TRANSPORTATION

ENGINEERING II
CLASSIFICATION AND AXLE LOADING OF
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

CLASSIFICATION OF
VEHICLES
A
comprehensive
system
of
classifying commercial traffic is
primarily based on vehicle types and
axle configuration.
For most purposes, whether or not
very important the classification can
be simplified by defining only the
number of axles and whether the
vehicle has rigid chassis or it is
articulated.

 Mostly public-service vehicles are

classifieded as commercial vehicles.
Two axle commercial vehicles
ranging from light delivery vans to
trucks capable of being loaded to a
gross weight of about 16 Tons.
Method of classifying axle types is
shown in the figure.

AXLE LOADING OF
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Most countries specify the maximum
total weight, the maximum axle load,
and the maximum dimensions of
commercial vehicles permitted on
their roads.
Manufacturers of vehicles look
forward to promote their products in
other countries so they follow the
same standards.

The gross weight upon any wheel of

a vehicle shall not exceed the
following:
1. A Solid Rubber or Cushion Tire,8000
lbs.
2. Pneumatic tire 9000 lbs.

 The gross weight upon any single axle, or

tandem axle, shall not exceed the
following:
When the wheels attached to the axle are
equipped with solid rubber or cushion tires,
16000 pounds.
When the wheels attached to the axle are
equipped with pneumatic tires, 20000 pounds.
When the wheels are attached to a tandem
axle, and are equipped with pneumatic tires,
36000 pounds for vehicles traveling on any
street or highway, within the City limits,
including the highways of the "interstate"
system.

 When the wheels are attached to a tandem

axle, and are equipped with pneumatic tires,
40000 pounds for vehicles traveling on any
state-maintained secondary state highways
within the City.
One-rear axle vehicles equipped with a selfcompactor and used solely for the transporting
of trash are exempted from the provisions of
subsections (b) (2), (3), and (4) of this
section when traveling on any state or county
maintained, secondary state highway within the
City.

 An axle shall be defined as a total load on all

wheels whose centers are included within two
parallel transverse vertical planes not more
than forty inches apart.
A tandem axle shall be defined as the total load
on all wheels of two or more consecutive axles,
the center of which may be included between
parallel vertical planes spaced more than forty
inches and not more than ninety-six inches
apart, extending across the full width of the
vehicle.

 The gross weight upon any one wheel of a

steel-tired vehicle shall not exceed five
hundred pounds per inch of cross-sectional
width of tire.
Axle scales and the method of weighing
vehicles that is commonly referred to as a "split
weighing" or "fore and aft draft weighing,"
for obtaining a vehicle's axle weights and gross
weight, shall be authorized as an acceptable
and accurate method of weighing for law
enforcement purposes and statistical data
gathering