What’s the Difference?
Not all CDLs are created equal. Before starting, it’s important to know the difference and figure out which one is best for you and your career goals. At NCST, we offer both Class A and Class B CDLs and have corporate sponsors offering positions to students finished with training.
Class A CDL
Class A CDLs allow drivers to operate a combination of different vehicles. Class A vehicles are specified as any combination of vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 26,001 or more pounds. They also give drivers the ability to haul a trailer that weighs 10,000 pounds or more.
Class A vehicles include:
- Tractor-trailer, also known as a semi, big-rig, or 18-wheeler
- Truck and trailer combinations, including double and triple trailers
- Tractor-trailer buses
- Tanker vehicles
- Flatbed vehicles
- Most Class B and Class C vehicles
After Class A training, you will have the skills to work as a long-haul OTR (over-the-road) driver or a local driver. You may also haul heavy equipment and, with certain endorsements, hazardous materials.
Class B CDL
Class B CDLs are more restrictive, allowing drivers to operate smaller vehicles with a single-vehicle weight of 26,000 or more without a trailer. They can also operate any vehicle towing a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds.
Class B vehicles include:
- Straight trucks
- Large buses (city buses, tourist buses, school buses)
- Box trucks, including delivery trucks
- Dump trucks with small trailers
Corporate Sponsors
At NCST, we partner with local and regional employers, hosting employer visits for company recruiters to interview and provide applications to prospective students. Our sponsorship program allows students to build better relationships and identify with companies that share our values. When it comes to CDL training, Nick Strimbu Inc. and P.I.&I. Motor Express are our corporate sponsors looking for trained graduates to hire.
Nick Strimbu Inc. prides itself on treating its employees like family. Since 1926 they’ve been family owned and operated. Their diversity of freight ensures that they never have to lay off employees, no matter how the industry changes. Nick Strimbu Inc. ensures that drivers make a decent wage starting out, with consistent raises from year to year.
P.I.&I. Motor Express has over 60 years of experience in the trucking industry and is committed to making sure drivers receive top-rated pay and benefits. P.I.&I. specializes in flatbed trucks and moving steel, with 90% of what they haul being steel coils. As a driver for P.I.&I., drivers have the option to be company drivers or owner-operators.
At NCST, you can earn your Class A or B CDL in just a short time, as the program that only takes a few weeks to complete. By the end of training, you’ll be ready to take on any entry-level job in the trucking industry.