Types of vehicles that require a CDL You must have a commercial driver license (CDL) to drive any of the following vehicles: - All single vehicles with a manufacturer&#39;s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. - All trailers with a manufacturer&#39;s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles&#39; gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. - All vehicles are designed to transport 16 or more persons (including the driver). This includes private and church buses. - All school buses, regardless of size. - All vehicles used to transport any material that requires hazardous material placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR 73.