Acommercial vehicle is any type ofmotor vehicle used for transporting goods or paying passengers. Depending on laws and designations, a commercial vehicle can be any broad type of motor vehicle used commercially or for business purposes.
In the United States, a vehicle is designated "commercial" when it is titled or registered to a company. This is a broad definition, as commercial vehicles may befleet vehicles,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.[1]
Broadly defined, a vehicle may be considered a commercial vehicle if it:
A vehicle can be used for a business, if not exclusively, and remain privately licensed, depending on the amount of time used for business.
In the United States, theFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration defines a "commercial motor vehicle" as any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on apublic highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:[3]
The federal definition, though followed closely, is meant to accommodate and remain flexible to each state's definitions.
TheEuropean Union 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:[4]
Commercialtrucks are classified according to thegross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Commercial vehicles are divided into eight classes based upon the gross vehicle weight (GVW). The United StatesDepartment of Transportation classifies commercialtrucks with eight classes:[5]
Commercial vehicles are sometimes sought after forhistoric preservation asclassic cars. News about preservation can be found in magazines such asHemmings Motor News andHeritage Commercials.
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.[6]
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