FUNCTION

Engine arrangement for commercial

vehicles
The various areas of application and
transport tasks of commercial vehicles require a large number of different vehicle
conceptions.

Cab-over-engine vehicle (COE)

In the case of a cab-over-engine vehicle,
"COE" for short, the engine is arranged
under the driver's cab. In contrast to the
passenger car and the CBE, the steering
wheel is located in front of the front axle.

As a general principle, commercial vehicles are classified into three main groups
depending on the arrangement of the engine:

Alongside the possibility of long loadingarea lengths, the main advantage of this
design is the optimised overview of the
road for the vehicle driver. Furthermore,
the low frame enables maximum body
heights and thus optimised utilisation of
the cargo area.

X Cab-behind-engine vehicles (CBEs)

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Underfloor engines on commercial vehicles are nowadays only fitted in buses. The
most frequently used commercial vehicle
type in Europe is the pure cab-over-engine vehicle.

A disadvantage of cab-over-engine vehicles is the required special acoustic enclosure of the engine and the complicated
construction of the tilting driver's cab.
COE with underfloor engine
As in the case of pure cab-over-engine
vehicles, the COE with underfloor engine
has the advantage of an optimised overview of the road for the vehicle driver.
Due to the arrangement of the engine outside of the are of the cab, there is no need
for a tilting device for the driver's cab.
Another advantage of the underfloor arrangement is the favourable location of
centre of gravity, which lead to stable driving characteristics.
A decisive disadvantage of the underfloor
design is the higher frame, which reduces

LEGEND
1
Cab-over-engine vehicle (COE)
2
Cab-behind-engine vehicle (CBE)
3
COE with underfloor engine

Engine arrangements for commercial vehicles

2.1

In comparison with cab-over-engine vehicles, however, the available body length

is lower on cab-behind-engine vehicles
due to the maximum permitted total vehicle length. The overview of the road is
also poorer, which is why CBEs are only
rarely found in Europe.

X COE with underfloor engine

Cab-behind-engine vehicle (CBE)

A cab-behind-engine vehicle (CBE) is regarded as very sturdy. CBEs are used
mainly in the USA and in the Middle East.
Shifting the engine to in front of the driver's cab generates fewer vibrations. Driving comfort and safety are enhanced.

2.1Vehicle types
2.1.1Engine arrangement

X Cab-over-engine vehicles (COEs)

the available body height and thus the payload.

1REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Types of commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles are used for the safe
and rational transport of goods and persons. What is decisive for the economic
efficiency of a commercial vehicle is the
ratio of payload to total weight as well as
useful volume to total space.

Commercial vans
A commercial van is a light commercial
vehicle with a permitted total weight up to
a maximum of 7.5 t. The areas of application for commercial vans include local
goods distribution.

Alongside the classification according to

the arrangement of the engine ( page
2.1), the various types of commercial vehicles can be distinguished by their application and structure or trailers.
Wheel formula
Depending on their size and weight,
trucks are fitted with different numbers of
axles which can be steerable or driven. An
indication of what is fitted is provided by
the wheel formula:
N x Z/L or
N x Z-L (last axle is steered).
In the wheel formula:

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

N = number of wheels
Z = number of driven wheels
L = number of steered wheels.
Axles without drive systems arranged in
front of or behind the drive axle are called
leading or trailing axles respectively. They
increase the payload.

Truck-trailer unit
A truck with trailer(s) is referred to as a
truck-trailer unit or articulated truck.
Semitrailer truck
Semitrailer truck is the usual description
for a combination of semitrailer tractor and
semitrailer. The semitrailer tractor has no
body of its own. The semitrailer is secured
to the semitrailer tractor on the semitrailer
(or fifthwheel) coupling. As regards traffic
regulations, the semitrailer truck is equal
to a truck. The exact description in the
(German) Road Traffic Act is thus also "articulated vehicle", but this is not used in
practice.
There are special forms e.g. in Australia,
where special semitrailers ("A-trailers") are
permitted; these have a semitrailer coupling at the rear for another semitrailer. A
semitrailer truck with an A-trailer and a second semitrailer is called a "B-double".
Australian trucks with two A-trailers and a

4x2/2

6x4/2

6x2-4

8x4/4

Wheel formula

2.2

Trucks
Combined with different body structures
( page 14.1), trucks are used all areas
of local and long-distance transport.

