Light, Medium & Heavy-Duty Towing
What are the different types of towing by vehicle size?
Towing is grouped into three duty levels based on a vehicle’s weight: light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty. Day and Night Towing handles all three across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, using the towing industry’s official DOT Class 1-8 weight standard. Most everyday vehicles are light duty; larger trucks and buses move into medium duty; and semis, mixers, and box trucks are heavy duty.
Light Duty Towing
Light duty towing covers everyday passenger vehicles. If you drive a car, SUV, minivan, or a standard pickup, that is a light duty tow. These fall under DOT Class 1 and Class 2 (up to 10,000 lbs). This is the most common tow Day and Night Towing performs.
Medium Duty Towing
Medium duty towing covers larger trucks and vans too heavy for a standard flatbed. Think delivery trucks, box trucks, ambulances, landscape and stake trucks, motorhomes, and small to medium buses. These fall under DOT Class 3 through Class 6 (10,001-26,000 lbs).
Heavy Duty Towing
Heavy-duty towing covers the biggest vehicles on the road. This includes semi-trucks and tractor-trailers, dump trucks, cement mixers, refuse trucks, box trucks, and motor coaches. These fall under DOT Class 7 and Class 8 (26,001 lbs and up). Only a handful of companies in the Valley have the equipment for heavy duty, and Day and Night Towing is one of them.
Not sure how much your vehicle weighs?
You do not need to know. Most vehicles people drive every day are light duty. If you are calling about a truck, bus, or anything commercial, just tell us the year, make, and model, and Day and Night Towing will send the right truck. The official weight is printed on a label inside the driver’s-side doorframe if you want to check.
Official DOT Vehicle Weight Classes (Class 1-8)
Day and Night Towing follows the TRAA (Towing and Recovery Association of America) Vehicle Identification Guide, the towing industry standard:
| Duty Level | DOT Class | Gross Vehicle Weight | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Class 1 | 6,000 lbs or less | Cars, light pickups, minivans |
| Light | Class 2 | 6,001-10,000 lbs | SUVs, full-size pickups and vans |
| Medium | Class 3 | 10,001-14,000 lbs | Delivery/utility trucks, motorhomes, ambulances |
| Medium | Class 4 | 14,001-16,000 lbs | Box, landscape, flatbed/stake trucks |
| Medium | Class 5 | 16,001-19,500 lbs | Small/medium school and transit buses |
| Medium | Class 6 | 19,501-26,000 lbs | Larger delivery and stake trucks |
| Heavy | Class 7 | 26,001-33,000 lbs | Refuse trucks, motor coaches |
| Heavy | Class 8 | 33,001 lbs and up | Semis, tractor-trailers, cement mixers |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between light, medium, and heavy-duty towing?
It comes down to weight. Light duty is up to 10,000 lbs (cars, SUVs, pickups), medium duty is 10,001-26,000 lbs (delivery trucks, buses, motorhomes), and heavy duty is 26,001 lbs and up (semis, mixers, box trucks).
What class is my pickup truck?
Most standard and full-size pickups are Class 1 or Class 2 (light duty). Heavier commercial pickups can move into medium duty. If unsure, give Day and Night Towing the year, make, and model.
Can you tow a semi-truck or big rig?
Yes. Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are DOT Class 8 heavy duty, and Day and Night Towing has the heavy duty equipment to handle them in the San Fernando Valley.
Where do I find my vehicle’s weight?
On the label inside the driver’s-side doorframe, listed as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
What areas do you serve?
Day and Night Towing serves the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles.