Licenses & Endorsements
CDL-A (Class A Commercial Driver's License)
A Class A CDL authorizes a driver to operate any combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating over 26,001 lbs, where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs — most commonly a tractor pulling a semi-trailer. It's the most common license class for over-the-road and regional truckload freight.
Class A is the broadest commercial license class, covering combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers, flatbeds, tankers, and doubles/triples, provided the driver holds any additional required endorsements for the specific cargo or configuration. Most OTR, regional, and dedicated truckload jobs require a Class A CDL because they involve a tractor pulling a separate trailer. A Class A license generally also permits driving most Class B and C vehicles, making it the most broadly useful CDL class for carriers hiring across multiple freight types.
Why it matters for recruiting and operations
CDL-A is the single most common license requirement in truckload recruiting, so it's usually the first filter recruiters apply to any applicant pool. Confirming CDL-A status (and verifying it against the state record via MVR, not just the applicant's word) early in prescreening prevents wasted time moving an unqualified applicant through the pipeline.
Related terms
Where this shows up in Fleegital
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