Texas Class B to Class A Upgrade Program
Everything you need to pass upgrading a Texas Class B CDL to Class A. This package includes Combination Vehicles, Air Brakes, Class B to A Upgrade, each with a study guide based on the official CDL manual, a quick review, 179 practice questions with answers, and narrated audio you can listen to anywhere. Start studying the moment you check out, with 120 days of access.
Overview
Upgrade prep for Class B CDL holders moving to Class A, including combination vehicles, coupling, air brakes, and HOS theory.
Class B to Class A Upgrade Program for Texas CDL Applicants
Texas leads the nation in CDL demand, with extensive energy sector hauling and the busiest US-Mexico border crossings. With oil and gas field services, cross-border trade and freight, agriculture and cattle driving much of the freight in Texas, the Class B to Class A Upgrade Program material below is the part of the Texas CDL that those employers screen for first.
The Texas Class B to A upgrade: Combination Vehicles and Air Brakes knowledge tests at Texas Department of Public Safety, then a Class A skills test. Since February 2022, ELDT theory and behind-the-wheel training must also be logged with an FMCSA-registered provider before Texas Department of Public Safety will schedule the test.
Where Texas drivers use this
- Almost every Class A and Class B vehicle in Texas; skip this test and your CDL carries an L restriction
- Oil and gas field services: crude, fuel, and chemical tankers (N and H endorsements) serving the energy sector
- Cross-border trade and freight: cross-border and international freight lanes
- Agriculture and cattle: livestock trailers and refrigerated meat loads to packers and markets
- Technology and e-commerce distribution: regional and over-the-road distribution runs for grocery, retail, and e-commerce freight
Most Texas CDL work runs the I-10, I-20, I-35 corridors and the Austin area, so the examples in the practice questions lean on the vehicles and loads you will see there.
Testing, appointments, and fees are handled by Texas Department of Public Safety. See the Texas CDL classes and Texas endorsements pages for the full licensing picture.
Common Texas questions
- Is this Class B to Class A Upgrade Program material specific to Texas?
- Yes. The knowledge test content is federal (49 CFR 383), so the questions apply in Texas, and this page adds Texas details: where you test (Texas Department of Public Safety), which Texas industries use this license, and the Texas corridors the examples are drawn from.
- Where do I take the Class B to Class A Upgrade Program knowledge test in Texas?
- Knowledge tests are given by Texas Department of Public Safety. Bring your Texas driver license, proof of residency, and your medical certificate; most Texas offices require an appointment for CDL testing.
- How long do I have to study the Texas Class B to Class A Upgrade Program material?
- Access lasts 120 days from purchase, which is enough to study, take the practice tests, and pass at Texas Department of Public Safety with time to spare. Retakes in Texas are allowed after a short wait, so a second attempt is covered too.
When Is This Useful?
Helps drivers expand from heavy single vehicles into tractor-trailers and other combination vehicle work.
Who Is This For?
Current Class B CDL holders who need Class A authority for new job duties or equipment assignments.
Topics Covered
Upgrading from Class B to Class A means operating vehicles with fundamentally different handling. Off-tracking, rearward amplification, and trailer swing all require new driving habits. The Combination Vehicles written test focuses on these differences compared to single heavy vehicles.
Correctly connecting a tractor to a trailer is a critical Class A skill tested both on the written exam and during the skills test. This module covers the exact coupling sequence that examiners expect to observe during the pre-trip exercise.
Class A combination vehicles use service and emergency air lines between the tractor and trailer that Class B drivers have not typically operated. You will learn how to connect them correctly, perform pressure checks, and identify warning signs of failure.
Adding a trailer to your pre-trip inspection means covering the coupling area, fifth wheel, air connections, trailer brakes, and landing gear in sequence. The Class A skills test expects you to demonstrate all of these additional inspection points.
The Class A upgrade requires passing the Combination Vehicles written knowledge test plus completing a new skills test on a Class A vehicle. This section prepares you for the content differences, scoring criteria, and what Class A evaluators assess differently from Class B.
Class B to Class A Upgrade Program
$37.95
View CartWhat's Included:
- Combination Vehicles
- Air Brakes
- Class B to A Upgrade Theory