Types of Commercial Driver’s Licenses in Nevada

Driving a commercial vehicle in Nevada requires special certifications depending on the type of vehicle you are planning to operate. There are three main classes of commercial driver’s license (CDL) in the state, broken down by the weight of the vehicle and trailer you are driving:

• Class A: Required when driving a combination vehicle (tractor-trailers, double-trailers, livestock transporters, etc.) with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more and the towed trailer or vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
• Class B: Required when driving any vehicle with a GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds, or when towing a trailer or vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. Examples include cement trucks, buses, and similar vehicles towing a smaller trailer.
• Class C: Any vehicle that does not meet the requirements outlined in Class A or B but has a GVWR of 26,000 pounds and is designed to either transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting placarded hazardous materials.

A driver must be at least 21 years old to obtain a CDL for interstate travel or to transport hazardous materials, and a driver must be at least 25 years old in order to receive the necessary endorsements to drive a vehicle or combination vehicle and trailer more than 70 feet long. In order to qualify for a CDL in Nevada, a prospective driver first needs to obtain a Commercial Learner Permit (CLP). This is required if:

• This is the first time you will obtain a CDL.
• You are upgrading your CDL to a higher class, adding an endorsement, or removing a restriction that requires a skills test.
• It has been at least 4 years since your CDL privileges were valid.

Once obtaining a CLP, you must wait 14 days before attempting the subsequent skills test that will allow you to obtain a full CDL. While holding a CLP, you must be accompanied by a licensed CDL driver who is at least 25 years of age and has the required endorsements when operating a commercial vehicle.

Nevada Commercial Driver’s License Endorsements

Depending on the type of vehicle you plan on driving and the type of cargo you intend to haul, you may need additional CDL endorsements. These include:

• T: Double- or triple-trailers.
• P: Passenger vehicles like large vans or commercial buses, not including school buses.
• N: Tank vehicles (liquids or gasses in large quantities/contained in tanks).
• H: Hazardous materials, not including tankers.
• X: Hazardous materials and tankers.
• S: School buses.

Commercial vehicles are significantly larger than almost any other vehicle on the road, which is why drivers need a special license to legally operate them. If you were seriously injured in a truck crash caused by someone operating a commercial vehicle without the necessary license, you may be able to file a lawsuit to secure the compensation you deserve. Give the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp a call to speak with an experienced Reno truck accident attorney today or fill out our online form to give us the details of your case and we will get back to you as soon as possible.