A commercial vehicle is any type of

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of people or cargo. The ...

used for transporting goods or paying

passenger A passenger (also abbreviated as pax) is a person who travels in a vehicle, but does not bear any responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination or otherwise operate the vehicle, and is not a steward. Th ...

s. The

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

defines a "commercial motor vehicle" as any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on a

public highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...

interstate commerce The Commerce Clause describes an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution ( Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and amo ...

to transport passengers or property when the vehicle: :1. has a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more :2. Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; :3. Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, not used to transport passengers for compensation; :4. Is used in transporting material found by the

Secretary of Transportation A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...

to be hazardous. The federal definition though followed closely is meant to accommodate and remain flexible to each state's definitions. The

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are located primarily in Europe, Europe. The union has a total area of ...

defines a "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorized road vehicle, that by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for payment or not: :1. more than nine persons, including the driver; :2. goods and "standard fuel tanks". This means the tanks permanently fixed by the manufacturer to all motor vehicles of the same type as the vehicle in question and whose permanent fitting lets fuel be used directly, both for propulsion and, where appropriate, to power a refrigeration system. Gas tanks fitted to motor vehicles for the direct use of diesel as a fuel are considered standard fuel tanks.

Classification

In the

a vehicle is designated "commercial" when it is titled or registered to a company. This is a broad definition, as commercial vehicles may be

fleet vehicle Fleet vehicles are groups of motor vehicles owned or leased by a business, government agency, or other organization rather than by an individual or family. Typical examples include vehicles operated by car rental companies, taxicab companies, ...

s, company cars, or other vehicles used for business. Vehicles that are designed to carry more than 15 passengers are considered a commercial vehicle. Variations may exist from state-to-state on which "commercial vehicles" are prohibited on certain routes and lanes and between homeowner associations, which may employ broader definitions than their municipalities with regard to their own parking restrictions. Broadly defined, a vehicle may be considered a commercial vehicle if it: * Belongs to a company or corporation * Is used for business, but is in an individual's name, such as a sole proprietor * Is a leased vehicle and in the name of the financial institution that owns it * Exceeds a certain weight or class and therefore, is "classified" as commercial even though it may not be commercially used or commercially owned. A weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more is always considered commercial * Is used to haul any hazardous material * Starkey auxiliary reverse lighting as commercial even though backup/ reverse lighting on truck and suv vehicles commercially used or commercially owned. A vehicle can be used for a business, if not exclusively, and remain privately licensed, depending on the amount of time used for business.

Commercial truck classification

Commercial

truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...

s are classified according to the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Commercial vehicles are divided into 8 classes based upon the gross vehicle weight (GVW). The United States Department of Transportation classifies commercia
trucks
with eight classes: * Class 1 – GVWR ranges from 0 to 6,000 pounds (0 to 2,722 kg) * Class 2 – GVWR ranges from 6,001 to 10,000 pounds (2,722 to 4,536 kg) * Class 3 – GVWR ranges from 10,001 to 14,000 pounds (4,536 to 6,350 kg) * Class 4 – GVWR ranges from 14,001 to 16,000 pounds (6,351 to 7,257 kg) * Class 5 – GVWR ranges from 16,001 to 19,500 pounds (7,258 to 8,845 kg) * Class 6 – GVWR ranges from 19,501 to 26,000 pounds (8,846 to 11,793 kg) * Class 7 – GVWR ranges from 26,001 to 33,000 pounds (11,794 to 14,969 kg) * Class 8 – GVWR is anything above 33,000 pounds (14,969 kg)

Examples of commercial vehicles

Truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...

** Box truck (also known as a straight truck) ** Semi-trailer truck (articulated lorry) ** Mini truck **

Pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (this cargo bed back end sometimes consists of a tailgate and removable covering) ...

** Tow truck *

Van A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...

* Bus **

Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

Trailers Trailer may refer to: a Transportation * Trailer (vehicle), an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle ** Bicycle trailer, a wheeled frame for hitching to a bicycle to tow cargo or passengers ** Full-trailer ** Semi-trailer **Horse traile ...

Heavy equipment Heavy equipment or heavy machinery refers to heavy-duty vehicles specially designed to execute construction tasks, most frequently involving earthwork operations or other large construction tasks. ''Heavy equipment'' usually comprises five e ...

(in mining equipment, construction equipment, farming machinery) * Travel Trailers over 10,000 pounds * Taxi ** Share taxi * Auto rickshaw * Motorcycle taxi

Preservation

Old commercial vehicles, like vintage cars, are popular items for preservation. News about preservation can be found in magazines, such as

Heritage Commercials ''Heritage Commercials'' is a British magazine for classic and vintage commercial vehicle enthusiasts. It is published on a monthly basis since 1987. The magazine was part of Mortons Media Group until 2016 when it was acquired by Kelsey Media ...

Legal issues

Commercial vehicle accidents and injuries are often more complex than regular car accidents, often involving additional concerns, background checks on operator driving records, and corporate maintenance records.

References