third (normal) semitrailer are called "B-triple", may be up to 27.5 m long and, as in
the case of the "B-double", must be marked as "LONG VEHICLES". Using socalled "dollys" (two-axle or three-axle trailers that only carry one semitrailer coupling for one semitrailer), a "ROAD TRAIN"
even up to a length of 53.5 m may be put
together in Australia.
Bus
A bus, formerly also referred to as an omnibus, is used for local passenger transport (urban bus) or long-distance transport (coach). The engine is almost always
an underfloor design arranged in the rear
of the bus.
Special vehicles
Special vehicles are either large vehicles
for the transport of particularly heavy
goods or vehicles with special body structures, e.g. fire engines, crane vehicles or
mobile concrete mixers, some of which
are only used as power engines. On account of their high permitted total weight
and special dimensions, special permissions are required for special vehicles.

FUNCTION

2.1.2Application and structure

BASIC PRINCIPLES

BASIC PRINCIPLES

X Frame height and length

Width of commercial vehicles

In the EU, the maximum permitted width
of commercial vehicles is 2.55 m, outside
of the EU 2.50 m. The bodies of refrigerated vehicles may be a maximum of 2.60 m
wide and must have a wall thickness of at
least 45 mm. These dimensions are permitted to be exceeded by mirrors, tyres,
elastic mud flaps, snow chains and certain
lighting equipment.
Height of commercial vehicles
The maximum height of commercial vehicles is restricted to 4 m. Exceptions only
exist in agriculture and forestry.

The increase in system length directly benefits the distance between the towing vehicle and trailer, and no complex shortcoupling systems are required.
Wheelbase
The wheelbase refers to the distance from
wheel centre to wheel centre. The "technical wheelbase" is a secondary variable for
determining the location of centre of gravity and the axle loads. It must be determined depending on the wheel formula.

4m

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

X Overhang and ground clearance

The entire loading-area length for articulated trucks may be 15.65 m, for semitrailer
trucks 13.60 m. The total length of the
cargo area, including the distance between the towing vehicle and trailer (corresponds to the system length for articulated trucks), has been increased to
16.40 m.

12 m

Permitted dimensions of a commercial vehicle

2.3

2.55 m

Overhang, ground clearance

The front/rear overhang refers to the distance of the outer front/rear points of the
vehicle up to the wheel centre of the front
axle/rear axle.
The ground clearance between the axles
is the shortest distance between the road
surface and the lowest fixed point of the
vehicle. Here, multiple-axle combinations
are regarded as a single axle.
The ground clearance under an axle is determined by the crown height of an arc
that goes through the middle of the tyre
contact area of an axle (the inner tyre in
the case of twin tyres) and touches the lowest fixed point between the wheels. The
ground clearance of a number of axles is
specified in the order of their arrangement.

X Wheelbase

There are uniform regulations for the

length of articulated and semitrailer trucks
in the countries of the EU . The current Directive 96/53/EC has been in force since
1.1.1997. According to this, the maximum
permitted total length for articulated
trucks is 18.75 m ( page 2.4) and for semitrailer trucks 16.50 m ( page 2.5).

Frame height and length

The frame height is defined as the distance from the road surface to the upper
edge of the frame. The frame length is the
usable length behind the driver's cab up
to the rear end of the frame.

2.2Dimensions and weights

Dimensions that are not directly specified

by laws are, e.g.:

Length of commercial vehicles

Individual vehicles may have a maximum
length of 12 m ( Fig.).

2.2.1Dimensions

Dimensions of commercial vehicles

The most important dimensions such as
width, height and length of a commercial
vehicle are legally regulated in the (German) Road Traffic Act, which corresponds
to the EU Directive 96/53/EC ( page
2.12). The EU Directive applies in EU
countries and Switzerland. In the EU
countries, there can be national specifications alongside the EU Directive. All vehicles that exceed or fall short of a permitted
dimension may only be used with special
permission.

EXAMPLE

2
Total articulated truck length

18.75 m

Total loading-area length

(X1 + X2 = 15.65 m)

Derivable dimensions

EU dimensions for the articulated truck

2.4

16.4 m

X1

X2

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

System length

2.35 m

0.75 m

EXAMPLE

2
Total semitrailer truck length

16.5 m

Front slewing radius

2.04 m

13.6 m
Derivable dimensions

EU dimensions for the semitrailer truck

2.5

12 m

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Center of kingpin to
end of semitrailer

4.5 m

FUNCTION

EXAMPLE

Weights of commercial vehicles

The two most important weights that characterise a commercial vehicle are axle
load and total weight. The legally prescribed values are also called permitted
weights.

