Who this course is for
You need Class B ELDT if you're applying for your first Class B CDL on or after February 7, 2022. Class B covers a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. It can tow a trailer rated at 10,000 pounds or less. Think heavy straight trucks rather than tractor-trailers.
- New drivers starting in local delivery, construction, waste, utility or municipal work
- Employees whose company is moving them into a heavier truck
- Bus drivers in training who need Class B first. The passenger or school bus endorsement needs its own ELDT on top.
Already had a Class B CDL issued before February 7, 2022? ELDT doesn't apply to that license. Check every exception before you buy.
Common Class B vehicles and jobs
Choose your license by the vehicle's weight rating and what it tows, not by the job title. Here's how common work lines up.
| Vehicle or job | Usually needs | Extra ELDT beyond Class B? |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy box or straight truck (26,001 lb GVWR or more) | Class B | No |
| Dump truck, concrete mixer, refuse truck | Class B | No |
| Straight truck towing a small trailer (10,000 lb or less) | Class B | No |
| Truck towing a trailer rated over 10,000 lb | Class A | Class A ELDT instead |
| Transit, coach or tour bus | Class B (sometimes A) plus passenger (P) endorsement | Yes: P endorsement ELDT |
| School bus | Class B or C plus P and S endorsements | Yes: P and S endorsement ELDT |
| Straight truck hauling placarded hazmat | Class B plus hazmat (H) endorsement | Yes: Hazmat ELDT (theory only) |
Your employer's vehicle registration or door label lists the GVWR. When in doubt, check it before you buy a course.
What the Class B theory course covers
FMCSA sets the minimum Class B theory curriculum in 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix B. It follows the Class A structure but has no separate coupling-and-uncoupling unit.
| Section | Topics you'll study |
|---|---|
| Basic operation | Orientation, control systems and dashboard, pre- and post-trip inspections, basic control, shifting and operating transmissions, backing and docking |
| Safe operating procedures | Visual search, communication, distracted driving, speed management, space management, night operation, extreme driving conditions |
| Advanced operating practices | Hazard perception; skid control and recovery, jackknifing and other emergencies; railroad-highway grade crossings |
| Vehicle systems and reporting malfunctions | Identifying and diagnosing malfunctions, roadside inspections, maintenance |
| Non-driving activities | Handling and documenting cargo, environmental compliance, hours of service, fatigue and wellness, post-crash procedures, external communications, whistleblower and coercion protections, trip planning, drugs and alcohol, medical requirements |
There's no federal minimum number of hours for theory. You pass by covering every topic and scoring at least 80% on the theory assessment. The training provider then reports your completion to the Training Provider Registry.
Test yourself before you start
Our free ELDT practice questions cover hours of service, stopping distance, skids, post-crash procedures and more. Each one comes with a short explanation.
Your path from theory to Class B CDL
Class B theory (this course)
Online and self-paced, with an 80% minimum on the assessment. Your completion is reported to the registry.
Commercial learner's permit
Pass your state's knowledge tests, usually general knowledge plus air brakes if your truck has them. Then you can practice with a qualified CDL holder.
Class B behind-the-wheel training
Range and public-road driving with a registered BTW provider. There's no federal minimum number of hours. Your instructor decides when you're proficient.
Skills test
Your state checks the registry for your ELDT, then gives the vehicle inspection, basic control and road test.
Once you finish the first part of ELDT, you have one year to finish the second. If you do theory first, book behind-the-wheel training inside that window. The step-by-step enrollment guide shows exactly what to have ready.
Compare all three courses
| Class A | Class B | Hazmat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | First-time Class A CDL applicants: tractor-trailer, flatbed, tanker and other combination-vehicle drivers. | First-time Class B CDL applicants: box trucks, dump trucks, refuse, concrete mixers, and large buses (passenger and school bus endorsements need separate training). | Drivers adding the hazardous materials (H) endorsement to a CDL for the first time. |
| Federal curriculum | Class A theory (49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A) | Class B theory (Appendix B) | Hazmat theory (Appendix E) |
| Behind-the-wheel also required? | Yes, range and public-road training with a registered BTW provider. | Yes, range and public-road training with a registered BTW provider. | No. Hazmat ELDT is theory only. |
| Must be done before | Your CDL skills test | Your CDL skills test | Your state's hazmat knowledge test |
| Price | $199 | $199 | $199 |
| Enroll | Enroll in Class A | Enroll in Class B | Enroll in Hazmat |
Class B questions
Is this course enough to take my Class B skills test?
Not on its own. You also need Class B behind-the-wheel training, on a range and on public roads, from a registered provider. Your state checks the registry for both before it gives the skills test.
I'll drive a bus. Does this course cover the passenger endorsement?
No. A first-time passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsement needs its own ELDT, including behind-the-wheel training. RapidELDT doesn't sell P or S courses yet. See who needs which training.
Should I take Class A instead to keep my options open?
Federal guidance says a driver who completes Class A training can also take the Class B skills test. If you might move into tractor-trailers later, Class A theory is worth a look. If you know you'll drive straight trucks, Class B is the direct route.
Do I need a commercial learner's permit to start?
No. FMCSA doesn't require a CLP before theory training. You'll need one before behind-the-wheel training on public roads.
How long do I have after theory to finish behind-the-wheel?
Federal rules give you one year from finishing the first part of ELDT to finish the second. Plan your timeline.