What CDL Do I Need to Drive a Food Truck?
This is the rare case where the honest answer is that you probably do not need a CDL at all. Here is why, and the two situations that change it.
Almost never. Nearly all food trucks are rated under 26,001 pounds and need no CDL. The propane aboard is normally a service quantity rather than a placarded load.
Why a food truck falls where it does
Food trucks are built on step van, cutaway and box truck chassis that are usually rated well under the 26,001 pound Class B threshold. No CDL is required for the weight.
The question people really have is about the propane. Cooking fuel carried for the operation of the vehicle and its equipment is not the same as hauling hazardous material as cargo, and it does not normally reach the quantity that requires placards. If it did, the H endorsement would apply.
The numbers that decide it
The federal classes are defined on the manufacturer's ratings, not on what is loaded today.
- Typical food truck, GVWR under 26,001 lbs
- No CDL required.
- Large food truck at 26,001 lbs or more
- Class B CDL.
- Propane carried in placardable quantity as cargo
- CDL with the H endorsement. Unusual for a food truck.
- Truck towing a kitchen trailer over 10,000 lbs, combination over 26,001
- Class A CDL.
When the answer is different
Licensing is the easy part of a food truck. The permits, fire inspections and commissary rules are where the real paperwork is, and those come from your city and county, not the licensing agency.
If you are planning a second, larger truck or a towed kitchen trailer, check the ratings before you buy. That is where a CDL requirement appears.
What people get wrong
- Assuming propane aboard means a hazmat endorsement. Fuel for the vehicle's own equipment is treated differently from hazardous cargo.
- Assuming no CDL means no commercial rules. Depending on the operation, a medical certificate and other federal requirements can still apply.
- Buying a heavier chassis than planned and inheriting a Class B requirement.
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.
Questions people ask about driving a food truck
Do I need a CDL to drive a food truck?
Almost certainly not. Nearly all food trucks are rated under 26,001 pounds, which is the point at which a Class B CDL is required for a single vehicle.
Do I need a hazmat endorsement for the propane?
Normally no. Propane carried to run the vehicle's own cooking equipment is not hazardous cargo in a placardable quantity. If you were hauling propane as freight, H would apply.
When would a food truck need a CDL?
If the truck is rated 26,001 pounds or more, or if it tows a kitchen trailer rated over 10,000 pounds in a combination rated over 26,001. Both are unusual but they exist.
What license do I need to tow a food trailer?
It depends on the ratings of the tow vehicle and the trailer together. Under 26,001 pounds combined, or with a trailer at 10,000 pounds or less, no CDL applies for weight.
Other vehicles, other classes
Next steps for a food 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 Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. BeginCDL.com is independent and not affiliated with any state agency.