Find a great deal on a new or used truck for sale at a dealer or auction starts with knowing the exact right truck that you need for the job at hand. Body type, weight class ratings, engine power, and gearing all play a role here.
So, here are some handy charts for first-time buyers that may be useful in the initial narrowing down the search. For more specific details see these posts on buying semi-trucks, box trucks/cargo trucks, dump trucks, and pick-up trucks at auction.
Truck Types by Class
This is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) as used by the US Department of Transport. GVRW implies the maximum weight rating (including passengers, fuel, and cargo) for that vehicle and you will find it labeled on the driver side door sill of every vehicle. Note: towing capacity is a separate figure.
| Class | Usage | Models | |
 |
Class 1 – < 6,000 lbs. | Personal use, minivans for small parcel delivery, service vans, etc | Ford Transit Cargo, and SUV’s such as Jeep Wrangler, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, Ford Bronco |
 |
Class 2 – 6,001 to 10,000 lbs. | Light hand-delivered cargo, light-duty pick-up trucks |
Minivans such as Transit T-150-350, Chevy Express 2500-3500, Ram ProMaster 1500-3500. Pick-ups such as Ford F-150-250, Chevy Silverado 1500-2500, GMC Sierra 1500-2500, Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500-2500 |
 |
Class 3 – 10,001 to 14,000 lbs. | Cargo, work vans, service trucks, tow vehicles | Ford E Series, Ford F-350, Chevy Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 3500 |
 |
Class 4 – 14,001 to 16,000 lbs. | Cargo, work vans, service trucks, tow trucks, ambulance | Ford E 450, Ford F-450, Chevy Silverado 4500, Ram 4500 |
 |
Class 5 – 16,001–19,500 pounds | medium-duty commercial truck eg. tow, construction, local delivery | Isuzu NRR, Chev 5500, Ford F-550, Ram 5500, Kenworth T170, Peterbilt 325, Int. TerraStar |
 |
Class 6 – 19,501–26,000 pounds | medium-duty commercial truck/tractor eg. tow, construction, local delivery, local and regional hauling | Chevrolet Kodiak C6500, Ford F-650, Kenworth T270, Peterbilt 330, Int. Durastar |
 |
Class 7 – 26,001–33,000 pounds | heavy/severe – duty commercial truck/tractor eg. tow, construction, local delivery, local and regional TL/LTL hauling | Int. MV Series, Autocar ACMD, GMC C7500, Kenworth T470 & T440 & T370, Peterbilt 220 & 337, Ford F-750 |
 |
Class 8 – 33,001 pounds and up | Heavy truck and tractor – semi, long haul, regional haul, logging, mining, construction | Autocar ACX, Autocar DC, Int. WorkStar, Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T600, Kenworth T660, Kenworth T680, Kenworth W900, Kenworth W990, Kenworth T880, Kenworth T800 Orange EV T-Series Electric, Mack Granite, Peterbilt 579, Peterbilt 389 |
Truck Types By Body Type and/or Use
 |
Pick-up Truck – Ford F series, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram are all popular |
 |
Van – popular models include the Ford Transit, Chevy Express, Ram Promaster, and Ford E Series. |
 |
Cutaway Van Chassis (base for Box van, Camper, Ambulance etc) – examples are the Ford E Series Cutaway and Chevy Express Cutaway. |
 |
Light Duty Cab Chassis (base for flatbed, camper, ambulance etc) – examples are Fords F series and Chevy Silverado 3500 |
 |
Medium Duty Cab Chassis – examples are Ford F650/750, Chevy Silverado 4500-6500 |
 |
Cab Over or Low Cab Forward – popular makes include Isuzu and Mitsubishi. |
 |
Light Duty Box Truck |
 |
Medium Duty Box Truck |
 |
Refrigerated Box Truck |
 |
Flatbed Truck |
|
Vocational Trucks |
|
 |
Medium Duty Dump Truck |
 |
Severe Duty Dump Truck |
 |
Flat Bed Tow Truck |
 |
Integrated Tow Truck |
 |
Cement Truck |
 |
Refuse Truck |
 |
Mobile Crane Truck |
|
Semi Truck Tractors |
|
 |
Day Cab |
 |
Sleeper Cab |
Types of Semi Trailers
 |
Dry Van |
 |
Refrigerated Trailers (Reefers) |
 |
Flatbed Trailers/Flatbed Side Kit |
 |
Stepdeck/Single-drop Trailers |
 |
Lowboy or Double-drop Trailers |
 |
Extendable/Stretch (flatbed, single and double-drop) |
 |
Logging Trailer |
 |
Dump Trailer |
 |
Hopper Trailer |
 |
RGN (Removable Gooseneck Trailer) |
 |
Conestoga trailer |