Permitted total weight of an articulated truck

The permitted total weight of an articulated truck is calculated simply as the total
permitted total weight of towing vehicle
and trailer(s).

For calculation of the permitted total

weight of a semitrailer truck, the following
values are known:

Permitted axle load for commercial

vehicles
The permitted axle load is defined as the
total load of an axle or axle group that
must not be exceeded. The permitted axle
loads of a commercial vehicle determine
its permitted total weight and thus the maximum possible payload.

To calculate the permitted total weight of

an articulated truck, the permitted total
weight of the towing vehicle is added to
the maximum permitted trailer load. The
trailer load is the load actually drawn by
the towing vehicle.

Effective vertical load borne by a semitrailer tractor: 8 t

The permitted total weight of this semitrailer truck is thus the product of:
16 t + 16 t 8 t = 24 t

In the case of single-axle trailers without

their own brake system, the trailer load
must not exceed half of the permitted total
weight of the towing vehicle.
Permitted total weight of a semitrailer
truck
The permitted total weight of a semitrailer
truck is also calculated simply as the total
permitted total weight of the towing vehicle and semitrailer(s).
First of all, the permitted total weight of the
semitrailer and the semitrailer tractor are
added. Then, however, the effective vertical load borne by a semitrailer tractor is
subtracted from this value.

Axles
Single axle load (non-driven)
Single axle load (driven)
Twin axle, axle base < 1 m

Permitted axle load

10 t
11.5 t
11.5 t towing vehicle
11.0 t trailer

Twin axles, wheelbase 1 m < 1.3 m

16 t

Twin axle, axle base 1.3 m < 1.8 m

if drive axle is equipped with twin tyres and

air suspension or with suspension recognised as equal quality

18 t

19 t towing vehicle

Twin axle, axle base 1.8 m

20 t semitrailer

Triple axle, axle base 1.3 m

21 t

Triple axle, axle base 1.3 m ... 1.4 m

24 t

Permitted axle loads in Germany

2.6

Permitted total weight of semitrailer: 16 t

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Permitted total weight of commercial

vehicles
The permitted total weight is defined as
the weight of a vehicle or vehicle combination that must not be exceeded. It is composed of the total of unladen weight and
maximum payload of the vehicle.

If the entire unit is equipped with a pneumatic brake system (EG brake system
page 7.4), the trailer load is permitted to
1.5 times the permitted total weight of the
towing vehicle.

Permitted total weight of semitrailer tractor: 16 t

2.2.2Weights

BASIC PRINCIPLES

EXAMPLE
Vehicle

Permitted total weight

Fig.

Semitrailer truck with 3 axles

28 t

Articulated truck with 3 axles

28 t

Articulated truck with 4 axles

36 t

Single-axle trailer

10 t
+ permitted drawbar load
Trailer coupling

Trailer with 2 axles

18 t

Trailer with 3 axles

24 t

Engine vehicle with 2 axles

18 t
x

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Engine vehicle with 3 axles

if drive axle is equipped with twin tyres and air suspension

or with suspension recognised as equal quality

26 t

Engine vehicle with 4 and more axles

32 t

Semitrailer truck with 5 or 6 axles,

semitrailer tractor with at least 3 axles

with 40-foot ISO container in combined traffic

40 t

Articulated truck with 5 or 6 axles

40 t

Permitted total weights in Germany

2.7

25 t

44 t

FUNCTION

Loading regulations
Commercial vehicles are deployed in a
wide variety of areas: they transport general/mixed cargoes, containers, crates,
sacks, long material, bulk goods, liquids
and gases of various hazard levels.

Permitted load
In general, no load may protrude beyond
the front end of the vehicle.

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

The following applies in general: all types

of vehicle must be loaded in such a way
that no parts of the load can fall off or move. Furthermore, no avoidable noise may
be created.
Minimum engine output
Commercial vehicles with high permitted
total weights must be equipped with appropriately powerful engines. In order to
ensure adequate agility (accelerating performance, climbing capacity) of a commercial vehicle with maximum payload, legislation prescribes a minimum engine
output.

