Table 7: Vehicle classification systems commonly used in New Zealand

2

Number of axles and wb < 3.2 m

o-o
(short vehicle)

S

1

Car and LCV

Motorcycle, light vehicles

Light

3

Three axles and sp ax1-ax2 < 3.2 m or four axles and (sp ax1-ax2 < 3.2 and > 2.2) and sp ax3-ax4 ≤ 1.0 m

o-o-o
(short vehicle towing)

o-o-oo
(short vehicle towing)

S/M

S/M

2

Car and LCV

Light vehicles

Light

2

Number of axles and wb ≥ 3.2 m

o--o
(long vehicle)

4-11 m

M

3

MCV

Bus, SU 2 axle

Heavy

3

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 ≥ 3.2 m and sp ax2-ax3 ≤ 2.2 m

o-oo

7-11 m

M

4

HCV1

Bus, SU 3+ axle

Heavy

3

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 ≥ 3.2 m and sp ax2-ax3 > 2.2 m

o-o--o

6-15 m

M/L

5

HCV1

Semi

Heavy

4

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 ≤ 2.2 m

oo-oo

8-11 m

M

6

HCV1

Bus, semi

Heavy

4

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 > 2.2 m and sp ax3-ax4 > 1.0 m

o--o-o--o

o-o-oo

8-19 m

10-17 m

M/L

M/L

7

HCV1

Bus, TT

Heavy

5

Number of axles

o--oo-o--o

o-oo--oo

16-19 m

11-17 m

L/VL

L

8

HCV2

Semi, TT

Heavy

6

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 > 2.2 m and sp ax4-ax5 ≤ 1.4 m

o-oo--ooo

15-18 m

L/VL

9

HCV2

Semi

Heavy

6

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 > 2.2 m and sp ax4-ax5 > 1.4 m

o-oo-o--oo

16-20m

L/VL

10

HCV2

TT

Heavy

7

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 > 2.2 m

o-oo--oo--oo
(B-train)

o--oo-oo--oo
(T & T)

o-oo--oo-o--o
(A-train)

18-21 m

18-21 m

18-21 m

VL

VL

VL

11

HCV2

Semi, TT

Heavy

6, 7, 8

Number of axles (6, 7 or 8) and sp ax1-ax2 ≤ 2.2 m

oo--oo-o--o

oo--oo-o--oo

oo--oo-oo--oo

15-20 m

17-21 m

18-21 m

L/VL

VL

VL

12

HCV2

TT

Heavy

8, 9

Number of axles and sp ax1-ax2 > 2.2 m

o-oo--ooo-oo
(B-train)

o-oo-ooo-o--o
(A-train)

o-oo-oo-o--oo
(A-train)

o-oo--ooo--ooo
(B-train)

19-21 m

19-21 m

19-21 m

19-21 m

VL

VL

VL

VL

13

HCV2

Semi, TT

Heavy