Loading Area: What Are The Categories Of Driving Licenses For Commercial Vehicles

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 13:59

Until the world is flooded with robots and autopilots, the profession of a cargo carrier is in demand even in a crisis, because someone has to carry something that supports the life of mankind. And mankind itself also needs to be transported. We will tell you what cargo and bus categories will be needed in Russia for those who decide to associate themselves with this profession

Basic categories C, D and E

Even before 2014, with the categories for commercial transport in Russia, everything was extremely simple. Basic Category C allowed to drive single cars with a gross weight of more than 3500 kg, as well as cars of category C with a trailer, the maximum permissible weight of which does not exceed 750 kilograms. As a result, for example, the Hummer H1 SUV, the American heavy pickup truck, the GAZ Valdai medium-tonnage truck, and even the KamAZ four-axle dump truck, for example, fell into category C in the same way.

To the "bus" Category D included all passenger cars with more than eight seats, in addition to the driver's seat, which can also be coupled to a trailer weighing not more than 750 kg. In fact, large and small buses, minibuses, as well as multi-seat modifications of some SUVs, such as the ToyotLand Cruiser 70, fall under this category.

All this was crowned with a "hook-on" Category E, which was issued in addition to categories C and D, and which allowed towing trailers heavier than 750 kg. Under CE category trailers of both the saddle type and those clinging to the tractor through the "drawbar" hitch fall. BUT category DE means the usual articulated bus "accordion" or, for example, a tourist bus, which also pulls a trailer with the luggage of passengers.

By the way: category E "clings" to the passenger category B. C mark BE in the license, you can drive cars with a trailer, the permissible maximum weight of which is more than 750 kg and exceeds the weight of an empty tractor-vehicle, as well as cars with a trailer heavier than 750 kg in the case when the total maximum weight of such a "road train" exceeds 3500 kg. That is, the category will be needed, for example, if you bought a trailer for the transportation of a large boat or a heavy house on wheels for your car or SUV.

Additional categories C1 and D1

This is how everything existed until 2014, when Russia decided to bring driver's licenses to the requirements of the Convention on Road Traffic and added additional subcategories to the license. The changes were submitted under the pretext that it would "facilitate the learning process and obtaining a driver's license", since those wishing to drive, for example, small trucks and buses will not have to take a training course for driving heavy vehicles and buses with a capacity of more than 16 seats.

As a result, on November 5, 2013, amendments to the Federal Law "On Road Safety" came into effect. And from April 1, 2014, after the entry into force of the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated January 9, 2014 No. 6 "On Amendments to the Normative Legal Acts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia", the traffic police began to issue drivers with a new model. The usual cargo categories C, D, CE and DE have been preserved in them, but four new subcategories have been added to them - there are now 8 of them!

Appeared subcategory C1 - for passenger cars (except for cars of category D), whose permissible gross weight is more than 3500 kg, but does not exceed 7500 kg, and the permissible trailer weight is not more than 750 kg. For example, GAZelle Next falls under it in a new heavy version with a total weight of 4.6 tons, which is produced in the form of a van or a flatbed truck. Hyundai HD65 / HD72, popular in Russia on the secondary market, is from the same group.

C1E mark required for driving a car of subcategory C1 with a trailer heavier than 750 kg, which at the same time weighs no more than a tractor without load. The total weight of such a road train should not exceed 12 tons. Attached to the same heavy GAZelle a weighty "tail" - and you can go.

"Bus" subcategory D1 - for passenger cars with more than eight, but not more than sixteen seats, in addition to the driver, plus a trailer not heavier than 750 kg. If the "minibus" of category D1 needs to haul a heavy trailer, then it will need subcategory D1E … It states that such a trailer cannot carry passengers (unlike articulated "accordions" of category DE), it must not weigh more than an empty towing vehicle, and the total permissible maximum weight of such a combination of vehicles cannot exceed 12 tons.

Important: those who already had "crusts" with the usual categories C, D, CE and DE before the introduction of subcategories did not need to replace rights or re-examination, and the "old" rights themselves were replaced with new ones only after the expiration of their validity period. In this case, all categories previously opened in the driver's license are retained. For example, if the driver has previously had category C, then he does not need C1, he can drive cars of both categories. But the rights will be marked with categories C and C1.

We will tell you separately and in great detail how to get the license of a particular cargo category, as well as how the training for each of them differs. And at the same time about why after receiving the coveted "crust" all the joy of its possession can evaporate after the first stop on the road by the traffic police inspector.