2.8

In good visibility conditions, a red marking

must be attached ( Fig.) to a load that
protrudes more than 1 m beyond the reflectors of a vehicle. Permitted as markings:
X Red flag, 30 x 30 cm
X Red plate, 30 x 30 cm
X Red cylindrical object, diameter
35 cm, attached vertically
In darkness, fog or poor visibility conditions, the marking must be replaced by at
least one red lamp and a reflector.
Loads protruding to the side are permitted, but they must also at least in darkness be marked with a white lamp towards the front and with a red lamp towards the rear. Moreover, they must not
consist of individual boards/plates, bars
or posts.
Prescribed engine output
In accordance with the (German) Road
Traffic Act, the engine output of buses,
trucks, semitrailer and articulated trucks

Marking the load (example)

Electric vehicles and motor vehicles with a

maximum speed restricted by their design
if less than 25 km/h are exempt from this
regulation.

Adequately secured loads can slip on braking or cornering due to the accelerating
forces that occur, thus endangering other
road users. To prevent this, there are exact regulations that must be complied
with at all costs.

Towards the rear, for individual vehicles

and units up to 1.5 m, a load may protrude by up to 3 m over a distance of less
than 100 km.

must be more than 4.4 kW (6.0 hp) per

tonne of the permitted total weight.

2.3Load and minimum engine output

BASIC PRINCIPLES

BASIC PRINCIPLES
Pollutants in exhaust gas
Exhaust gas components classified and
restricted as pollutants for diesel engines
are:
X Carbon monoxide (CO arises due to
lack of oxygen during combustion)
X Hydrocarbons (HC arise due to poor
mixing of a gas filling)

lutant reduction in exhaust gas since the

first limit values (Euro 0) came into force in
1990.
Preview of Euro 4 and 5
The standards Euro 4 and Euro 5 will continue to drastically reduce the limit values.
Their introduction is expected in 2005 and
2008 respectively.

X Nitrogen oxides (NOX arise as a mixture of NO and NO2 at high combustion temperatures)
X Particles (combustion residues as a
mixture of soot, hydrocarbon with
water droplets, ashes, salts, sulphur
and rust)

2.9

With this 13-stage cycle, 13 operating

points defined by load and engine speed
are reached and measured on an engine
testing unit. Depending on the significance of the operating point for practical
deployment, the results of the individual
measurements are weighted differently in
the overall result (idle e.g. with 15 %). The
weights total value of each pollutant component must then lie below the relevant limit value.
In addition, the inspecting body has the
possibility to choose any two points within
a given test area. At these points, the
measured pollutant values must not lie
more than 10 % above the neighbouring
values of the 13-stage cycle.

The currently valid limit values for stage A,

B and C (Euro 1 to Euro 3) are specified in
the version 91/541/EEC.

The pollutant limit values according to

Euro 3 are already the fourth stage of pol-

Pollutant

Euro 0
1990

Euro 1
1993

Euro 2
1996

Euro 3
2000

Euro 4
2005
(exp.)

Euro 5
2008
(exp.)

CO

11.2

2.1

1.5

1.5

HC

2.4

1.25

1.1

0.66

0.46

0.46

NOX

14.4

3.5

Particles

0.7

0.4

0.15

0.1

0.02

0.02

Exhaust gas limit values in g/kWh for commercial vehicles (permitted total weight
> 3.5 t)

MP 2 1 Std

Limit values according to Euro 3

Since October 2001, the pollutant limit values in the exhaust gas of all newly registered vehicles must meet the specifications according to Euro 3 ( table).
2.4Emissions

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Euro exhaust gas standard

Exhaust gas legislation is uniformly regulated within the countries of the European
Union. It is based on Directive 88/77/EEC
and the corresponding versions and updates.

Test methods according to ESC

An independent testing organisation (e.g.
MOT) uses the test method according to
the ESC (European Steady Cycle) to test
one sample of every engine series as regards conformity with the currently valid
standard (Euro 3).

2.4.1Exhaust gas limit values

FUNCTION

FUNCTION

Noise regulations (EC)

The legal test methods refer exclusively to
the outdoor noise. The corresponding EC
Directive 70/157/EEC specifies measuring methods and limit values for stationary and driving noise. Version 92/97/EEC of
this Directive has been in force since
1.10.96 and is mandatory for all EU countries.

