In the US, and I think Canada, but also other countries have equivalent systems, we have non-commercial driver's licenses and commercial driver's licenses (CDL, you often see).
Non-commercial is your normal person license to drive normal sized, relatively light vehicles legally. Usually it's denoted on your license as Class C. Class M is for motorcycle typically. You can also hold non-commercial Class A and B, but those are less common, typically found with retired drivers only.
Class A CDL is the big trucks over 26,001lbs (from memory, been years, might be wrong). There's some length limit too and people can google that if they care because, like I said, it's been years
Class B CDL is big, heavy vehicles but not the big rigs. Typically busses, although some trucks can qualify. I think cement trucks is an example from memory. Heavy trucks that aren't towing a lot.
Class C is for like normal sized vehicles that have passengers. I believe school vans are in this group as an example.
There's also endorsements (that's what they're called) that are required to drive certain vehicles. For example, air brakes, that all the big tractor trailers have, is a requirement along with a class A CDL to legally operate a tractor trailer. The person's license gets additional letters (depending on the state but it's pretty uniform now days). Like in PA I think, from memory, air brakes is indicated with the letter L under endorsements. There's a bunch of others like H for hazardous materials handling. P for passengers is what the OP got and probably one or two others (they test them all simultaneously or consecutively usually. Just one big test)
If you have a US license you can see your own endorsements and restrictions (like medical devices required. Glasses being the most common). For most drivers there will be no endorsements and probably no restrictions either besides glasses. Some people can get restrictions like they need special mirrors to drive safely and stuff like that. I only ever saw glasses and some restrictions specific to CDLs (like the drivers not being allowed to drive manual transmission tractors- only automatic. This is caused if they tested in an automatic. Makes sense)
Oh you have it the other way around. In Brazil we go from A (motorcycles) to B (cars) and then there's C (Vehicles capable of hauling 3500 kg and up), D (Vehicles with more than 8 passengers) and E (Semitrucks). B to E are cumulative, they include previous ranks, A is separate
That's interesting and also somewhat comical. It makes more sense than the US system though where you can test in a small vehicle, like a VW Jetta or something, then as soon as you have your license you can legally hop in a Dodge Ram without restrictions (possibly a few if you're under 18. But after that there's no distinction at all).
Also the US CDL system works so that if you hold a Class A then you are also legally able to drive Class B and C as well. And if you hold B you can drive C as well. Although the additional endorsement requirements typically mean someone cannot go from being a big tractor trailer driver to bus driver without first doing additional training and evaluation.
Someone who only drives the big trucks is unlikely to have the passenger endorsement. There's also some special endorsement for hauling school children ("S" I believe) which they probably don't have. So it's more than just what class CDL they hold. Luckily the federal government at least got most of the commercial driving requirements more locked down and not a free for all the way non commercial is. You also have to be 21 to drive interstate, if I remember correctly. There's medical evaluations like at least every two years or so, but it can more often if someone has a condition that can affect driving.
One of the few things that somehow got regulated in a "common sense" way here. But it almost doesn't matter because the majority of drivers are non commercial with essentially no requirements beyond a basic medical exam when you're young and passing the written and practical tests. Then you're good to go for 70 years as long as you don't get unlucky or do dangerous stuff like drink and drive.
YES! WOOOO!
Since you're actually asking(maybe?)
In the US, and I think Canada, but also other countries have equivalent systems, we have non-commercial driver's licenses and commercial driver's licenses (CDL, you often see).
Non-commercial is your normal person license to drive normal sized, relatively light vehicles legally. Usually it's denoted on your license as Class C. Class M is for motorcycle typically. You can also hold non-commercial Class A and B, but those are less common, typically found with retired drivers only.
Class A CDL is the big trucks over 26,001lbs (from memory, been years, might be wrong). There's some length limit too and people can google that if they care because, like I said, it's been years
Class B CDL is big, heavy vehicles but not the big rigs. Typically busses, although some trucks can qualify. I think cement trucks is an example from memory. Heavy trucks that aren't towing a lot.
Class C is for like normal sized vehicles that have passengers. I believe school vans are in this group as an example.
There's also endorsements (that's what they're called) that are required to drive certain vehicles. For example, air brakes, that all the big tractor trailers have, is a requirement along with a class A CDL to legally operate a tractor trailer. The person's license gets additional letters (depending on the state but it's pretty uniform now days). Like in PA I think, from memory, air brakes is indicated with the letter L under endorsements. There's a bunch of others like H for hazardous materials handling. P for passengers is what the OP got and probably one or two others (they test them all simultaneously or consecutively usually. Just one big test)
If you have a US license you can see your own endorsements and restrictions (like medical devices required. Glasses being the most common). For most drivers there will be no endorsements and probably no restrictions either besides glasses. Some people can get restrictions like they need special mirrors to drive safely and stuff like that. I only ever saw glasses and some restrictions specific to CDLs (like the drivers not being allowed to drive manual transmission tractors- only automatic. This is caused if they tested in an automatic. Makes sense)
Oh you have it the other way around. In Brazil we go from A (motorcycles) to B (cars) and then there's C (Vehicles capable of hauling 3500 kg and up), D (Vehicles with more than 8 passengers) and E (Semitrucks). B to E are cumulative, they include previous ranks, A is separate
A dodge ram would need a C driver's license to be driven in here
That's interesting and also somewhat comical. It makes more sense than the US system though where you can test in a small vehicle, like a VW Jetta or something, then as soon as you have your license you can legally hop in a Dodge Ram without restrictions (possibly a few if you're under 18. But after that there's no distinction at all).
Also the US CDL system works so that if you hold a Class A then you are also legally able to drive Class B and C as well. And if you hold B you can drive C as well. Although the additional endorsement requirements typically mean someone cannot go from being a big tractor trailer driver to bus driver without first doing additional training and evaluation.
Someone who only drives the big trucks is unlikely to have the passenger endorsement. There's also some special endorsement for hauling school children ("S" I believe) which they probably don't have. So it's more than just what class CDL they hold. Luckily the federal government at least got most of the commercial driving requirements more locked down and not a free for all the way non commercial is. You also have to be 21 to drive interstate, if I remember correctly. There's medical evaluations like at least every two years or so, but it can more often if someone has a condition that can affect driving.
One of the few things that somehow got regulated in a "common sense" way here. But it almost doesn't matter because the majority of drivers are non commercial with essentially no requirements beyond a basic medical exam when you're young and passing the written and practical tests. Then you're good to go for 70 years as long as you don't get unlucky or do dangerous stuff like drink and drive.