CDL (Commercial Driver's License)

A CDL is the license required to operate commercial motor vehicles above defined weight and passenger thresholds. CDLs include class designations (A, B, C) and endorsements for specific cargo types or vehicle configurations.

Class A covers tractor-trailer combinations above 26,001 pounds. Class B covers single vehicles above 26,001 pounds. Class C covers vehicles below 26,001 pounds but with hazmat or passenger requirements.

Common endorsements: H (hazmat), N (tank), X (combined hazmat and tank), P (passenger), S (school bus), T (double/triple trailers).

Why this matters for freight brokers

Matching driver endorsements to load type is a vetting check. A driver hauling hazmat without an H endorsement is a violation and a litigation exhibit.

Related terms

• MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) — An MVR is a state-issued report of a driver's license status, violations, accidents, and endorsements, used to evaluate driver risk in commercial motor carrier and broker contexts.
• Hazmat endorsement (CDL H endorsement) — The hazmat endorsement is the CDL designation required to operate commercial vehicles transporting placarded amounts of hazardous materials, obtained through a TSA background check and a written knowledge test.