What is a Large Vehicle License?
3 Answers
Large vehicle license refers to the B2 license. Below are the vehicle types permitted with a B2 license and precautions for driving large trucks. Vehicle types permitted with a B2 license: A B2 license allows the holder to drive heavy or medium-duty trucks, as well as large, heavy, or medium-sized specialized operation vehicles. Heavy and medium-duty trucks are mostly trucks, such as the large dump trucks commonly seen on the road, which fall under the category of heavy-duty trucks. Precautions for driving large trucks: First, it is important to understand the characteristics of heavy-duty trucks. Heavy-duty trucks have a large mass and high inertia; their center of gravity is high, leading to significant centrifugal force. They have a long body, occupying more space. The wheelbase is long, resulting in a large inner wheel difference. They use air brakes, which provide quick braking response. The steering wheel is larger and responds slower compared to smaller vehicles. They have multiple gears (six or more) with small gaps between them, making the operation more complex and demanding than driving smaller vehicles.
A large vehicle license is the driver's license for operating those big vehicles. Unlike the regular C license for driving small cars, large vehicle licenses are mainly divided into several types: the B2 license is for driving heavy-duty trucks, like those big trucks seen on construction sites; the A1 license is specifically for driving buses, and drivers for tour companies must have this; the A2 license allows you to operate trailers with cargo containers. The difficulty of obtaining these licenses is quite high—applicants must be at least 20 years old, pass a physical exam, and meet vision requirements. The field tests are especially strict, with test vehicles several times larger than regular cars for maneuvers like hill starts and parallel parking. After obtaining the license, the income from transportation can be substantial, but the safety pressure is also significant—you can't afford to be careless with vehicles weighing tens of tons. If you're considering getting one, it's recommended to train for several months at a proper driving school before rushing to take the test.
The driver's license for operating large trucks is commonly referred to as a 'big rig license,' and in the transportation industry, this certification is essentially one's bread and butter. Obtaining it isn't just about driving standard semi-trucks; it's also required for specialized vehicles like concrete mixers and container trailers. The process starts with a physical exam testing vision and hearing, followed by a theoretical test, and then practical training lasting about a month. The most challenging part is the second module—maneuvering a nine-meter-long truck into a tight parking space during the reverse parking test, where a deviation of just a few centimeters means failure. After passing, drivers can find work at logistics companies or construction sites, where earning over 10,000 yuan a month is achievable, though it requires adapting to a life of long-haul driving. Many driving schools now offer night training sessions to help students quickly adjust to the rhythms of long-distance driving.
