The CDL groups
49 CFR 383.5 defines three groups of commercial motor vehicles for licensing:
- Group A, combination vehicle: gross combination weight rating or weight of 26,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater, including a towed unit with a rating or weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
- Group B, heavy straight vehicle: a single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a unit of 10,000 pounds or less.
- Group C, small vehicle: a vehicle that does not meet Group A or B but is designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used to transport placarded hazardous materials.
Endorsements such as hazardous materials, tank, passenger and double or triple trailers are added for specific types of driving. The CDL is issued by the driver's state of domicile under federal minimum standards.
Do mechanics need a CDL?
A technician who road tests or moves a CMV on public roads may need a CDL for that vehicle's group. Mobile mechanics who only drive their own service truck usually do not, unless the service truck itself meets one of the CDL definitions, for example a heavy wrecker. Check the weight ratings of your vehicles and your state's rules.
CDL versus the CMV definition in Part 390
Part 390 uses a lower threshold, 10,001 pounds, to define CMVs for the safety regulations, including inspection and maintenance under Part 396. So many vehicles that do not need a CDL driver still need annual inspections and maintenance records. See GVWR.
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