A Class A CDL covers tractor-trailers and other heavy combinations. A Class B covers heavy single vehicles (federal rules call them "heavy straight vehicles") and buses built for 24 or more passengers. Which one to train for, and whether to test in a manual or an automatic, decides which trucks you can legally drive.
- Class A: combinations of 26,001 lbs or more GCWR, when the towed vehicle is over 10,000 lbs.[1]
- Class B: single vehicles of 26,001 lbs or more GVWR, towing no more than 10,000 lbs, plus vehicles built for 24 or more passengers.[2]
- Class A covers B and C vehicles too, as long as you hold any endorsements they need.[1]
- Test in an automatic and your CDL is restricted to automatics (Texas restriction code E).[3][4]
What each class lets you drive
| Class | Covers |
|---|---|
| Class A | Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs or more, when the towed vehicle(s) are over 10,000 lbs GVWR. [2][1] |
| Class B | Any single vehicle of 26,001 lbs or more GVWR, towing no more than 10,000 lbs, and any vehicle designed to carry 24 or more passengers including the driver.[2] |
| Class C | Vehicles that aren't Class A or B but are designed for 16 to 23 passengers including the driver, or carry placarded hazardous materials.[2] |
Under federal rules, someone who passed the Class A tests may also drive Class B and C vehicles, and a Class B holder may drive Class C vehicles, as long as they hold any endorsements those vehicles need.[1]
Training and tests differ
- Knowledge tests. Class A adds a Combination knowledge test.[2] You need at least 80% to pass, and you can't get a Class A permit or CDL without passing it.[5]
- Entry-level training. Federal training rules apply when you get a CDL for the first time and when you upgrade to Class B or Class A.[6]
- Upgrading later. Moving from Class B to Class A means getting a CLP for the new class and holding it at least 14 days before the skills test.[2]
Of the public Texas training locations on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, 324 are registered for full Class A training and 309 for full Class B (as of 2026-11-01). Each location page on this site shows what it's registered to teach.
Endorsements
Endorsements add specific vehicle types or cargo to your CDL. They need extra testing, and some also need extra entry-level training.[4]
| Code | Allows |
|---|---|
| H | Hazardous materials (CDL only) |
| N | Tank vehicles |
| P | Passenger vehicles |
| S | School buses |
| T | Double or triple trailers (CDL only) |
| X | Hazmat and tank combined (CDL only) |
Endorsement codes from Texas DPS.[4]
Manual vs. automatic: the E restriction
If you take the skills test in a truck with an automatic transmission, federal rules require the state to restrict your CDL from driving a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission.[3] In Texas this is restriction code E, "No manual transmission equipped CMV."[4] For this rule, "automatic" means any transmission other than a manual.[3]
The restriction can be removed later. You don't have to retake the whole skills test: the state may give a modified test showing you can safely drive with a manual transmission.[5] Restrictions are removed at a driver license office.[4]
Other restrictions that depend on your test vehicle
- L, no air brakes: if you fail the air brake knowledge test, or take the skills test in a vehicle without air brakes.[3][4]
- Z, no full air brakes: if you test in a vehicle with air-over-hydraulic brakes.[3][4]
- O, no tractor-trailer: if your Class A test vehicle is connected by a pintle hook or other non-fifth-wheel hitch.[3][4]
Choosing: general considerations
This section is general guidance, not data. We don't have an official source on pay or job counts by class in Texas.
- Start from the job you want. Look at what vehicle the job uses, then train for that class and those endorsements. A Class A also covers Class B vehicles.[1]
- Ask employers which transmission they run before you choose an automatic-only test. An E restriction keeps you out of manual trucks until you remove it.[3]
- Compare program prices in writing. Each school sets its own tuition. See how much CDL school costs and free and company-sponsored training.
Find training by area: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Midland-Odessa, Killeen-Temple, or all areas.
Sources
- 49 CFR 383.91, Commercial motor vehicle groups (eCFR). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-383/subpart-F/section-383.91 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas DPS, How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License?. https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-do-i-apply-commercial-driver-license (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 49 CFR 383.95, Restrictions (eCFR). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-383/subpart-F/section-383.95 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas DPS, Driver License Endorsements and Restrictions. https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-endorsements-and-restrictions (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 49 CFR 383.135, Passing knowledge and skills tests (eCFR). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-383/subpart-H/section-383.135 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas DPS, Commercial Driver License (CDL) Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/faq/commercial-driver-license-cdl-frequently-asked-question (accessed 2026-11-02)