What CDL Do I Need to Drive a Dump Truck?
Dump trucks sit right on the line that separates the two main CDL classes, which is why the answer people get is so often wrong. The truck itself is a Class B job. What you tow behind it is what moves you up.
A standard dump truck needs a Class B CDL, and you will almost certainly need the air brake restriction removed. Pull a trailer heavy enough behind it and it becomes a Class A.
Why a dump truck falls where it does
A dump truck is a single vehicle, not a combination, so it is rated under the Class B definition: one vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. A tandem axle dump truck is typically rated somewhere between 33,000 and 66,000 pounds, so it clears that line without argument.
Class B also covers that same truck towing something light, up to a 10,000 pound trailer. Once the trailer you are pulling is rated over 10,000 pounds and the combination is rated over 26,001, you have crossed into Class A and you need the Combination Vehicles knowledge test as well.
The numbers that decide it
The federal classes are defined on the manufacturer's ratings, not on what is loaded today.
- Truck alone, GVWR 26,001 lbs or more
- Class B CDL. This is the normal case for any tandem or tri-axle dump truck.
- Truck towing a trailer rated 10,000 lbs or less
- Still Class B. A small equipment trailer behind the truck does not change the class.
- Truck towing a trailer rated over 10,000 lbs
- Class A CDL, if the combination rating is over 26,001 lbs. This is the pup trailer and transfer dump case.
- Small dump body on a truck rated under 26,001 lbs
- No CDL for the weight alone. One ton and some medium duty dumps land here.
Air brakes
Nearly every dump truck large enough to need a CDL has air brakes. If you do not pass the air brake knowledge test, your license is issued with a restriction that bars you from driving any air braked vehicle, which in practice means you cannot do the job.
Air brakes is not an endorsement. It is a restriction that stays on your license until you pass the air brake knowledge test, and it bars you from every air braked vehicle while it is there.
When the answer is different
If you will ever pull a pup trailer, a transfer dump or a lowboy behind the truck, go straight for the Class A. A Class A license lets you drive Class B and Class C vehicles too, so it costs you one extra knowledge test and leaves nothing off the table.
Construction and municipal fleets often mix both. Ask the employer what is in the yard before you pick a class, because upgrading later means another trip to the testing site.
What people get wrong
- Assuming a dump truck is automatically a Class B. It is, until there is a heavy trailer on the back.
- Skipping the air brake test to save a test fee, then finding the restriction keeps you out of the only trucks the employer owns.
- Thinking the class depends on how much dirt is in the bed. It depends on the manufacturer's rating, not today's load.
Not sure this is what you will end up driving?
The CDL Selector asks a few yes or no questions and tells you the class and the endorsements your plans actually need, which is worth doing before you pay for a knowledge test.
Study material for Class B CDL
Practice tests, study guides rebuilt from the state CDL manual, and narrated audio. 120 days of access, extendable to 180 or 365
Michigan Class B CDL Study Material
You save $15.85
Straight trucks, dump trucks, and buses over 26,001 lbs need a Class B. If that is the vehicle you will drive, this is the study material for its knowledge and skills tests, without the Class A combination-vehicle content you do not need.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
Michigan Class A CDL Study Material
You save $18.80
Pulling a trailer over 10,000 lbs takes a Class A. Three written tests stand between you and that license: General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles. This covers all three, plus the skills test.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Combination Vehicles
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
No subscription. If more time is needed, it’s your choice.
Questions people ask about driving a dump truck
Can I drive a dump truck with a Class B CDL?
Yes, for the truck on its own, and with a trailer rated 10,000 pounds or less behind it. You also need the air brake restriction off the license, which means passing the air brake knowledge test.
Do I need a Class A for a dump truck with a pup trailer?
Yes. A pup trailer is rated over 10,000 pounds, so the combination is a Class A vehicle and you need the Combination Vehicles knowledge test on top of General Knowledge and air brakes.
Is there a dump truck endorsement?
No. Only H, N, P, S, T and X are endorsements, and none of them covers a dump truck. Air brakes is a restriction removal rather than an endorsement, and it is the only extra test most dump truck drivers need.
What tests do I take for a dump truck CDL?
General Knowledge and Air Brakes for the Class B. Add Combination Vehicles if you are going for the Class A. Michigan Department of State sets the number of questions and the testing order.
Other vehicles, other classes
Next steps for a dump truck
This page explains the federal class definitions in 49 CFR Part 383. States may be stricter and several have their own intrastate exemptions, so the edge cases are decided by Michigan Department of State. BeginCDL.com is independent and not affiliated with any state agency.