Licenses & Endorsements
CDL (Commercial Driver's License)
A Commercial Driver's License is the state-issued license required to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States. Class A covers combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers, Class B covers most straight trucks, and Class C covers passenger and hazmat vehicles below those weight thresholds. Endorsements authorize specific cargo types.
A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is a state-issued license required to operate a commercial motor vehicle above 26,001 lbs GVWR, carrying 16+ passengers, or hauling hazardous materials in placardable quantities. Class A CDLs authorize combination vehicles like tractor-trailers; Class B covers most straight trucks; Class C covers hazmat and passenger vehicles under Class A/B weight thresholds. Endorsements (H, N, T, P, S, X) authorize specific cargo or vehicle types.
Why it matters for recruiting and operations
CDL class and endorsements are the first filter in any recruiting funnel — a Class A opening can't be filled by a Class B-only applicant, no matter how strong the resume looks otherwise. Understanding which class and endorsements a route truly requires keeps recruiters from wasting prescreening time on candidates who can't legally run the freight.
Related terms
Where this shows up in Fleegital
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