Section 2: Vehicle Classification Descriptions
Anchor: #i1000473Motorcycles
Class 1. Motorcycles include all two or three-wheeled motorized vehicles. Typical vehicles in this class have saddle type seats and are steered by handlebars rather than steering wheels. This class includes motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, motor-powered bicycles, and three-wheel motorcycles. These motor vehicles have two axles, three when pulling a trailer.
Anchor: #i1000483Passenger Cars
Class 2. All sedans, coupes, and station wagons manufactured primarily for the purpose of carrying passengers and including those passenger cars pulling recreational or other light trailers. These motor vehicles have two axles, three to four when pulling a trailer and include the following:
- short-bed pickups (five- or six-foot beds), no extended cab
- sport utility vehicles
- mini vans
- sedans (limousines are entered into Class 3, pickups, panels, and vans)
Pickups, Panels, Vans
Class 3. All two-axle, four-tire, vehicles other than passenger cars. Included in this classification are pickups, panels, vans, and other vehicles such as campers, motor homes, ambulances, hearses, carryalls, and minibuses. Other two-axle, four-tire single-unit vehicles pulling recreational or other light trailers are included in this classification.
Panels and pickups have two axles (three to four axles when pulling a trailer) and four tires, but can also include six-tire (dually) pickups if they do not meet the conditions in Class 5. Vehicles with a single cab and a long bed (eight-foot length) are counted as panels and pickup trucks. Examples of panel and pickup classifications are:
- Chevy, Ford, Dodge long-bed (eight-foot bed), no extended cab
- short-bed and long-bed pickups with extended cabs
- conversion vans
- full-size work vans
- limousines – regular
- short-bed pickups with four doors (five- or six-foot beds)
Buses
Class 4. All vehicles manufactured as traditional passenger-carrying buses with two axles and six tires, or three or more axles. This class includes only traditional buses (including school buses) functioning as passenger-carrying vehicles. Modified buses should be considered to be a truck.
Buses may be commercial or private, have two and three axles, and are 25 feet or more, Examples of bus classifications are:
- school buses
- Greyhound buses
- musician tour buses
NOTE: ADA/disability-equipped buses and compact school buses are classified as two-axle, six-tire, single-unit trucks, or Class 5.
Anchor: #i1000598Single Unit Trucks
Class 5. Two-axle, six-tire, single-unit trucks. All vehicles on a single frame including trucks, camping and recreational vehicles, motor homes, etc., with two axles and dual rear wheels. This class includes vehicles with two axles, three to four when pulling a trailer, although pulling a trailer does not change the classification of the vehicle.
This class includes vehicles with two axles (three to four when pulling a trailer) and six tires, usually dual rear tires. Examples of six-tire single-unit trucks include:
- dump and sewage trucks with two axles
- four-door, long-bed pickups (eight-foot)
- airport buses
- limousines – extended
Class 6. Three-axle, single-unit trucks. All vehicles on a single frame with three axles, including trucks, camping and recreational vehicles, motor homes, etc. Examples of three-axle single-unit trucks include:
- dump trucks with three axles (dummy axle must be off the ground)
- single tractors with three axles – NO TRAILERS
- oil field equipment with three axles
NOTE: Dump trucks pulling two-axle trailers are classed under 5-axle, single-trailer trucks.
Class 7. All trucks on a single frame with four or more axles, not pulling trailers. Examples include:
- dump trucks with four axles (dummy axle must be on the ground)
- oil field equipment with four axles
Combination Trucks (Pulling Trailers)
Combination trucks are tractor trucks pulling trailers. Of importance is the number of axles on the truck and trailer(s), rather than the body style.
Class 8. Three- to four-axle, single-trailer trucks. All vehicles with four or fewer axles consisting of two units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes:
- trucks with two axles pulling a single one-axle trailer
- trucks with two axles pulling a single two-axle trailer or trucks with three axles pulling a single one-axle trailer; total axle count is four, for truck and trailer
Class 9. Five–axle, single-trailer trucks. All five-axle vehicles consisting of two units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes:
- trucks with three axles pulling a single trailer with two axles (eighteen wheelers)
- tractors with two axles pulling a single, three-axle trailer, or a dump truck pulling a two-axle trailer
Class 10. Six or more axle, single-trailer trucks. All vehicles with six or more axles consisting of two units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes trucks with three axles pulling a single-trailer with three or more axles.
Class 11. Five or less axle, multi-trailer trucks. All vehicles with five or fewer axles consisting of three or more units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes trucks with two axles pulling two trailers, the first trailer with one axle, the second trailer with two axles.
Class 12. Six-axle multi-trailer trucks. All six-axle vehicles consisting of three or more units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes trucks with two and three axles, pulling two trailers. The first trailer has one or two axles; the second trailer has two axles. The total axles are six for the truck and both trailers.
Class 13. Seven or more axle, multi-trailer trucks. All vehicles with seven or more axles consisting of three or more units, one of which is a tractor or straight truck power unit. This class includes trucks with two trailers or more, having at least seven axles total.