TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING IICLASSIFICATION AND AXLE LOADING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

CLASSIFICATION OF VEHICLESA 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 VEHICLESMost 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: A Solid Rubber or Cushion Tire,8000 lbs. 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 self-compactor 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