What does Under CDL Mean?
Federal law requires drivers to possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive certain types of commercial vehicles. For licensing drivers, vehicles are classified into two types based on the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) among other criteria. The two types of driver’s license are a CDL license and an Under-CDL license.
You need to apply with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state to receive either form of license. Additionally, the requirements and costs for these licenses will vary from state to state. So, what is the difference between CDL vehicles and Under CDL vehicles? Let’s find out.
CDL
A CDL allows you to drive vehicles with a gross weight of more than 26,001 lbs. There are three classes of CDL licenses, one of which will make it legal for drivers to transport 15 or more passengers and hazardous materials. A person can hold a CDL in only one state and they must be at least 21 years old to obtain the license for transporting hazardous materials. There is some training required to prepare for the test to get one’s CDL. Additionally, there are strict guidelines and laws regarding the operation of the vehicle.
Under CDL
An Under CDL license allows you to drive a vehicle with a weight of 26,000 lbs. or less. Vehicles covered under this license include passenger cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. We carry several under CDL options at Custom Truck One Source. For example, Load King’s 2,000-gallon water trucks are under CDL and may be operated by anyone with a valid driver’s license. Additionally, any equipment mounted on a Dodge Ram 5500 or Ford F550 would be considered under CDL as well.
The main difference between CDL and Under CDL license is that the former allows you to drive/operate a commercial vehicle while the latter does not. Today, it is somewhat difficult to find drivers with a CDL license. A major reason for this is that the test to get a CDL license includes questions regarding the use of the vehicle systems, which only an experienced commercial vehicle driver can answer.
