Heavy vs. Medium Duty Truck Parts: What's the Difference?

Routine maintenance may reveal your commercial truck is in need of a parts replacement. If this is the case, can you use medium duty truck parts for a heavy-duty truck and vice versa? Learn how these parts are different and why it matters.

Classification

Commercial trucks are categorized into light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty trucks. The trucks are then categorized further into eight classes. Classifications are determined by the manufacturer using the nationally-accepted Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Other variables like type of cargo and the route may also determine truck classification.

Medium-Duty Trucks

Commercial vehicles like emergency, delivery, and dump trucks fall into this category. Classes range between four and six, depending on the model's weight capacity that can range from 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

Heavy-Duty Trucks

Heavy duty trucks are designed for accommodating heavier loads, such as transporting construction vehicles and equipment. These vehicles may be class seven or class eight, with a weight capacity ranging from 26,000 pounds to over 33,001 lbs.

Are the Parts Interchangeable?

As you can see, medium and heavy-duty trucks have varying classifications, mainly depending on their weight capacity. For this reason, parts are designed mainly for specific truck classifications and classes, and they're not interchangeable in most cases. This is why it's important to get parts replacement directly from the dealership to ensure only OEM components are used and never aftermarket parts.

Schedule Repairs and Get Medium Duty Truck Parts at Bayshore Truck Center

A breakdown of a commercial vehicle can lead to considerable downtime, in turn causing a loss in productivity and revenue. At Bayshore Truck Center, we provide OEM parts from trusted commercial truck manufacturers like Ford and Western Star. Make our dealership your one-stop solution for repairs and maintenance.