Sound emission
The sound power level LW is used to
measure the strength of sound emissions.
Its unit is the decibel (db). In order to be
able to compare the measured values,
they are specified according to a frequency-dependent evaluation, the so-called A
evaluation. Sound levels are specified in
db(A).

The inside noise levels are not legally regulated.

Noise immission
Noise immission is defined as the effects
of noise on human beings. The evaluation
of noise immission takes place with help
of an evaluation level. This serves as the
dimension for the mean noise immission
during a certain evaluation period.

2.10

If a commercial vehicle complies with the

noise regulations for Germany, it is permitted to be marked with a tag (white G on a
green background) as low-noise. In order
to be permitted to drive at night in Austria,
a commercial vehicle must comply with
the Austrian noise regulations and be
marked with a tag (white L on a green
background).

Driving noise
A precision sound level measuring device
is used to measure the sound emission in
the case of an accelerated drive-past; this
has to be calibrated at the start of each
new measurement sequence.
The commercial vehicle to be tested
drives at constant speed up to a line located 10 m away from the microphone level.
From this line onwards, the vehicle to be
tested to accelerated at full throttle up to
a second line which is also arranged 10 m
away from the microphone level on the
opposite side. Speeds and engines
speeds have to be determined with an accuracy of 3 % ( Fig. page 2.11).

Stationary or
all-round noise

Engine
brake noise

Compressed
air noise

78/80
(off road 79/82)

78

"Low-noise
vehicles"
Germany

78/80

78/80

78/80

72

"Low-noise
vehicles"
Austria

78/80

no
limit value

78/80

72

Noise regulation

EC

Noise during
accelerated
drive-past

Compressed air noise

The noise level is measured with the vehicle stationary. The noise is measured
during ventilation of the pressure regulator
and after use of the service and parking
brakes.

Sound emission limit values in db(A) for commercial vehicles

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Low-noise vehicles (DE/AT)

In Germany, the additional noise regulations "Low-noise vehicles" as specified in
the (German) Road Traffic Act apply. Separate regulations also apply in Austria. In
both countries, there is no "off-road addition", and the engine brake noise is taken
into account ( table; values in front of the
slash apply to commercial vehicles with
fewer than 150 kW; those after the slash
apply to commercial vehicles with more
than 150 kW).

Stationary noise
To determine the stationary noise, the noise level is measured at idle speed in the vicinity of the exhaust muffler exit.

2.4.2Noise emissions

BASIC PRINCIPLES

EXAMPLE

10 m

10 m

1
2

7.5 m

3
1

1
2
3

Precision sound level measuring device

Microphone
Microphone 1.2 m above ground

Measurement arrangement for determining the driving noise

2.11

xx

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

7.5 m

Road traffic legislation in Germany

Road traffic legislation in Germany is divided into a number of areas:

Speed limits for commercial vehicles

The maximum permitted speed of 80
km/h applied to:

X Road Traffic Act Regulates the principles of traffic safety, liability and
penal code

X Trucks up to 3.5 t permitted total

weight with a two-axle trailer

X Highway Code Behaviour of road

users

X Towing vehicles with a trailer on

motorways

X Speeds

X Directives and regulations of the European Union

The maximum permitted speed of 60

km/h applies to:

X Other working hours

X Mandatory Insurance Act

X Trucks over 3.5 t permitted total

weight with trailer on country roads
outside of built-up areas

X Non-driving times

X Administrative Offence Act

X Catalogue of Penalties and Fines
Important for the drivers of commercial
vehicles are the permitted maximum
speeds and above all the working and driving times. They apply to drivers of vehicles with more than 3.5 t permitted total
weight.

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

This includes:

X Road Traffic Registration Ordinances

X Penal Code

2.12

X Trucks over 3.5 t permitted total

weight on motorways

Tachograph system TCO

The EU testing devices are so-called tachograph systems TCO Fig. page 2.13)
that register all the important driving data
and store it on tachograph or diagram
disks.

X Trucks over 7.5 t permitted total

weight without trailer outside of builtup areas
X Articulated vehicles over 7.5 t permitted total weight on country roads outside of built-up areas
X Towing vehicles over 7.5 t permitted
total weight on country roads outside
of built-up areas
X Towing vehicles with a trailer on country roads outside of built-up areas
Working and driving times
To protect other road users and the drivers of commercial vehicles themselves,
there are regulations that limit working
and driving times. EU testing devices are
deployed to check the driving times.

