Truck classifications are typically based upon the maximum loaded weight of the truck, typically using the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and sometimes also the gross trailer weight rating (GTWR), and can vary among jurisdictions.
United States
In the United States, commercial truck classification is determined based on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The classes are numbered 1 through 8. Trucks are also classified more broadly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which groups classes 1 and 2 as
light duty, 3 through 6 as
medium duty, and 7 and 8 as
heavy duty. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a separate system of emissions classifications for trucks. The United States Census Bureau also assigned classifications in its Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS)
(formerly Truck Inventory and Use Survey (TIUS)).
United States federal law requires drivers to have a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate heavy-duty vehicles (Class 7 and 8) in commerce, with the exception of emergency vehicles and vehicles strictly used for recreational and/or Agriculture purposes, though it allows states to require a CDL for these vehicles under their discretion.
Table of US GVWR classifications
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| Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline FWD, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Navara, Toyota Tacoma |
| Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline AWD, Ram Pickup, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra |
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500, Ford F-250, Nissan Titan, Ram 2500, Tesla Cybertruck |
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500, Ford F-350, Ford F-450 (pickup only), Ram 3500, Isuzu Elf |
Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD/International CV, Ford F-450 (chassis cab only), Ram 4500, Isuzu Elf |
Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD/International CV, Ford F-550, Ram 5500, Isuzu Elf, |
| Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD/International CV, Ford F-650, Freightliner Business Class M2 106, International MV |
Autocar ACMD, |
Volvo VN; Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2 112, and EconicSD; Ford F-750; Hino XL; International LT; Mack Anthem, Mack Granite, Mack Pinnacle, and Mack TerraPro; Tesla Semi; Nikola Tre; Peterbilt 379; |
Notes on weight classes
"Ton" rating
When light-duty trucks were first produced in the United States, they were rated by their payload capacity in
: (1000 pounds), (1500 pounds) and 1-ton (2000 pounds). Ford had introduced the "One-Tonner" in 1938 to their line of trucks.
The "Three-quarter-tonner" appeared in the Ford truck lineup in 1939.
Over time, payload capacities for most domestic pickup trucks have increased while the ton titles have stayed the same. The 1948 Ford F-1 had a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 4700 pounds.
The truck was marketed with a "Nominal Tonnage Rating: Half-Ton."
The actual cargo capacity had increased to 1450 pounds.
Ford adopted this promotional nomenclature in 1948 to assist buyers, sellers, and users.
The now-imprecise ton rating has continued since the post World War II era to compare standard sizes, rather than actual capacities.
In 1975, a change in U.S. emission laws required any vehicle under 6000 pounds GVWR to burn unleaded fuel. U.S. pickup truck manufacturers responded with a "heavy half" pickup of over 6000 pounds GVWR.
The F-150 had a capacity of over 2000 pounds, compared to 1500 pounds for the F-100.
This has led to categorizing trucks similarly, even if their payload capacities are different. The Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra are called "half-ton" pickups (-ton). The Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500, Ford F-250, and Ram 2500 are called "three-quarter-ton" pickups. The Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500, Ford F-350, and Ram 3500 are known as "one ton" pickups.
Similar schemes exist for vans and SUVs (e.g. a 1-ton Dodge Van or a -ton GMC Suburban), medium duty trucks (e.g. the 1-ton Ford ) and some military vehicles, like the ubiquitous deuce-and-a-half.
Heavy duty pickup truck
Some
may be marketed as heavy duty (eg Ram Heavy Duty), super duty (eg Ford Super Duty) or simply "HD". This is not to be confused with the
truck classification of class 7 and 8 being heavy duty.
Class 8
The Class 8 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is a vehicle with a GVWR exceeding .
These include
tractor trailer tractors, single-unit dump trucks of a GVWR over 33,000 lb, as well as non-commercial chassis fire trucks; such trucks typically have 3 or more axles.
The typical 5-axle tractor-trailer combination, also called a "semi" or "18-wheeler", is a Class 8 vehicle.
Standard trailers vary in length from containers to van trailers, with the most common length being the trailer.
Specialized trailers for oversized loads can be considerably longer. Commercial operation of a Class 8 vehicle in the United States requires either a Class-B CDL for non-combination vehicles, or a Class-A CDL for combination vehicles (tractor-trailers).
Industries that generally use Class 8 trucks are long-distance freight transportation, construction, and heavy equipment moving.
Canada
Vehicle classifications vary among provinces in Canada, due to "differences in size and weight regulations, economic activity, physical environment, and other issues". While several provinces use their own classification schemes for traffic monitoring,
Manitoba,
Ontario, Prince Edward Island and
Saskatchewan have adopted the 13-class system from the United States' Federal Highway Administration—sometimes with modifications, or in Ontario's case, for limited purposes.
British Columbia and Ontario also distinguish between short- and long-combination trucks. In accident reporting, eight jurisdictions subdivide trucks by GVWR into light and heavy classes at approximately ().
European Union and United Kingdom
Vehicle categories on a European driving licence include (among others)
B for general motor vehicles,
C for large goods vehicles,
D for large passenger vehicles (buses), and are limited by the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and number of passenger seats.
The general categories are further divided as follows:
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appending the number 1 to the licence class C or D denotes the "light" versions of said class (e.g., Minibus, or medium truck).
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appending the letter E allows for trailers of larger Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) than permitted by the standard licence category.
For the "trailer" categories, a separate driving test is generally required (e.g., "C", and "CE" require separate tests).
The classifications used on the International Driving Permit are similar to the European model.
The licence categories that deal with trucks are B and C:
List of truck types
Truck (Lorry) See List of truck types
Gallery
File:05-07 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD.jpg|Class 1 Light duty Toyota Tacoma
File:Ford Excursion 2001.jpg|Class 2 2001 Ford Excursion 4×4 (GVWR:
File:'99-'04 Ford F-350.jpg|Class 3 Ford
File:2008FordF450.jpg | Class 4 2008 Ford 4×4 pick-up truck (GVWR: )
File:4x4 Kodiak.jpg|Class 5 2005 Chevy Kodiak 4×4 (GVWR: )
File:Class 6 Fords.jpg|Class 6 2002 Ford in front (GVWR: , 1989 Ford in back (GVWR:
File:Peterbilt 330 dump with dirt tub dump body.JPG|Class 7 Peterbilt 330 dump truck.
File:Kenworth_W900_semi_in_red.jpg|Class 8 Kenworth W900 tractor with spread-axle refrigerated trailer.
File:Western Star 6900 XD 6x4 2012 (15057838195).jpg|Western Star 6900XD Tractor unit.
See also
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Car classification
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Vehicle size class
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Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
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Commercial vehicle
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Curb weight
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Driver's license
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Fifth wheel
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Gross weight:
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Gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
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Gross combined weight rating (GCWR)
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Gross trailer weight rating (GTWR)
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Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
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Light commercial vehicle
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Large goods vehicle
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List of truck types
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Semi-trailer
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Tow hitch
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Trailer
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Vehicle category
External links
