If you’re considering getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you may be wondering which class is right for your situation. Class A, B, and C CDLs can all lead to great careers, so it’s really a matter of preference. Below, we break down the differences of each class, including costs and potential earnings, to help you make the right decision.
Class A
Class A is the most all-encompassing CDL, allowing you to drive the widest range of vehicles. Getting a Class A CDL allows you to operate a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds. This includes tractor-trailers, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and more.
Who Is a Good Fit for Class A?
A Class A CDL opens the door to all kinds of driving (other than vehicles that require a special certification). It’s a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to be restricted in what they can operate.
If you want to be a long-haul truck driver, Class A is the CDL for you. This can be a great choice for someone who’s single, starting their career, or doesn’t mind being away from home.
On the other hand, if you’d rather stay closer to your loved ones, you can use your Class A CDL to drive big rigs for local companies. You stay within a smaller geographical area, allowing you to go home to your family every night.
One of the biggest misconceptions in this industry is that new drivers have to spend 2–3 years over-the-road before they can get a “real” local driving job. At NCTDA, we have spent more than 25 years pushing back against that narrative because it simply is not true. Many of our graduates move directly into local, municipal, construction, utility, energy, and regional driving positions.
Costs
The cost of getting your Class A CDL includes your behind-the-wheel training, CDL skills test, and a DOT medical exam. All together, the total costs to get fully certified are typically between $5800 to $7800.
Earning Potential
With a Class A CDL, you can pursue dozens of different career trajectories, each one having a different salary. The average salary of a long-haul truck driver in Colorado in 2026 is $74,863, with top earners making as much as $106,000.
Driving tractor-trailers locally can earn just as much. At NCTDA, we offer job placement to our new graduates—helping them earn between $70,000 to $90,000 a year right out of training.
Class B
If you don’t have an interest in driving 18 wheelers, a Class B license could be a great choice. Drivers with a Class B CDL can operate vehicles with a single-vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or more. They can also tow a trailer that weighs less than 10,000 pounds.
In real-life scenarios, that means people with a Class B CDL can drive buses, box trucks, dump trucks, cement mixers, and more.
Who Is a Good Fit for Class B?
Many people who have a Class B CDL work with municipal governments, tourist companies, or other local businesses where long drives typically aren’t required. For example, a city bus driver has no reason to drive outside of town. If a Class B driver does have a longer drive, they are typically back home by the end of the day.
This makes a Class B CDL a great choice for anyone with small children or other dependents, such as elderly family members. A set schedule with a consistent time you’ll be home also means this is a good fit for single parents.
Cost
The cost of completing a Class B CDL in Colorado is typically between $2900 and $3600. Class B CDL training includes online ELDT (entry-level driver training) theory, DOT medical testing, and on-the-road training.
Earning Potential
Of the many paths you can follow with a Class B license, one of the most popular is a bus driver. The average salary for a bus driver in Colorado in 2026 is $47,000.
Class C
A Class C license is the most restrictive type of CDL. It allows a driver to either operate a vehicle with more than 16 passengers or transport hazardous materials. This means Class C holders can operate passenger vans and small HazMat vehicles.
Who Is a Good Fit for Class C?
As this is the most limited kind of CDL, Class C is best for people who have a potential job lined up in either toxic material transport or passenger van transport (or are looking only to work in those two specific fields).
Cost
The cost of getting a Class C CDL is lower than the other classes, often below $1000. However, any additional certifications/specialty training will raise this cost.
Earning Potential
The average salary for a van driver in Colorado in 2026 is $43,000.
Premium CDL Courses in Northern Colorado
Feeling confident about which CDL you want to pursue? Reach out to us at Northern Colorado Truck Driving Academy (NCTDA) to learn more about our in-depth CDL courses. We also offer CDL testing and assistance with job placement—helping you secure a job quickly after completing your training. Contact us today to start your new career.