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There are many different heavy-duty and diesel vehicles on the road today. In the United States, truck classification systems are used to help signify what large vehicles are built to do.
Those working in the automotive and diesel industries are familiar with these systems. Instead of simply seeing a truck driving down the street, they know how to sort these vehicles into their proper classes and designations.
There are many reasons why these classification systems are important. If you operate these types of vehicles or plan to work on them in a career as a diesel technician, having this knowledge is essential.
Keep reading to find out more about the systems, along with how different vehicles are classified.
Vehicles in the U.S. are classified by gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on a scale of 1 through 9, with 9 being the largest possible GVWR.
Truck classification looks at the GVWR, which is the maximum truck weight plus the amount it can carry fully loaded. This includes:
These classifications are important for safety and commercial designation when vehicles are registered. They also can help determine whether a truck should stop at a weigh station, how long a truck is able to operate and what kind of permits are required for someone to drive it.
Certain signs and permits might need to be identified when hauling oversize or overweight equipment. The Department of Transportation (DOT) also sets number regulations. If a vehicle weighs more than 10,000 pounds, there must be a DOT number on both sides.
Knowing the correct truck classification can also help technicians prepare to perform maintenance on a vehicle. A shop might need to set aside a certain amount of space and prepare the work area depending on which class the vehicle falls under.
Drivers need specific licenses to operate vehicles, including a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CDLs are divided into classes A, B and C. One factor that determines which license is required could be the GVWR, while another could be whether the vehicle is designed or used to carry more than 10 passengers including the driver.
When it comes to the weight limits for truck classifications, these are numbers that vary per state. The Department of Transportation is a great resource for owners and operators of commercial trucks to utilize for seeking out weight limits of a particular state.
States have standards for these max weight levels depending on the number of axles a truck has. These standards are in place to help ensure that drivers remain safe on the road and keeps the roads free from damage due to overburdened vehicles.
Trucks are divided into different classes based on their GVWR. Simply put, a GVWR is the maximum amount of weight a vehicle can safely handle, including payload capacity, which is passengers and cargo. Most vehicles feature their GVWR on a safety label located on the driver’s side doorjamb.
The categories for classifying vehicles and trucks range from Class 1 to Class 9:
The first three classes encompass non-commercial vehicles. These can include SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks. These are considered light-duty vehicles.
Medium trucks fall into this set, including some full-size trucks that are used non-commercially. Most of the vehicles in these classes are used commercially, though:
The GVWR for this class is between 14,001 and 16,000 pounds. The Ford F-450 Super Duty®
truck falls into this range, along with box trucks, walk-in trucks and city delivery trucks.
Trucks between 16,001 and 19,500 pounds fall into this class. A few vehicles are used non-commercially in this class, but primarily this class includes bucket trucks and larger delivery and walk-in trucks.
What is a Class 6 truck? Medium-duty commercial trucks fall into this class, which covers between 19,501 and 26,000 pounds. School buses are included in this class, as well as beverage and single-axle trucks. This is also the class where the need for a CDL often starts.
Big rigs and other commercial, heavy-duty vehicles are classified starting in this section.
What is a Class 7 truck? GVWRs range from 26,001 to 33,000 pounds. Most of these vehicles may have three or more axles. Anything from city transit buses to street sweepers and smaller furniture trucks can fall into this category as well.
What is a Class 8 truck? Big rigs that have GVWRs over 33,000 pounds fall into this category and can sometimes be referred to as “severe duty” instead of heavy duty. Cement and dump trucks are present, along with big rigs from manufacturers like Peterbilt and Freightliner.
While most semitrucks and heavy-duty vehicles are in Class 8, it’s possible for the maximum limit to be set on a case-by-case basis. This is done using the Federal Bridge Gross Weight formula.
This helps big rigs that are longer and heavier navigate interstate highways. States also allow different exceptions depending on what the Federal Bridge Gross Weight formula determines.
Now that you know the classes for categorizing trucks and vehicles, you’re probably wondering what some of the most common uses are.
Truck classes 1-3 are known as light-duty vehicles or work trucks that have lower weight ranges, but they’re still used for a variety of tasks.
Class 1 encompasses compact pickups and utility vehicles that are often used for small repair businesses and other tasks. Class 2 trucks are defined as full-size pickups that are commonly used for moderately heavy loads, like what you see in landscaping or construction. Class 3 is one step above and often referred to as heavy-duty pickups that feature increased towing and carrying capacity, which makes them handy for transporting materials or trailers.
Classes 4-6 are considered medium-duty trucks. Often, these trucks are used in commercial applications. You might see them being used in construction, moving services, delivery or even as emergency response vehicles. Class 6 trucks may even feature specialized frames or bodies to accommodate the industries they’re being used for.
Heavy-duty trucks in classes 7 and 8 are what those in the industry seek for carrying a large amount of weight.
Think delivery driving, waste management and utility services, along with freights that help move along various goods around the country.
Most vehicles fall into the first eight categories, but different vehicles may have different weight maximums that push them into Class 9. Some examples could be big rigs or trucks classified as heavy-duty construction equipment that are used for mining or heavy hauling jobs.
The U.S Department of Energy features a Vehicle Weight Classes & Categories chart on its website, along with several other resources. The DOT is also useful for identifying different truck weight limits depending on the state.