Criterion

Driving time

Daily driving time

9 hours
(10 hours permitted twice a week)

Weekly driving time

90 hours
(within 2 consecutive weeks)

Uninterrupted driving time

4.5 hours

Driving time interruption

Non-driving time or 45 minutes

Uninterrupted daily non-driving time

11 hours
(within a period of 24 hours)

Weekly non-driving time

45 hours
(after 6 daily driving times)

Working and driving time for commercial vehicle drivers in Germany

X Driving times
X Waiting periods
A warning lamp lights up if the maximum
speed of 80 km/h applicable to applicable
to commercial vehicles over 2.8 t permitted total weight is exceeded.
Sunday driving ban
Commercial vehicles with a permitted total weight of more than 7.5 t are not permitted to drive on Sundays and public holiday in the time between 0 and 22 hrs.
Combined freight transport (rail/road) as
well as commercial vehicles that are transporting fresh goods are exempt from this
ban.

FUNCTION

2.5Driving regulations

BASIC PRINCIPLES

EXAMPLE

4
xx

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

1
2
3
4
5

Speed
Trip times/waiting periods, driving times, driving time interruptions/non-driving time
Distances
Fuel consumption 1 dash = 2 l or 5 l (additional writer)
Time

Tachograph disk

2.13

FUNCTION

Product identification for MAN vehicles

It is important for a commercial vehicle
manufacturer that the sales department,
body manufacturers and customers find
their way around the large number of available models. For this reason, MAN uses
various vehicle designations in product
identification for internal and external
communication:

Door designation for MAN vehicles

The current door designation of MAN
commercial vehicles is the information on
the vehicle type with tonnage and power
output that is visible to all.

X Type code

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

These vehicle designations have been designed over the decades of product development at MAN according to various
needs and ordering criteria. The results
were different descriptions for the individual commercial vehicle generations.
The current product identifications for
MAN commercial vehicles are geared to
one another. This achieves the aim of making the identification of the range of products of MAN less ambiguous, more informative and more consistent.

X Permitted chassis weight in t

X Output data of the engine in hp
With this, MAN meets the clearly expressed wish on the part of its customers
for a door designation with tonnage and
power output.
Exceptions are the so-called "X types"
(SX, FX, LX and HX vehicles) with modular
driver's cabs; these have no door designation.
Abbreviation for commercial vehicle
model series
The identification of the commercial vehicle model series follows the fundamental
classification of the commercial vehicle
generations at MAN.
The abbreviations TGA, TGM and TGL
stand for the model series of the "Trucknology Generation".
The "Evolution Series" is indicated with LE
or ME.

Door designation of a TGA semitrailer tractor

2.14

Output data of the engine

In the case of the output data, the engine
output is general rounded up to the nearest 10 hp. More advanced information,
e.g. the exhaust emission status (Euro
standard) is not provided.

2.6.1.1Door designation
x

X Variant description

X Abbreviation for the commercial

vehicle model series

It is the permitted total weight for this vehicle type ( page 2.6).

2.6.1Vehicles

X Door designation

The door designation contains the following details:

Permitted chassis weight

The permitted chassis weight corresponds to the layout weight according to
the type code.

2.6Type designation and identification numbers

BASIC PRINCIPLES

FUNCTION

X Abbreviation for the commercial

vehicle model series ( Door designation page 2.14)
X Permitted chassis weight in t ( Door
designation page 2.14)
X Output data of the engine in hp
( Door designation page 2.14)
X Wheel formula
X Suspension type
X Identification as semitrailer truck
vehicle (only for tractor variants)

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

X Abbreviation (after hyphen) for vehicle

version
Wheel formula
The wheel formula ( page 2.2) indicates
the number of wheels present, and how
many of them are driven and steered. For
the sample variant designation ( Fig.),
the precise wheel formula would actually
be 4x2/2.

The number of steered is only in the variant designation if more than two axles are
non-driven ( table page 2.16).

Sample door designation

A tractor has the door designation

Suspension type
In the specified suspension type in the variant designation, a distinction is made
between front-axle and rear-axle suspension.

This is a semitrailer tractor as can be seen.

