving the energy sector
Apply, test, and schedule through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep Pennsylvania moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical Pennsylvania Class B work includes:
- Steel and metals: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
- Pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
- Energy and natural gas: water trucks, vacuum trucks, and single-unit haulers on well sites and plants
- Transit and school districts: city buses and full-size school buses across Pennsylvania (P and S endorsements)
Apply, test, and schedule through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in Pennsylvania that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical Pennsylvania Class C work includes:
- Pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
- Energy and natural gas: crew transport vans and light-duty HazMat deliveries to field sites
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for Pennsylvania school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Not sure this is your class? Use the Pennsylvania 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.