Trucks are divided into different classes based on their GVWR, or gross vehicle weight rating, which is the amount of weight they can safely handle.
There are many different classifications for vehicles and trucks. One thing that remains true is the importance of keeping these vehicles operating well.
These powerful machines rely on trained diesel technicians to keep them operational so they can perform important tasks that impact our daily lives. You can enroll in the Diesel Technology program offered at UTI and learn how to diagnose and repair problems on a range of large trucks.
In as little as 45 weeks7 you can graduate with the hands-on experience and knowledge it takes to become an entry-level technician in the industry.1
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Show a truck to the average person off the street, and all they see is a truck. When a driver or fleet manager sees one however, their brains start computing, cataloging the vehicle into the proper class. How much does it weigh? What’s the payload designation? Is it a heavy-duty truck requiring a special license to drive it? All those elements factor into the truck classification, signifying what the vehicle is built to do.
In a nutshell, truck classification looks at the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or the GVWR. It’s how manufacturers label trucks based on government guidelines. The GVWR indicates the maximum truck weight plus what it’s able to carry fully loaded. That includes the truck’s own weight plus the fuel, cargo, passengers, and even the trailer tongue, according to the diesel website the TruckStop. Trailer classification regulates safety, but it’s also useful for commercial designation and when registering vehicles.
In short, a truck’s GVWR is also used to determine things like how long a truck can operate continuously, what kind of permits you need to obtain to operate it, and whether you need to stop at weigh stations.
Here are some of the items impacted by the GVWR:
Permit requirements
If you’re hauling oversized equipment, you may need certain identifying marks (like signs) and permits to proceed.
DOT number regulations
If your vehicle is more than 10,001 pounds, it must have a Department of Transportation (DOT) number on both sides, not just one.
Maintenance needs
A repair shop or mobile technician isn’t going to be able to properly prepare for you if they don’t have the right information about your vehicle. If you say “Class 7,” they’ll know they need certain tools available, or space set aside in a bay.
License levels
It’s not one-license-fits-all for big trucks! A driver needs a CDL to operate anything over 26,000 pounds, but those licensing regulations are further divided into Class A (26,001 pounds or more, provided that you’re towing something over 10,000 pounds); Class B (26,001 pounds or more, towing a vehicle that weighs up to 10,000 pounds); or Class C (passenger transport or hazardous materials).
Hours-of-service (HOS) laws
If you’re driving a vehicle that weighs more than 10,001 pounds, FMCSA’s Interstate Truck Driver’s Hours of Service will apply to you.
Weigh station guidelines
If your truck is over a certain amount of weight, you are required to stop at weigh stations for a check.
Categories begin with Class 1 and run through Class 9. Considered “light,” Classes 1 through 3 typically cover non-commercial vehicles. Minivans, cargo vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks, for example.
Truck classification for medium trucks involves Classes 4, 5, and 6. That’s where commercial trucks start to show up. Classes 4 and 5 include some full-size trucks used non-commercially. Still, most of the medium-class vehicles are made and used for commercial purposes.
Class 4—The GVWRs for this class range between 14,001 and 16,000 pounds. This class is where you’ll find the Ford E-450 passenger van and F-450 super duty pickup. Box trucks typically fall into this truck classification. So do some large walk-in and city delivery trucks.
Class 5—This class covers trucks with GVWRs from 16,001 to 19,500 pounds. There are still a few vehicles in this class that straddle the line between non-commercial and commercial use such as Ford’s F-550. However, this class is where more commercial vehicles emerge. It includes larger walk-ins and delivery trucks, as well as bucket trucks or cherry pickers.
Class 6—With GVWRs between 19,501 and 26,000, this class covers medium-duty commercial trucks. It’s the category for single-axle and beverage trucks, along with rack trucks. School buses are also in Class 6. What’s more, this is the class where the need for Commercial Driver’s Licenses starts. The requirement depends on the individual vehicle weight. Driving vehicles weighing more than 26,000 requires a CDL. It applies to combined weight, too, like if you’re towing trailers or other vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds.
Heavy-duty truck classification covers Classes 7 and 8. It’s where you’ll find the big rigs and other commercial vehicles.
Class 7—The GVWRs for this class range between 26,001 and 33,000 pounds and usually have three axles or more. This class covers city vehicles such as street sweepers, garbage trucks, and city transit buses. Furniture trucks and smaller semis fit into this category as well.
Class 8—This class applies to most of the rest. It’s for the really huge trucks with GVWRs over 33,001. The vehicles in this class are more than heavy duty. Typically called “severe duty,” Class 8 applies to cement trucks and dump trucks. It’s also where you’ll find the big rigs like Freightliners, Kenworths, and Peterbilts.
The gross vehicle weight limit for Class 8 appears open-ended, but it’s not. The maximum is set on a case-by-case basis using the Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula. Using this equation, it’s possible for longer, heavier loads to safely travel interstate highways. A longer 18-wheeler, for example, can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds.
What’s more, many states allow exceptions to the GVWR and per-axel limits determined by the FBGW Formula. They’re considered “oversized loads.” Trucks fitting unique circumstances are required to obtain special permits. Plus, they must travel along specially designated routes.
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