Contact Us
Your Guide to Blue Collar Careers!

The Most Important Lineman Certification

Important Lineman Certification: Career Guide


The number one most important lineman certification you need to get into the line trade is your “Class A Commercial Drivers License” with air breaks and no restrictions.

You’ll be driving digger trucks, bucket trucks, cranes, and hauling trailers; you absolutely need your Class A! If you’re seriously considering getting started on the pathway to getting started in the line trades, invest in getting your Class A CDL.

Learn more about the lineman trade here.

How To Get Your “Class A” CDL

Getting a CDL; can cost several thousand dollars depending on where and who you get it with. Don’t let that price discourage you. You’ll make that money back in a month easy if you get into an apprenticeship! 

Search on google “get class a CDL near me”. 

There is also the opportunity to hire on with local trucking companies who will “sponsor” your Class A CDL, and you can get your CDL within an orginization you work for. However, there might be contracts you have to sign so you don’t hire on, get your CDL and quit right after! This is a great place to start to start learning and getting paid, while getting the most important lineman certification!

The CDL also opens other opportunities for work or a different job. So I would say it is an awesome cert to get! Not to mention you need it to build powerlines!  Check out the link for more information!

Why Your “Class A” Is So Important

 

As mentioned above, getting your Class A CDL with no restrictions is super important because you need to drive all the equipment used in the lineman trade. From cranes, to bucket trucks, to digger derricks & also hauling heavy trailers and big loads! 

You want to make sure you get it with no restrictions because often, you will have to drive older equipment that has manual transmission. And to legally drive that, you must have a CDL that doesn’t have an automatic transmission restriction! Meaning; you can only drive a commercial vehicle that has an automatic transmission.

Different Commercial Drivers Licenses 

When getting you CDL, there are different “grades” or “levels” of a commercial drivers license. Here are the different “Classes” of licenses:

1. Class A CDL

  • Vehicles covered: Any combination of vehicles with a total weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 pounds.
  • Common uses:
    • Tractor-trailers (18-wheelers)
    • Tanker trucks
    • Livestock haulers
    • Flatbeds
  • Endorsements (optional):
    • T (Double/Triple Trailers)
    • N (Tank Vehicles)
    • H (Hazardous Materials)
    • X (Tanker and Hazmat)

2. Class B CDL

  • Vehicles covered: Single vehicles with a weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or towing a vehicle not exceeding 10,000 pounds.
  • Common uses:
    • Box trucks (delivery trucks)
    • Dump trucks
    • Buses (school, city, and tour buses)
    • Straight trucks
  • Endorsements:
    • P (Passenger)
    • S (School Bus)
    • N (Tank Vehicles)

3. Class C CDL

  • Vehicles covered: Smaller vehicles not covered by Class A or B, designed to transport 16+ passengers, or hazardous materials requiring placards.
  • Common uses:
    • Passenger vans
    • Small Hazmat transport vehicles
  • Endorsements:
    • H (Hazardous Materials)
    • P (Passenger)

Additional Endorsements for All Classes

  • L (Air Brake Restriction Removal): Allows driving vehicles with air brakes.
  • K (Intrastate Only): Limits driving to within a single state.

Each CDL class and endorsement is tailored to specific vehicle types and job requirements, ensuring drivers are trained and licensed for their roles.

In conclusion, you will need ti get your “Class A CDL” with a “L” endorsement. You can also get any other endorsement, such as “N” or “H” or “X” which can help you landing a job. The more, the better!

Learn more on our Youtube. Watch & learn HERE

Learn more careers HERE

Discover Your Future Career

Take a Free Trade Quiz

Take Trade Quiz

At Blue Print, our commitment to excellence has earned us the trust and endorsement of contractors across various industries.

Facebook-f Youtube Medium Twitter

Quick Links

Get in Touch

  • austin@bluecollaredu.com