The holder of a valid commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver license may drive any vehicle in the class for which that license is issued, and any lesser class of vehicle, except a motorcycle. No person may drive a vehicle requiring an endorsement unless the proper corresponding endorsement appears on that person’s commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver license. A commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver license may be issued with the following classifications:

(1) Class A Combination Vehicle. Any combination of commercial motor vehicles and towed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds if the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicles being towed are in excess of ten thousand pounds. This class includes:

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(a) Any vehicle designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver; and

(b) Any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. part 172, Subpart F, as of January 1, 2015;

(2) Class B Heavy Straight Vehicle. Any single commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds or any such commercial motor vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross weight rating not exceeding ten thousand pounds. This class includes:

(a) Any vehicle designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver; and

(b) Any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials which require the vehicle to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. part 172, Subpart F, as of January 1, 2015;

(3) Class C Small Vehicle. Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meet neither the definition of class A nor that of class B as contained in this section. This class includes any vehicle designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver, or is used in the transportation of hazardous materials which require the vehicle to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. part 172, Subpart F, as of January 1, 2015.

Source: SL 1989, ch 267, § 16; SL 1991, ch 252, § 9; SL 1994, ch 254, § 2; SDCL § 32-12-96; SL 2001, ch 171, §§ 88, 115; SL 2007, ch 182, § 7; SL 2010, ch 161, § 6; SL 2011, ch 144, § 6; SL 2015, ch 168, § 18.