How to Buy a Category B+ Driving License
You'll need a Class B driver's license in order to drive straight-trucks with no trailer, or one with the size of a small truck. You can also obtain endorsements such as Hazmat which permits you to haul hazardous materials.
This is the license required to drive a vehicle-trailer combination with a maximum mass of 8,250kgs. This can include minibuses.
What is a category B+ license?
A category B+ license is a commercial driver's license that allows you drive a truck and trailer. This license is required for vehicles that have a maximum authorised mass of more than 26,000 pounds, and it also allows you to tow another vehicle that has an aggregate weight of less than 10,000 pounds. This is an excellent option for those who wish to drive larger cars, but don't need to carry a large amount of cargo.
State-specific requirements can differ for the CDL category B+. In general, you will need to have a high school diploma or GED certificate and pass the Department of Transportation physical exam. You must also be 18 years of age (or 21 if transporting hazardous materials or driving interstate).
Based on your career goals, you may also want to obtain additional endorsements to boost your opportunities for employment. You can drive a tanker truck, which is filled with gas or liquids and tow triple or double-trailers which permit you to tow multiple trailers at the same time.
While class B+ vehicles are not as large as a tractor-semi-trailer, they still have their own set of challenges. It is essential to have the right driving license for the truck you plan to drive. Otherwise, you could face penalties for operating a vehicle that is too heavy or too small for the job.
What is required to obtain a category B+ licence?
To get a category B+ license, you'll need to put in some effort and undergo specific training. Drivers must go through a course that combines classroom instruction and hands-on practice behind the steering wheel. Once they've grasped the basics, they'll need to pass the series of tests to test their knowledge and skills as commercial drivers. The path to a B+ category license is long and can lead to a variety of trucking careers and jobs.
State-specific CDL categories differ, however the minimum requirements are a commercial driver's license, a high school diploma or GED and passing an examination administered by the Department of Transportation. Depending on the state drivers might also have to complete additional courses in order to learn about safety and trucking regulations. Drivers can earn endorsements to their licenses that allow them to drive certain types of vehicles or transport certain types of cargo. A HAZMAT endorsement, for example allows drivers to transport dangerous materials.
A class B CDL allows drivers the ability to operate straight trucks, large buses like school and city buses and tour buses or segmented buses, as well dump trucks with trailers that are small. Drivers with this license can also operate any vehicle that is designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver). With the appropriate endorsement, drivers who have a class B CDL can also drive passenger vans and small HAZMAT vehicles.
The kind of trucking job you can get with class B CDL is based on the GVWR and any trailers you're towing. You can find out the GVWR of your vehicle by checking its registration certificate or checking section 5 "Classification" for a vehicle. Drivers can also obtain various endorsements for their licenses which allow them to drive other vehicles and provide new career opportunities. Some endorsements offer more than just a category B. For example tankers permit you to drive vehicles carrying gas or liquids