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Commercial Driver License

Virginia CDL Classes Explained

Which Virginia 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 Virginia CDL is valid nationwide. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Virginia combines major port activity at Norfolk with extensive military logistics and dense East Coast freight corridors.

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 Virginia

Class A is the license behind most of Virginia's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-64, I-66, I-81, I-95. With port and container freight, military and defense logistics, government supply chain driving demand, typical Virginia Class A work includes:

  • Port and container freight: container drayage between the ports and inland rail yards
  • Military and defense logistics: defense and government logistics contractors
  • Tobacco and food processing: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight

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

Study for Virginia 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 Virginia

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

  • Port and container freight: yard trucks and local box trucks serving the port terminals
  • Military and defense logistics: base supply and municipal fleet trucks
  • Tobacco and food processing: local delivery straight trucks and last-mile box trucks
  • Transit and school districts: city buses and full-size school buses across Virginia (P and S endorsements)

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

Study for Virginia 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 Virginia

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

  • Military and defense logistics: government and agency passenger vans
  • Tobacco and food processing: light HazMat delivery routes when the load requires placards
  • Smaller school buses and activity buses for Virginia school districts (P and S endorsements)
  • Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers

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

Study for Virginia Class C CDL → Find My CDL Class

Not sure which class applies to you?

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