How to Distinguish the Number of Axles on a Truck?
2 Answers
Truck axle differentiation method is as follows: count the number of wheel rows from front to back, and that number represents the axle count. Below is relevant information about vehicle axles: 1. Vehicle axle count: Primarily applied to cargo trucks, military vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, or a small number of large buses. The vehicle axle (also called axle) connects to the frame (or load-bearing body) through suspension, with wheels installed at both ends. 2. Classification by axle count: single axle, tandem axle, front-four rear-four, front-four rear-eight, with higher counts being semi-trailers, two-axle three-axle, three-axle three-axle. Ordinary family cars generally use single axle. Vehicles with total mass below 19t for road transportation and vehicles not restricted by road/bridge axle load limits (e.g., mining dump trucks) typically adopt the simpler, lower-cost two-axle solution. Road transport vehicles with total mass between 19-26t use three-axle configuration, while heavier vehicles should adopt four-axle or more configurations.
As a truck driver with over 20 years of experience, I usually distinguish the number of axles on a truck by counting the sets of wheels—each set represents one axle. Smaller trucks typically have two axles: the front steering axle with two wheels and the rear drive axle with two wheels, totaling four wheels. Heavy-duty trucks might have three or four axles, like semi-trailers with additional auxiliary axles at the back, making the wheels appear densely packed. Trucks with more axles have greater load capacity and can carry more cargo, but they turn very slowly on highways and are prone to crossing lanes, so extra caution is needed when driving. Remember to check the side view of the truck—if the wheels are evenly distributed, you usually won’t go wrong. Hauling more cargo saves fuel but increases risks, so it’s important to choose the right truck model for the job.
