The more knowledge you obtain before getting behind the wheel of a 45 Ft. 48,000 + pound 102 inch wide vehicle the safer you, your passengers and the other drivers around you are. Please don't think in terms how little you can get by with. Get a commercial drivers license hand book and be prepared to handle any situation that you find yourself in. Be prepared to pass any test be it a drivers license test or actual situations arising on the road.
Here in California we travel in heavy traffic situations most of the time. I am glad I prepared myself for a commercial license and received a class B non commercial license. The examiner did give me the air brake test prior to my driving portion of the test. We have a resposibility to be prepared to handle our busses in the safest manner possible.
Harry
Shirley & Harry / 2000 Liberty / 2008 GMC Envoy Denali