When you have to choose a truck, don’t choose the best-looking model. Choose the type of truck whose weight classification is enough to haul the cargo type you plan to haul.
You can’t haul heavy freight on a light-weight truck, and you shouldn’t haul low-weight freight on heavy-duty trucks. It makes no sense. Right?
Understand these truck classifications helps you understand how to choose the right type of truck to haul the freight and what kind of CDL the driver needs to have.
Find below the explanation of the truck types classified by weight and what type of commercial trucks fit into each category.
What is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating?
The GVWR is a safety truck's standard that is used to prevent their overloading.
This number is the maximum weight of a vehicle that ensures the safe operation of the bobtail plus trailer. Find out what is a bobtail truck.
The weight rating of the vehicle includes the net weight of the vehicle plus the passengers, the drivers, fuel, and cargo and it doesn't change after a manufacturer determines it for a vehicle.
In some cases, drivers may need to obtain a certain type of license before driving a vehicle.
For example, the GVWR of your vehicle might be 7,000 pounds. If the curb weight is 5,000 pounds and the typical weight for your passengers and fuel is 500 pounds, then your vehicle can safely handle a payload of 1,500 pounds.
So, knowing the GVWR and the weight of the freight that you need to haul, you may easily understand what type of truck you need to do the job legally.
Truck classification by GVWR
According to Wikipedia, I found the following truck classification where you can find different semi-truck brands classified by their weight limit.
1. Light and light-medium trucks classes
Class | weight limit | truck examples |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | 0-6,000 pounds (0-2,722 kg) | Chevrolet Colorado; Ford Ranger; Honda Ridgeline FWD. Jeep Gladiator; Nissan Frontier; Toyota Tacoma. |
Class 2a | 06001-8,500 pounds (2,722 - 3,856 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500; Ford F-150; Honda Ridgeline AWD. Ram 1500; |
Class 2b | 8,501–10,000 pounds (3,856–4,536 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500; |
2. Medium truck classes
Class | weight limit | truck examples |
---|---|---|
Class 3 | 10,001–14,000 pounds (4,536–6,350 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500; Ford F-350; Ram 3500; Isuzu NPR. |
Class 4 | 14,001–16,000 pounds (6,351–7,257 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD/International CV; Ford F-450 (chassis cab and pickup); Ram 4500; Isuzu NPR-HD. |
Class 5 | 16,001–19,500 pounds (7,258–8,845 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD/International CV; Ford F-550; Ram 5500, Isuzu NRR; Freightliner Business Class M2 106; Kenworth T170; Peterbilt 325. |
Class 6 | 19,501–26,000 pounds (8,846–11,793 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD/International CV; Ford F-650; Freightliner Business Class M2 106; International MV; Kenworth T270; Peterbilt 330. |
3. Heavy truck classes
Unlike vehicles mentioned above, heavy-duty trucks have to be handled by experts who we usually call truck drivers.
They are responsible for the safe operation of commercial vehicles that transport the products we used daily.
Class | weight limit | truck examples |
---|---|---|
Class 7 | 26,001–33,000 pounds (11,794–14,969 kg) | Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD/International CV; Ford F-650; Freightliner Business Class M2 106; International MV; Kenworth T270; Peterbilt 330. |
Class 8 | 33,001 pounds (14,969 kg) and above | 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 T680, T880, and W990; Mack Anthem, Granite, Pinnacle, and TerraPro; Peterbilt 389, 579, and 520; Western Star 4800, 4900 and 5700; Pierce, E-One, Spartan, Ferrara, KME custom fire apparatus. |
Vehicle regulations
If a vehicle has a GVWR of more than 26,001 pounds and is used for a business, including nonprofits, then it is subject to federal and state safety regulations for the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles.
Vehicles over this weight are required to stop at state weigh and inspection stations, and drivers must follow regulations concerning hours of service and medical examination.
Visit our semi-truck guide for more information.