VGCC Expands Truck Driver Training to Include CDL-B

This summer the VGCC Truck Driver Training program will expand, adding 5-week CDL-B training to the CDL-A course it already offers. The new training option will provide students with even more flexibility to choose a course that fits their trucking career goals.

The primary difference between a Class A and a Class B CDL (commercial driver’s license) is the type and weight of commercial vehicles each license covers. A Class A CDL permits drivers to operate vehicles weighing more than 26,001 pounds with trailers weighing over 10,000 pounds, such as 18-wheeler tractor-trailers. A Class B CDL allows drivers to operate vehicles weighing above 26,001 pounds but with trailers weighing less than 10,000 pounds; this includes vehicles like straight trucks, school buses, dump trucks, garbage trucks, and more. For drivers who don’t intend to do long-haul trucking, choosing a CDL-B license instead of CDL-A can mean faster course completion and a more regular work schedule in their future careers, while providing foundational skills to pursue the CDL-A later on.

VGCC plans to launch CDL-B training at its Henderson campus in June 2025, with additional sessions scheduled for August and October. To learn more, visit the program page or contact a member of our Truck Driver Training staff:

• CDL Coordinator Kelvin Sharpe: (252) 738-3408 or [email protected]
• Administrative Assistant Gina Brewer: (252) 738-3324 or [email protected]

Truck Driver Training at VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College launched its CDL-A program in early 2020 through a collaboration with a sister institution from the North Carolina Community College System. That college lent key support while Vance-Granville built its resources and expertise, but by late 2023, VGCC had officially met all the criteria for its Truck Driver Training program to ride solo. The addition of CDL-B training at VGCC is a testament to the demand for quality trucker training in the College’s service area and beyond.