Mississippi CDL Classes, Eligibility, and Exemptions

Class A covers a combination rated 26,001 pounds or more when the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds GVWR. Class B covers a single vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more and such a vehicle towing no more than 10,000 pounds. Class C applies below those weight thresholds when the vehicle is designed for 16 or more people including the driver or carries placardable hazardous material.

Mississippi law generally uses age 21 for unrestricted CDL and CLP issuance. A person who has attained age 18 may receive authority restricted to operation solely within Mississippi. Interstate operation and hazardous-materials authority remain age-21 activities.

The applicant must be domiciled in Mississippi, hold a valid Mississippi driver license, pass the required vision and knowledge tests, and satisfy identity, Social Security, residency, lawful-status, medical, and record checks. A limited federal non-domiciled process is not interchangeable with an ordinary resident application.

Mississippi also uses a state light-commercial Class D for certain commercial operation below 26,000 pounds. Class D is not the federal Class D CDL and does not replace Class A, B, or C when weight, passenger capacity, or placarded hazardous material triggers CDL requirements.

Military, emergency, farm, recreational, government, and other exceptions depend on the precise operator, vehicle, ownership, cargo, distance, and use. An exception for one trip or role is not general permission for unrelated commercial driving.

Apply the rule to the exact Mississippi vehicle, credential, date, trip, test stage, and operating facts. Current Mississippi DPS pages, current law, federal requirements, and the current official manual control when an older page label conflicts with a later rule.