All About Fleet Vehicle Classifications

Commercial vehicles may all look the same on the road, but they’re all very different. How? Because of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Understanding classifications is essential for businesses relying on fleet vehicle services to manage their operations.

GVWR is the maximum weight of the vehicle itself, cargo/passengers, fuel, and trailer (if applicable). It’s broken down into eight classes (1-8). 1-3 being light duty, 4-6 being medium duty, and 6-8 being heavy duty.

Light Duty

Light-duty trucks and vehicles weigh anywhere from 0 to 6,000 lbs total. These are your typical pick-up trucks, cargo vans, and SUVs. These vehicles typically haul small to moderate sized items and equipment. You typically don’t need a CDL to operate these vehicles. These are typically non-commercial vehicles and the regulations/laws surrounding these types of vehicles aren’t as rigid as heavier-duty vehicles.

Medium Duty

Medium-duty vehicles include bigger full-size trucks and the weight range is anywhere from 10,000 to 26,000 lbs. This includes vehicles like box trucks for deliveries and moving, small dump trucks, small buses, and more.

  • Class 4 vehicles range from 14-16,000 lbs. Some examples of vehicles in this class are Ford 450 super-duty trucks, city delivery trucks, and some box trucks.
  • Class 5 contains 16-19,000 lb vehicles like larger delivery and box trucks.
  • Class 6 (19,500-26,00 lbs) contains school buses and single-axle trucks. If your vehicle is over 10,000 lbs, you must have a DOT number and stop at weigh stations.

Heavy Duty

Lastly, heavy-duty vehicles is where you’ll find big rigs and semi-trucks. You typically need a CDL A, B, or C license to operate these fleet vehicles. Check with your state’s CDL requirements to see what you’ll need.

  • Class 7 is 26,000 to 33,000 lbs contains street sweeper trucks, larger garbage trucks, city buses, and big furniture/delivery haulers.
  • Class 8 is anything over 33,000 lbs (Peterbilts, Freightliners, and Kenworths are popular models in this category).

If you drive a vehicle over Class 8, you may not be able to navigate certain interstate highways due to size – which may require you to carry a “oversized load” designation and travel specifically designated routes.

Truck classifications are essential to the transportation industry. The rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) help drivers operate their vehicles safely and legally.

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