Truck classification

For special classifications for heavy haulage in UK, see STGO.

In the United States, commercial truck classification is determined based on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) the size of automobiles. The classes range from 1-8. It also done more broadly under the US DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) standards, which groups Class 1 and 2 as "Light Duty", 3-5 as "Medium Duty", and 6-8 as "Heavy Duty". Also, the road spreads the weight of the truck which means larger amounts can be carried than with trains (steam-powered, diesel-powered, electric-powered, or light rail) on railroad tracks like Amtrak, Metra, VIA Rail, Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Indian Railways, Korail, Southern Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Shinkansen, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Ferromex and Kansas City Southern.

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 now-discontinued 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 agricultural purposes, though it allows states to require a CDL for these vehicles under their discretion. A CDL is also required to operate any vehicle that transports at least 16 passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials requiring placards under federal and state law regardless of the weight of the vehicle. States may extend CDL requirements for additional vehicles, for example, New York requires a CDL to operate a stretched limousine and California requires a CDL for any vehicle with three or more axles that has a gross vehicle weight rating of over 6,000 pounds.

Table of US GVWR classifications

US truck class	Duty classification	Weight limit	Examples
Class 1	Light duty	Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline FWD, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma
Class 2a	Light duty	Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline AWD, Ram 1500, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
Class 2b	Light duty	Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500, Ford F-250, Nissan Titan XD, Ram 2500
Class 3	Medium duty	Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500, Ford F-350, Ford F-450 (pickup only), Ram 3500, Isuzu NPR
Class 4	Medium duty	Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD/International CV, Ford F-450 (chassis cab only), Ram 4500, Isuzu NPR-HD
Class 5	Medium duty	Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD/International CV, Ford F-550, Ram 5500, Isuzu NRR, Freightliner Business Class M2 106, Kenworth T170, Peterbilt 325
Class 6	Medium duty	Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD/International CV, Ford F-650, Freightliner Business Class M2 106, International MV, Kenworth T280, Peterbilt 330, Mack MD
Class 7	Heavy duty	Autocar ACMD, Freightliner Business Class M2 106, Ford F-750, Hino 338, International MV, Kenworth K370, Kenworth T380, Mack MD, Peterbilt 220 and 337/348
Class 8	Heavy duty	Autocar ACX and DC; Volvo Truck VNL; Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2 112, 118SD, and EconicSD; Ford F-750; Hino XL8; International LT, HV, and RH; Kenworth T480, T680, T880, and W990; Mack Anthem and Granite; Tesla Semi; Nikola TRE, Pinnacle, and TerraPro; Peterbilt 389, 579, and 520; Western Star 4800, 4900 and 5700; Pierce; E-One; Spartan; Ferrara; KME custom fire apparatus

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 tons: (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 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 GMC Suburban), medium duty trucks (e.g. the 1Template:1/2-ton Ford F-550) and some military vehicles, like the ubiquitous deuce-and-a-half.

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:

1. appending the number 1 to the licence class C or D denotes the "light" versions of said class (e.g., Minibus, or medium truck).
2. 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:

• Class B permits the use of vehicles with GVWRs of not more than 3500 kg plus a trailer with GTWR not exceeding 750 kg; or, a trailer above this limit so long as the combined gross weight of car and trailer does not exceed 3500 kg (in some jurisdictions a higher combined weight limit of 4250 kg is permitted after a theoretical and practical course of seven hours, but this permission is not transferable between EU countries). Class B covers both standard passenger cars of all sizes as well as vehicles that are specifically designed for transport of goods. The latter are commonly known as light commercial vehicles (LCVs), and include vans such as the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Fiat Ducato, as well as pickup trucks such as the Ford Ranger or Mitsubishi Triton.
• Class BE allows a trailers of up to 3500 kg GTWR to be used while driving a class B vehicle.
• Class C1 raises the GVWR limit to 7500 kg and permits a trailer with GTWR not exceeding 750 kg.
• Class C removes the GVWR limit of Class C1, but the GTWR limit for the trailer of 750 kg remains. (This often referred to as a "Rigid Heavy Goods Vehicle" or "Rigid truck" licence)
• Class C1E allows for a class B or C1 vehicle and a trailer of more than 750 kg GTWR, so long as the combined gross weight does not exceed 12000 kg.
• Class CE removes all weight limits for a Class C vehicle with trailer. (known as an "Articulated Heavy Goods Vehicle", or often simply "HGV", licence )

Classes

Class 1

Light duty Toyota Tacoma

The Class 1 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 0 to 6,000 pounds (0 to 2,722 kg). Examples of trucks in this class include the Toyota Tacoma and GMC Sonoma.

Class 2

The Class 2 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 6,001 to 10,000 pounds (2,722 to 4,536 kg). Examples of vehicles in this class include the Nissan Titan and the Ford F-250.

Class 3

Medium duty Ford F-350

The Class 3 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 10,001 to 14,000 pounds (4,536 to 6,350 kg). Examples of vehicles in this class include the dual-rear wheel models of the Ford F-350 and the GMC Sierra 3500.

Class 4

The Class 4 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 14,001 to 16,000 pounds (6,351 to 7,257 kg). Examples of vehicles in this class include the Ford F-450 and the GMC W4500.

Class 5

The Class 5 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 16,001 to 19,500 pounds (7,258 to 8,845 kg). Examples of trucks in this class include the International MXT and Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC Topkick.

Class 6

The Class 6 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ranges from 19,501 to 26,000 pounds (8,846 to 11,793 kg). Examples of trucks in this class include the International DuraStar and Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC Topkick C5500.

Class 7

Heavy duty Kenworth dump truck.

Vehicles in Class 7 and above require a commercial driver's license to operate in the United States. Their GVWR ranges from 26,001 to 33,000 pounds (11,794 to 14,969 kg). Examples of trucks in this class include the International TranStar 8500.

Class 8

The Class 8 truck gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is anything above 33,000 pounds (14,969 kg). These include all tractor trailer trucks.

Ton rating

When light-duty trucks were first produced, they were rated by their payload capacity in tons (e.g., 1/2-, 3/4- and 1-ton). The Ford F-150, Chevy/GMC 1500, and Dodge 1500 are a 1/2-ton. The Ford F-250, Chevy/GMC 2500, and Dodge 2500 are a 3/4-ton. The Ford F-350, Chevy/GMC 3500, and Dodge 3500 are a 1-ton. But throughout the years, the payload capacities have increased while the ton title has stayed the same. The current ton rating is nothing more than just a truck name.

See also

• Car classification
• Curb weight
• Heavy-duty vehicle
• Light-duty vehicle
• Vehicle category
• Gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
• Gross combined weight rating (GCWR)
• Gross trailer weight rating (GTWR)
• Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
• Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)