Does the upgrade course include behind-the-wheel training?

FMCSA requires behind-the-wheel training on a combination vehicle before a Class B driver can earn a Class A CDL. You'll need actual time behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer on a closed range and on public roads. We partner with CDL schools and some carriers that run Class A training equipment to deliver the BTW portion. Many drivers time the online theory to finish just before their BTW start date so everything lines up for the Class A skills test.

The BTW for the upgrade is typically shorter than the BTW for a full Class A ELDT because Class B drivers already have heavy-vehicle experience — they know how to operate large vehicles, manage air brakes on single units, and handle pre-trip inspection routines. What they don't know is the combination-specific skills, which is what the upgrade BTW focuses on. The reduced BTW time mirrors the reduced theory time and makes the upgrade pathway efficient overall.

For drivers timing their upgrade around an employer requirement or a job offer, working backward from the start date is the right planning approach. A reasonable schedule allows about 4 weeks for theory plus BTW combined, with buffer for skills test scheduling at the DMV. Drivers in time pressure should specifically ask our commercial team about expedited paths — some partner schools can fit upgrade BTW into compressed schedules for drivers with employment-driven timing constraints, particularly for drivers whose employer is sponsoring the upgrade.