How to Buy a Category B+ Driving License
You'll require a Class B license to drive a straight truck without a trailer or one with a small trailer. You can also obtain endorsements like Hazmat which allows you to haul hazardous materials.
This is the license needed to operate a combination vehicle-trailer with a maximum weight of 8,250kgs. This could include minibuses.
What is a category B+ license?
A category B+ driving license is a commercial driver's license that permits you to drive a truck with a trailer. This license is required for vehicles that have an authorized maximum weight of more than 26,000 pounds and also permits you to tow another vehicle with an aggregate weight less than 10,000 pounds. This is a great alternative for those looking to drive larger vehicles, but don't need to haul much loads.
Like all CDLs, the requirements for a category B+ license may differ by state. In general, you'll require a high-school diploma or GED and you must pass the Department of Transportation Physical Exam. You must also be at least 18 years old (or 21 for interstate driving or hazardous material transport).
Depending on your career goals It is also possible to acquire additional endorsements in order to boost your opportunities for employment. You can drive a tanker truck, that is filled with gas or liquids, and tow double/triple-trailers, that allow you to pull 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. This is why it's important to ensure that you have the correct driving license for the kind of truck you're driving. You could face penalties for driving a car that is too heavy or small for the job.
What do I need to do to obtain a category B+ license?
To obtain an A+ category driving license requires some hard work and special training. Drivers will have to go into a program that blends classes and hands-on behind-the wheel practice. Once they have the fundamentals in place, they will be required to pass an array of tests to check their knowledge and skill as commercial drivers. The path to the category B+ license can be long but it could open up a wide variety of trucking jobs and careers.
State-specific CDL categories vary, but the minimum requirements include a noncommercial driver's license, a high school diploma or GED, and passing an examination administered by the Department of Transportation. Based on the state, drivers may also have to complete additional courses in order to gain knowledge about the safety regulations and trucking. Drivers may also earn endorsements on their licenses, which allow them to drive certain vehicles or carry certain kinds of cargo. For example, a HAZMAT endorsement will allow drivers to transport dangerous materials.
A class B CDL allows drivers to operate straight trucks, box trucks (like delivery trucks), large buses like city and school buses, and segmented or tourist buses and dump trucks with small trailers. This license allows drivers to operate any vehicle that is designed to carry 16 or more (including the driver). With the proper endorsement, drivers with a class B CDL can also drive passenger vans and small HAZMAT vehicles.
The type of trucking jobs you can find with class B CDL is dependent on the GVWR and any trailers that you are towing. You can determine the GVWR by examining the registration certificate of your vehicle or section 5 "Classification". Drivers can also apply for a number of different endorsements for their licenses, which permit them to drive on additional vehicles and create new career opportunities. Some endorsements offer more than just the category B. For example tankers permit drivers to drive vehicles carrying liquids or gases; and the triple-trailer or double-trailer gives drivers more options in trucking.
How do I get a category B+ license?
There are some specific prerequisites to obtain the category B+ license. You will generally need a high-school diploma or equivalent and a clean driving record. You may be required to pass a physical test and meet the age requirements of your state. In New York, for example, you must be 18 years old to get a class B CDL.
You can add an endorsement on your Category B license to allow you to drive larger vehicles. Examples include passenger vans and small HAZMAT vehicles. To obtain an endorsement, you will need to pass a knowledge test and a skills test.
In some countries, you can also use your category B license to ride a moped or tricycle. This is only a possibility when your first full license was issued prior to the 19th of January 2013. In other countries you will need to obtain an AM category licence to be able to ride tricycles or mopeds. In Austria, Belgium (after two years), France, Greece, Italy, Latvia and Slovakia, you must also present a medical certificate to revalidate your Category B licence.
What is the cost to obtain a Category B+ license?
You can drive passenger vehicles up to a maximum weight of 3,500 kilograms in Category B. try this site can also tow a trailer to this limit. The maximum mass that your vehicle and its trailer are allowed to carry is stated on the registration certificate of your vehicle in section 5 "Classification".
This is the most popular type of licence. It permits you to drive most single-unit vehicles and combinations of vehicles, up to the legal weight limit. It is a great choice for those who are seeking to begin their career.
You can get higher categories added to your licence when you pass the exam for that category and fulfil the requirements for it. For instance, you could you can get a provisional licence to categories C, C1+E and D after passing the car (B) driving test. Find out more about how to apply for these categories, as well as other types of licenses, online.
It is completely free to get a driving licence when you reach the age of 70. You must pay for any medical or vision tests. The cost of training is not included in the price of your license.