Each country requires a license that ensures the driver can drive a specific vehicle. It depends upon the type of vehicle you intend to drive. A car driving license is different from a truck driving permit.
What is the largest truck you can drive on a car license? You can drive a truck with a car license, and it should have a GVWR of less than 26,000 lbs. Driving a car requires a non-CDL, and a truck requires a commercial driving license. Box truck, Dump truck, GM Topkick, Chevrolet Kodiak, and class 5 and 6 trucks do not require a CDL.
All trucking companies should hire drivers with a CDL. Hiring untrained employees can cause a significant loss to the companies. If you are planning to buy an 18-wheeler, thoroughly research the driving permit rules in your state.
What is the biggest truck you can drive on a car license?
Trucks and other automobiles have a pivotal role in the economy of any country. They are the source of transportation of goods and people from one place to another.
They are not only owned by the trucking companies and their drivers. People with no relation to the commercial driving profession can also own them for personal use. But driving a large vehicle is different from driving a small automobile.
Typically, you can drive a truck with a car driving permit with a GVWR of less than 26,000 lbs.
A semi-truck without a trailer should have a GVW of less than 26,000 lbs. If you are trying to drive a semi with a trailer, it should have a towing weight of less than 10,000 lbs.
But if its GVW is more than the specified limit, it will be a violation of the law. Many heavy vehicles fall in this category of GVWR, and they are driven within a city to transport different goods.
What type of license is required to drive a car?
The driving license requirement for cars depends largely on the regulating authority and your state. Non-commercial driving licenses are used to drive non-commercial vehicles like cars, bikes, RVs, and buses.
You have to pass its written, vision, and driving tests. Non-commercial driving license is further categorized into different classes like,
- Class M
- Class C
- Class B
- Class A
You need a Class C license for a car in the United States. The minimum age requirement is about 16 to 18 years. Holders of this Class C permit can not drive a vehicle with passengers more than 15 passengers.
People under the age of 18 can apply for a learner’s permit and can work under the supervision of another person.
You should pass the written exam that includes questions about the driving techniques of the car and the equipment related to such vehicle. Holders of Class C permits can also drive a few trucks and large vehicles.
License required to drive a commercial truck
A commercial driving license or CDL is required for any large vehicle, like a semi or pickup. You can also drive trucks with two trailers.
The eligibility criteria and requirements to get a CDL permit differ from those of a non-CDL license. You have to go through tough written and driving tests to get it.
It needs specialized training from CDL schools, and you have to clear the medical examination exam to get it. It is categorized further into three classes.
Class A
Class A permit allows you to drive all types of large vehicles. It contains all the privileges found in Class B and Class C licenses. This is used for semi-trucks with two to three trailers, passenger vans, and other cargo.
Class B
With this permit class, you can drive a single vehicle weighing more than 26000 lbs. You can also drive a vehicle with three axles that weigh more than 6,000 lbs.
Class C
With this permit, you can drive passenger vans and vehicles. You can drive a vehicle that weighs less than 26,000 lbs. The vehicle can include 10 passengers, or it can be used to deliver hazardous materials.
List of trucks that do not require a CDL
The list of large vehicles that do not require CDL is too long. It consists of a number of large vehicles like pickups. Here is a brief description of a few of them.
Box trucks
They consist of a cargo unit attached to their chassis. The cargo unit is just like the shape of the box. Hence, the vehicle got its name, Box Truck. They can be 26 feet long and used to carry different stuff. You do not require a CDL to drive them.
Dump trucks
This type of vehicle is used to transport construction materials to the construction site. They are also used to dump waste into their designated areas. They also do not require a commercial driving license to drive them.
Class 5 and 6 trucks
The class 5 has GVWR ranging from 16000 to 19500 lbs. The class 6 trucks have GVWR ranging from 19500 to 256000 lbs. As you can see, both of them are within the weight limitations of non-CDL vehicles. GMC Topkick is included in the class 6 trucks.
Chevrolet Kodiak
The Chevrolet Kodiak has a towing capacity of 16000 lbs. It is about 20 feet long and 8 feet wide. It is also a non-CDL vehicle, and anyone having a car license can drive it.
How to tell which truck requires a CDL?
Many truck owners wonder if they require a CDL to drive it. My friend suggested I look for the GRVW value of the vehicle. The only way to find out if a truck requires CDL is by knowing its GVWR value. The value is specific for a specific model of the truck.
The value usually appears in the door jamb of the vehicle. A sticker that includes the manufacturer’s specification is pasted to the door jamb.
A truck safety compliance certification label is also part of the sticker. Try to find out the acronym GVWR on the sticker.
You can also search for the GAWR (gross axle weight) rating of both axles. Add both values to get the GVWR value. You can start driving if the value is within the specified weight limit. Otherwise, you have to appear in the CDL exam to get a permit to drive.
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