That is why this detail is not in the door designation. The door designation contains
the following information:

Typical suspension types are LL (leaf/leaf),

LA (leaf/air) or AA (air/air). The abbreviation LH stands for leaf-spring suspension at
the front and hydropneumatic suspension
at the rear ("HEPLEX").
In the case of vehicle variants where the
suspension is not specified, these are X
types with coil-spring suspension.
Identification as tractor
The letter "S" after the suspension type indicates that the commercial vehicle is a
tractor.
Vehicle version
Some special vehicle versions are marked
at the end of the variant designation after
a hyphen with an additional abbreviation.
Possible abbreviations are "U", "TS",
"WW" or "CKD" ( table page 2.16).

However, as there is always at least one

non-driven axle with two steered wheels,
this case is not taken into account in the
variant designation. The wheel formula is
this simplified as 4x2.

X Model series Trucknology Generation

A (TGA)
X Permitted total weight = 18 t (calculation of the permitted total weight for
semitrailer truck page 2.6)
X Engine output approximately 460 hp
(338 kW)
Sample variant description
The variant designation for the above semitrailer tractor is
TGA 18.460 4x2 BLS-TS
This designation contains the following information ( table page 2.16).:
X TGA commercial vehicle with permitted total weight of 18 t and engine
output of around 460 hp/338 kW
(= Door designation "TGA 18.460)
X Total of four wheels, two wheels of
which are driven (wheel formula "4x2")
X Suspension leaf/air (letters "LA")
X Semitrailer tractor (letter "S")
X Tanker/ silo vehicle (abbrev. "-TS")

LEGEND
1
Two of four wheels driven (4x2; twin
tyres count as only one wheel)
2
Two wheels steered (/2)

4x2
(4x2/2)

1
2

Wheel formula of the sample variant description

2.15

TGA 18.460 ( Fig. page 2.14)

Variant description for MAN vehicles

The variant description is the most important product identification for internal and
external communication. It repeats the
door designation and is supplemented by
other information:

2.6.1.2Variant description

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE
Item

Defining term

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Model series

2
XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Tonnage

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Separator

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Engine output

Abbreviation

Description of the vehicle type

TGA, TGM, TGL

Trucknology Generation

LE, ME

Evolution model series L2000 and M2000

SX, FX, LX, HX

X vehicles

XX

Permitted total weight = XX t

18

Example: Permitted total weight = 18 t

Point

XXX

Engine output = XXX hp (rounded up to nearest 10)

460

Example: Engine output = 460 hp

XxX/X or XxX-X

Structure of the wheel formula

XxX/X or XxX-X
XxX/X or XxX-X

Total number of wheel sets

Separator "x"
Number of driven wheel sets

XxX/X

For leading axle: number of steered wheels

XxX-X

For trailing axle: number of steered wheels,

also for leading and trailing axle

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Wheel formula

Suspension type

4x2

Two driven wheels

4x4

All-wheel drive

6x2-2

Two driven wheels, non-steered trailing axle

6x2-4

Two driven wheels, steered trailing axle

6x2/2

Two driven wheels, non-steered leading axle

6x2/4

Two driven wheels, steered leading axle

6x4

Four driven wheels

6x6

All-wheel drive

8x2-6

Two driven wheels, steered leading and trailing axle or two front
axles and steered trailing axle

8x4

Four driven wheels

8x6

Six driven wheels

8x8

All-wheel drive

10x4-8
10x8-8

Four or eight driven wheels,

twin steering axle plus steered leading and final axle

LL

Leaf/leaf-spring suspension

LA

Leaf/air suspension

AA

Air/air suspension

LH

Leaf-spring suspension/hydropneumatic suspension

("HEPLEX")

Semitrailer tractor

No data for X types with coil-spring suspension

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Vehicle type

No data for chassis, dumper etc.

-U

XXX XX.XXX XXXXX XXX-XXX

Version

Ultra (low type)

No data for type medium-high and high.

-TS

Tanker/silo (weight-optimised version)

-WW

Export variant ("WorldWide") of the TGA

-CKD

CKD type (completely knocked down)

-XXX

Can be extended.

Structure of the variant description (trade designations) of MAN commercial vehicles

2.16

Variant description
x

Examples:

BASIC PRINCIPLES

FUNCTION

Type code for MAN vehicles

The type code for MAN commercial vehicles has great significance for vehicle identification. A distinction is made between
type code number (vehicle identification
number) as well as type code designation
for internal communication.

