What is a Commercial Vehicle?
Generally speaking, a commercial vehicle is one used to transport goods or people for a commercial industry. A commercial truck may be a company car or fleet vehicle.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers a more specific, concrete definition of a commercial motor vehicle. They define a CMV as “any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property” when the vehicle meets any of the following conditions:
- The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more; or
- Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or
- Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
- Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous.
Now we know exactly what a commercial vehicle is, but how are they classified?
In the US, there are 8 classes of commercial motor vehicles, which can be subdivided into 3 general categories: light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty.
CMVs operating on US highways are classified by their Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
What is a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)?
A GVWR is the maximum weight a vehicle can safely operate at. GVWR is the total weight of the vehicle, including the vehicle itself, drivers, passengers, fuel, and cargo.
Commercial trucks typically have their GVWR displayed on the inside of the driver’s side door.
Why It Matters
GVWR is an important safety standard set by the manufacturer. Exceeding this number poses serious risks to drivers and surrounding travelers.
The GVWR of a truck determines how and where it can be operated, what permits are necessary, and whether you need to stop at a weigh station.
Commercial drivers do not need a CDL to operate vehicles in Class 1 through Class 6, but each vehicle with a GVWR over 10,001 pounds must have the company’s name and USDT number displayed on the vehicle.
As a commercial driver, you should check with the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure compliance with the most current laws and regulations.
Now that we understand how CMVs are classified and why it matters, let’s look at the 8 classes of commercial vehicles.
Class 1: GVWR of 0 to 6,000 pounds
Example vehicles: Ford Ranger/Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon
Class 2 has two subclasses:
Class 2A: GVWR of 6,001–8,500
Example vehicles: Ford F-150/Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500/RAM 1500
Class 2B: GVWR of 8,500–10,000
Example vehicles: Ford F-250/Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500/RAM 2500
Class 3: GVWR of 10,001–14,000
Example vehicles: Ford F-350/Chevy Silverado 3500/RAM 3500
Class 4: GVWR of 14,001–16,000
Example vehicles: Ford F-450(chassis cab only)/RAM 4500
Class 5: GVWR of 16,001–19,500
Example vehicles: Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD/Ford F-550/RAM 5500
Class 6: GVWR of 19,501–26,000
Example vehicle: Freightliner Business Class M2 106
Class 7: GVWR of 26,001–33,000
Example vehicle: Mack MD
Class 8: GVWR of 33,001 and above
Example vehicle: Freightliner Cascadia
Conclusion
Commercial vehicles are an integral part of our supply chains and industrial operations. There isn’t much we could do without them. The next time you see a semi-truck on the highway, you can remember the classification system in place to ensure that a particular vehicle is operating in a safe and efficient manner.
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