Best Guide About the Cost of Class B CDL Training

What is the cost of class B CDL? You may ask this question. To know the answer all you need to do is to read this article.

Are you looking forward to becoming a professional truck driver? Now you may have a lot of questions. 

One of these questions may be: Which CDL class should I choose? Or how much great lakes truck driving school cost? And other questions related to it.

In this article you will know more about class B CDL, What are the requirements for Class B CDL, class b CDL Schools, What can you drive with a class b CDL, the difference between Class A CDL and Class B, and the cost of Class B CDL Training.

CDL stands for Commercial Driver’s License. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a driver’s license that allows a driver to operate heavy, large, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in commerce in the United States.

There isn’t just one CDL class. Actually, there is a class A, class B, and class C. 

Vehicle weight is what determines the class of a Commercial Drivers License.

What is the Cost of Class B CDL?

What is the cost of Class B CDL? Your CDL license Class B cost of the tuition also varies for each class, state, and whether you are getting it from a college or private school.

Talking about the cost of Class B CDL School, it is between $2,500 to about $8,000 in general.

New Sound Trucking School offers a Class B program for $2800.

This includes 80 hours of theory knowledge, in-cab inspections, pre-trip inspection, air brakes, and other driving techniques.

But in a different school, the cost of the class B CDL in 2019 was an average of $4200 with a $200 non-refundable administrative fee which includes:

• CDL Learners Permit.
• DOT Physical and Drug Screen.
• Classroom Materials.
• CDL License upon passing CDL testing.
• CDL State Test.

As you see, costs vary according to the schools you attend. 

What are the Requirements For Class B CDL?

1. Must be at least 21 years (18 to 20 years of age to drive intrastate)

2. Must successfully pass the following tests :

3. General Knowledge Test: 

This is a test that measures your ability to:

• Basic Controls of Your Vehicle
• Shifting Gears
• Vehicle Inspection
• Managing Driving Conditions
• Antilock Braking Systems
• Seeing Hazards & Communicating

4. Air Brakes

This is a test that examines your ability to:

• Air Brakes System Parts
• Dual Air Brakes Systems
• Using Air Brakes
• Inspecting Air Brakes

5. Pre-Trip Inspection

This is a test that examines your ability to the following:

• Internal Inspection
• External Inspection
• Emergency Exit and Evacuation
• Special Safety Considerations

6. Pass a vision test

• Submit your state’s CDL application and pay the appropriate fee.
• Provide identity and social security number verification.

7. Provide proof of state and US residency.

8. Submit a completed Medical Examination Report Form and Medical Examiner’s Certificate Form.

9. Wait a minimum of 14 days before you can schedule your CDL road skills examination

10. After passing, pay the necessary fees for your new CDL.

What are Class B CDL Schools?

Now you may ask a question, what are trucking schools that provide you with class B CDL to be able to apply for the job?

Here is a list of the top Schools in the United States:

1. Alabama – ESD School, LLC
2. Alaska – Northern Industrial Training, LLC (NIT)
3. Arizona – Phoenix Truck Driving Institute
4. Arkansas – C1 Truck Driver Training
5. California – California Truck Driving Academy
6. Colorado – The Northern Colorado Truck Driving Academy
7. Connecticut – A.B. CDL Driver Training Center
8. Delaware – American Driver Training Academy, Inc.
9. Florida – Suncoast Trucking Academy
10. Georgia – CDL of GA
11. Hawaii – Leeward Community College
12. Idaho – Idaho CDL Training
13. Illinois – 160 Driving Academy
14. Indiana – SAGE Truck Driving School
15. Iowa – Des Moines Area Community College

What Can You Drive With a Class B CDL?

When you get your B class CDL, what it does allow you to operate? in other words, What can you drive with a Class B CDL. Check the following:

1. Straight trucks 
2. Large buses (city buses, tourist buses, and school buses) 
3. Segmented buses
4. Box trucks (including delivery trucks and furniture trucks)
5. Dump trucks with small trailers.
6. Delivery and courier trucks 
7. Concrete delivery trucks
8. Garbage trucks
9. Some Class C vehicles with the correct endorsements.
10. Non-commercial Vehicles

When you achieve B class CDL, then you are automatically permitted to drive non-commercial vehicles, for example, private passenger automobiles. 

In addition, you are allowed to drive cars with attached trailers, passenger vans, and motor homes.

Obtaining Additional CDL Endorsements

You must also apply for the proper endorsements on your B class CDL to be able to drive specialized types of vehicles.

Through the application process, you will take additional examinations to obtain endorsements. There are types of endorsements include:

“T” endorsement

It allows you to attach two and three trailers to your main vehicles. However, if you have no endorsement you may only attach one trailer.

“X” endorsement 

When you get this endorsement you are allowed to haul hazardous materials in tank vehicles.

• “H” endorsement: HAZMAT.
• “N” endorsement: Tanker Truck Operator.
• “P” endorsement: Passenger Transport Vehicle Operator.
• “L” endorsement: Operating Commercial Vehicle with Air Brakes.

What are the Difference Between Class A CDL and Class B?

You may be concerned about how do class A CDL and Class B CDL differ, continue reading to know the differences.

1. Operated Vehicles:

The type of vehicles permitted to operate is the main difference between Class A and Class B CDLs. 

The vehicles covered by Class B are all the ones with a 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or less.

Moreover, any such vehicle towing a vehicle not more than of 10,000 pounds GVWR, examples are shown above.

While class A CDL allows you to operate any vehicle with a semi-trailer or trailer with two or more axles. 

This also includes any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds.

Further, this also allows towing trailers with more than 10,000 pounds of GVWR.

Besides, having a class A CDL allows you to operate Class B and C vehicles.

Briefly, class A CDL Drivers can operate tractor-trailers, truck and trailer combinations, double and triple trailers, tractor-trailer buses, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.

2. Which is Better for a Job?

Now you may ask the following question: which license is better for my career? 

This depends on the type of driving you to want to do.

As shown above, there are a lot of job openings for Class B drivers.

You need to take into consideration that having a class A CDL will allow you to operate Class B CDL vehicles. 

While Class B holders are not qualified for Class A driving positions. 

This means that Class A CDL will provide more opportunities, so that when any commercial driving position that requires a CDL (Class A, B, or C) it will be available to you to apply.

3. Training   

The training time needed to get Class A CDL skills and obtain a Class A CDL is longer than that for the other license types.

This means that you may obtain your Class B CDL faster and start your career sooner.

Now you know everything about class B CDL and how to obtain it, and the cost of Class B CDL. Do, As a result, I think that things are more clear for you to decide whether to get a class B CDL or not.