Type code description

As a general principle, the type code designation (in MAN terminology referred to as
the defining term) consists of 8 items,
each of which can contain up to three letters or numbers. The individual items
serve to identify the following features:

In accordance with the uniform concept

for vehicle designation at MAN, the type
code designation contains the variant description with wheel formula and suspension type. However, in contrast to the variant description ( page 2.15), on the
type code designation the engine output
data is replaced by the abbreviation for
the engine model series.

1. Type number
2. Model series
3. Permitted total weight
4. Engine model series
5. Wheel formula
6. Suspension type
7. Identification whether tractor
8. Cylinder arrangement (for D08 engines)

2.17

Item
Example

Explanation

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

H05:

TGA

18.

D28

4x2

LA

Model
series

Permitted
total weight
=
18 t

Type no.

Engine
model
series

Wheel formula

Example of the type code designation of MAN commercial vehicles

Suspension
leaf/air

Semitrailer
tractor

8.

Abbrev.
-TS

Cylinder
arrangement
(only D08)

Tanker/silo
(weightoptimised)

2.6.1.3Type code

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Optionally, an abbreviation for further

identification of the vehicle version can be
added to the to the type code (area of application, features of the chassis, etc.).

Type code for MAN engines

The type code for MAN engines is also
based on a precisely specified system. As
a general principle, this defining term consists of 6 items that serve to identify the
following features:

FUNCTION
Item

1.

Diesel

Natural gas

Propane gas / butane gas (LPG)

Hydrogen

Methane

2. Bore

Petrol

xx

Bore hole = (xx + 100) mm; Example: (20 + 100) mm = 120 mm

4. Number of cylinders

2.
3.

5. Turbocharged
6. Fitted engine
Engine variants
The variants of a certain engine model series differ as regards the pollutant emissions (Euro standard) and noise reduction
as well as the power output at a certain
engine speed. Since 1990, these variants
(model designations) have been identified
with a successive two-digit number. It is
added to the defining term as the 7th item.

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Description of the engine type

1. Fuel type
3. Stroke

2.18

Abbrev.

4.

5.

Stroke = ((x 10) + 100) mm; Example: ((6 10) + 100) mm 160 mm

4 cylinders

6 cylinders

10 cylinders

12 cylinders

(blank) naturally aspirated engine

Three-way catalytic converter

Turbocharged

Turbocharged and with charge-air cooling

Upright engine for CBE truck, left-hand drive

HR

Upright engine for CBE truck, right-hand drive

HA

Upright engine for CBE truck, left-hand all-wheel drive

Common Rail engine

If it is to be emphasised that a MAN engine is equipped with the modern method of
Common Rail direct fuel injection, in external communication the 5th and 6th items
of the engine type code can also be replaced by the abbreviation "CR".

HG

Upright engine for CBE truck, special version for

off-road vehicles, left-hand drive

Upright engine for COE truck, left-hand drive

GF

Upright engine for COE truck, left-hand drive, only engine D08,
co-op version (G series)

GFA

GF in all-wheel drive version

FR

Upright engine for COE truck, right-hand drive

Modern MAN engines with Common Rail

technology are:

FA

Upright engine for CBE truck, left-hand all-wheel drive

FG

Upright engine for COE truck, special version for

off-road vehicles, left-hand drive

FGR

FG in right-hand drive version

X D0836 CR
X D2066 CR
X D2840 CR
X D2876 CR

6.

FO

Upright engine for bus frontal mounting

OF

Upright engine for bus frontal mounting, left-hand drive

OFR

Upright engine for bus frontal mounting, right-hand drive

OH

Upright engine for bus rear mounting

Flat engine for truck centre mounting

UH

Flat engine for bus rear mounting

UM

Flat engine for bus centre mounting

Code for model series "L 2000" added

to above mounting cases (except "GF", "GFA")

Type codes of MAN engines for commercial vehicles

2.6.2Engines
2.6.2.1Type code
MP 1 2 2colfull

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Example

2.19

MAN Common Rail engine D2066 CR

Item

Example

Diesel fuel

Explanation

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

20

01

20
+
100
=
120 mm
bore

6 10
+
100

160 mm
stroke

6
cylinders

Turbocharged
and with
charge-air cooling

Upright engine
for COE truck,
left-hand drive

Variant
(successive
model designation number)

Example of type code of MAN engines

Type code
x

REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES