CDL Classes + Endorsements — 49 CFR 383

A Commercial Driver License (CDL) is a federal-licensed credential to operate Commercial Motor Vehicles. The class + endorsements determine what the driver can legally operate.

CDL Classes (49 CFR 383.91)

Class A

Combination vehicle with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) ≥ 26,001 lb, provided the GVWR of the trailer being towed is more than 10,000 lb.

What it covers:

• Tractor-trailer (semi truck pulling a 53' trailer)
• Truck-and-tow with a heavy trailer
• Any heavier combination

Class B

Single vehicle with a GVWR ≥ 26,001 lb, OR combination where the trailer GVWR is ≤ 10,000 lb.

What it covers:

• Straight trucks (single chassis)
• Bus (school bus, motorcoach)
• Dump truck
• Box truck

Class C

Vehicle that doesn't meet A or B criteria, BUT is either:

• Designed to transport 16+ passengers (incl. driver), OR
• Used to transport hazardous materials in placardable quantities

Required for: small buses, passenger vans (16+ seats), hazmat trucks under 26,001 lb.

A Class C driver hauling hazmat in a 1-ton pickup needs Class C + H endorsement.

Endorsements (49 CFR 383.93)

Endorsement	What it allows	Additional test/requirement
H	Transport of hazardous materials (HM placardable)	Hazmat written test + TSA Security Threat Assessment
N	Tank vehicle (vehicles designed to transport liquids/gases in tanks)	Tank vehicle written test
P	Passenger (16+ passenger vehicles)	Passenger written test
S	School bus (specifically)	School bus written test + S endorsement requires P endorsement first
T	Double / Triple trailer	Doubles/Triples written test
X	Combination of H + N (hazmat + tank)	Both H + N requirements

A driver hauling fuel in a tanker needs Class A + N + H = "X" endorsement (combined).

TSA Security Threat Assessment for H endorsement

For the H (hazmat) endorsement, the driver must pass a TSA background check covering:

• Criminal history (last 7 years)
• Immigration status
• Connection to terrorist organizations
• Mental capacity

Cost: ~$95 + state fees. Renewed every 5 years (same as the CDL endorsement).

ELDT — Entry-Level Driver Training (49 CFR 380)

Effective Feb 7, 2022, anyone obtaining a new CDL OR an additional endorsement OR upgrading class must complete:

• Theory training (online or in-classroom) — minimum hours specified
• Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training — minimum hours specified
• Provider must be on the Training Provider Registry (TPR) at fmcsa.dot.gov

Training records (TPR certification) must be kept in the DQF.

ELDT applies to:

• First-time Class A or Class B CDL applicants
• Class A CDL upgrade from Class B
• H, P, S endorsement additions (separate ELDT per endorsement)

Pre-Feb 2022 CDL holders are NOT required to complete ELDT for their existing CDL.

CDL holder restrictions (49 CFR 383.73)

Restrictions appear on the CDL itself:

Restriction Code	What it means
L	No air brakes (driver hasn't taken air brake test)
E	No manual transmission (auto only)
M	No Class A passenger vehicles
N	No Class A and B passenger vehicles
O	No tractor-trailer (5th wheel)
Z	No full air brakes
K	Intrastate only
V	Medical variance / exemption

These are SEPARATE from medical cert restrictions but often overlap.

Age requirements (49 CFR 383.3)

• 18 years old — minimum for intrastate Class A or B CDL (some states are 21)
• 21 years old — minimum for interstate Class A, B, or C CDL
• 21 years old — minimum for hazmat endorsement
• 21 years old — minimum for passenger / school bus endorsement (with state variation)

Common mistakes

1. Driver upgrade from Class B to Class A without ELDT — required by Feb 2022 rule.
2. Hazmat endorsement expired due to lapsed TSA STA — renewed every 5 years; easy to miss.
3. S endorsement without P endorsement — invalid; S requires P first.
4. CDL class doesn't match vehicle operated — Class B driver operating a tractor-trailer = violation.
5. Restriction E violated — Class A driver with E restriction (no manual) operating a manual transmission CMV.

Where this fits in X3

X3's dq-files.html tracks CDL class + endorsements + restrictions per driver. Dispatchers see this when assigning vehicles. The hazmat-basics skill cross-references the H endorsement requirements; the medical-certification skill cross-references the V restriction (medical variance).

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