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Commercial Driver License

South Carolina CDL Classes Explained

Which South Carolina 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 South Carolina CDL is valid nationwide. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. South Carolina's Port of Charleston and BMW manufacturing plant anchor strong CDL freight demand in the Southeast.

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 South Carolina

Class A is the license behind most of South Carolina's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-20, I-26, I-77, I-95. With automotive manufacturing, port and container freight, tire and rubber manufacturing driving demand, typical South Carolina Class A work includes:

  • Automotive manufacturing: just-in-time parts hauling between assembly plants and suppliers
  • Port and container freight: container drayage between the ports and inland rail yards
  • Tire and rubber manufacturing: dry-van and flatbed freight between manufacturers, suppliers, and distribution centers
  • Aerospace components: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials

Apply, test, and schedule through South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the South Carolina CDL Selector.

Study for South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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

  • Automotive manufacturing: straight-truck parts delivery on local routes
  • Port and container freight: yard trucks and local box trucks serving the port terminals
  • Tire and rubber manufacturing: plant-to-warehouse straight trucks and local deliveries
  • Aerospace components: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites

Apply, test, and schedule through South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the South Carolina CDL Selector.

Study for South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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

  • Smaller school buses and activity buses for South Carolina school districts (P and S endorsements)
  • Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers

Apply, test, and schedule through South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Not sure this is your class? Use the South Carolina CDL Selector.

Study for South Carolina 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.

Use the CDL Selector →