If you or a family member was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in Michigan, one of the first questions that needs to be answered is whether the at-fault driver was driving a “commercial truck.” If the answer is “yes,” then you will have access to a minimum of $750,000 in insurance coverage to pay for your pain and suffering and other damages.

To determine whether the at-fault driver was driving a commercial vehicle, your lawyer must look at four key factors:

• The truck’s weight or weight rating
• The weight or weight rating of the vehicle being towed
• Whether the truck is designed to transport passengers
• Whether the truck transports hazardous materials

If your lawyer fails to make this determination, and thus fails to categorize the vehicle involved in your Michigan accident as a commercial vehicle, you could end up with a settlement that is hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars less than it should be. 

Fortunately, the experienced truck accident lawyers at Michigan Auto Law have the skills and know-how to determine whether the at-fault driver was driving a commercial truck, and also at whether the driver violated applicable safety rules, such as the cell phone policy for CDL drivers, which allows us to hold negligent truck drivers, and perhaps their employers, accountable for the crash and your injuries.

How Are Commercial Truck Classifications Determined In Michigan and Throughout The United States?

In Michigan and throughout the U.S., a vehicle is deemed a commercial truck based on its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, a safety standard set to ensure a vehicle operates safely within its weight limits. The GVWR encompasses the vehicle’s own weight, along with the weight of the driver, passengers, fuel, and cargo. Manufacturers determine the GVWR by factoring in components such as the axles, frame, suspension, tires, and other parts.

Whether the vehicle involved in your accident can be classified as a commercial vehicle depends on four key factors:

• The weight or weight rating – A “combination vehicle” or a “heavy straight vehicle” with a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 26,001 lbs. or more and is considered a commercial vehicle in Michigan
• The weight or weight rating of the vehicle being towed – A “self-propelled vehicle” or “towed vehicle” with a gross combination weight rating or a gross combination weight of more 10,000 lbs. is considered a commercial vehicle
• Whether it is designed to transport passengers – A “motor vehicle” or “combination of motor vehicles” designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, is considered a commercial vehicle, as is a “self-propelled” or “towed motor vehicle” designed to transport more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation, or designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, not for compensation.
• Whether the vehicle transports hazardous materials – A “motor vehicle” or “combination of motor vehicles” that transports hazardous materials is considered a commercial vehicle in Michigan, as is a “self-propelled” or “towed motor vehicle” that transports hazardous materials.

What Are The Three Classifications?

In Michigan and across the U.S., the three commercial truck classifications specified by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center are:

Light Duty

• Light duty trucks, which weigh between 6,000 to 10,000 lbs, include cargo vans, transit vans, pick-up trucks, etc.
• Drivers of light duty commercial vehicles are not required to have a Class B CDL

Medium Duty

• Medium duty commercial vehicles weigh between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs
• These trucks include dump trucks, box trucks, reefer trucks, stake body trucks, and more
• Drivers of medium duty commercial vehicles are not required to have a Class B CDL

Heavy Duty

• Heavy duty commercial vehicles, a/k/a “semi-trucks,” “tractor-trailers,” “big rigs,” etc. are designed to haul heavy loads (over 26,000 lbs.)
• §  Class 7 heavy duty vehicles weigh between 26,001 and 33,000 lbs, and drivers must possess a Class B commercial driving license (CDL)
• §  Class 8 heavy duty vehicles weigh 33,001 lbs or more, and drivers must have a Class A commercial driving license

What Are The Different Types Of Commercial Trucks Driven On Michigan Roads?

• Semi-trucks
• Tractor-trailers
• Big Rigs
• 18-wheelers
• Mack trucks
• Freight trucks
• Tankers
• Flat beds
• Dump trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Tow trucks
• Bucket trucks
• Delivery vehicles

Is a pickup truck a commercial vehicle in Michigan?

In Michigan, a pickup truck may be classified as a commercial vehicle under certain circumstances, including when its weight (including any trailer) exceeds 10,000 or 26,000 pounds.

Injured In An Accident With a Commercial Vehicle In Michigan? Call Michigan Auto Law Today!

If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident in Michigan, and you think the at-fault driver was driving a commercial vehicle, call one of our experienced truck accident lawyers now at (248) 353-7575 for a free, no-cost, no-obligation consultation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website, www.michiganautolaw.com.

Michigan Auto Law is the largest and most successful law firm in Michigan that specializes exclusively in motor vehicle accidents. For 50 years we have helped auto accident victims get the compensation and justice they deserve, and we have won more million-dollar settlements and verdicts in these cases than any other lawyer or law firm in the state, including the largest truck accident settlement ever reported.

One of the secrets to our success is that we deliberately take and handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms, which allows us to focus our time and attention on our clients and their families. We are never too busy to answer questions and  return phone calls and emails. Our satisfied clients are the reason we have more than 2,000 5-Star reviews. And our client-focused approach is why we get bigger and faster settlements for our clients.

Call us today and let us win for you!