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IRC: 3-1983MEMBERS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

1. K.K. Sarin( C o n v e n o r )2. N. Sivaguru( A f e n n b e r - S e c r e t a r y )3. V.K. Arora4. R.T. Atre5. M.K. Chatterjee6. D.C. Chaturvedi7. B.M. DasS. Dr. M.P. Dhir9. T.A.E. D'sa10. V.P. Gangal11. Y.C. Gokhale12. I .C. Gupta13. D.P. Jain14. M.B. Jayawant15. D.C. Jha16. N.H. Keshwani17. Dr. S.K. KhannaIS. S.B. Kulkarni19. P.K. Lauria20. K.S. Logavinayagam21. Mahabir Prasad22. H.C. Malhotra

, 23. I.M. Malhotra24. M.R. Malya25. P.N. Misra26. I.K. Modi27. O. Muthachen2S. P.K. Nagarkar29. K.K. Nambiar

Director General (Road Development) and Addl,Sec re ta ry to the Govt . of Ind ia , Minis try of Shipping &TransportChief Engineer (Roads) , Ministry of Shipping & Trans-portChief Engineer (Roads) , Ministry of Shipping & Trans-portSecretary to the Govt. of Maharashtra (II) PW&HDeptt.Chief Engineer (Retd.) E.C. 164, Salt Lake, CalcuttaManaging Director (Retd.) A-709 (H:I.G.), IndiraNagar, LucknowChief Engineer, National Highways and Projects, OrissaDeputy Director, Central Road Research InstituteChief Engineer, The Concrete Association of India,Bombay .Superintending Engineer, New De lhi Munic ipa l Com-mittee .Head, Flexible Pavements Division, Central RoadResearch InstituteEngineer- in-Chief (Retd. ) Ha ryana P.W.D. B& RChief Engineer (Retd.) ,0-21, A~hok Marg, JaipurNeelkanth, 24, Ca rter Road, Bandra, BombaySuperintending Engineer (Design), C.D.O. PatnaChief Engineer (Retd.), 797 DIII, MandirMarg, NewDelhiProf. of Civil Engineering & Dean Development &Planning, University of RoorkeeBitumen Manager .Tndian Oil Corporation Ltd. BombayChief Engineer-cum-Housing Commissioner, 'RajasthanState Housing BoardChie f Engineer (Retd. ), lSI -B, 54th Street , Ashok Naga rMadrasChief Engineer (Retd.), 10/10 Sarojini Naidu Marg,LucknowChairman & Managing Director , Engineering Projects(India) Ltd. New De lh iSecre ta ry to the Govt . o f Ra ja sthan P.W.D.3 , Panorama , 30, Pal i Hi ll Road, BombayMember, U.P. Publ ic Service Commiss ionSec retary, to the Govt. of Gujarat B& C Deptt.Engineer-in-Chief (Retd.), C.P.W.D., Poomkavil, Seman-galarn, Punalur P.O. KeralaChief Engineer & Director, Maharashtra EngineeringResearch InstituteChief Engineer (Retd.) Tamil Nadu, Rarnanalaya, II,First Crescent Park Road, Gandhinagar, Adyar,Madra

IRC: 3-1983

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTSOF

ROAD DESIGN VEHICLES(First Revision)

Published byTHE INDIAN ROADS CONGRESSJamnagar House, Shabjaban Road

New Delhi-llOOll1983

Price Rs~' %/(Plus packing and postage) /r::

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IRC: 3-1983First Published: January, 1954Reprinted: November, 1954First Revision: August, 1983

IRC : 3-1983

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS OF ROADDESIGN VEHICLES

(Rights of Publication and of Translation are reserved)

1. INTRODUCTION1.1. The object of framing this Standard is to lay down abasis for designing road components. The dimensions and weightsof vehicles are cardinal factors in the design of road elements.The width of the design vehicle has a bearing on the width oftraffic lanes and that of shoulders. The- height of the vehicleaffects the clearance to be provided in designing road under-bridges, electrical service lines, and other overhead structures.The overall length of the vehicle (including trailer and semi-trailercombinations) has to be taken into consideration in designing hori-

zontal curves and vertical curves, as also in framing safety regula-tions for passing and overtaking. The axle load affects the designof the thickness of pavement, whereas the total weight of thevehicle governs limiting gradients.1.2. The Indian Roads Congress Standard on Dimensionsand Weights of Road Design Vehicles was first published inJanuary, 1954. When the question of metricization of thisstandard was taken up, it was felt that since by that time con-siderable changes had taken place in the design and constructionof motor vehicles and concept of geometric and structural designof the highway system both in this country and abroad, there wasneed of i ts wholesa le revision.Accordingly, a revised draft for the Standard was preparedby L.R. Kadiyali. This was modified in the Ministry of Ship-ping and Transport (Roads Wing) considering the current amend-ments to the Indian Motor Vehicles Act 1939 and the latest trendson the subject both in this country and abroad. The modifieddocument was considered by the Specifications and StandardsCommittee in their meeting held at New Delhi on the 24th May,1983. The draft as approved with a few changes by the Speci-fications and Standards Committee was later approved by theExecutive Committee and the Council in their meetings held onthe 21st July and the 21st August 1983 respectively for beingpublished as a standard of the Indian Roads Congress.

Printed a t PRINT AID, New Delhi -20 1

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mc . 3-19832. SCOPE

2.1. The Standard shall be applied in designing all roadelements except culverts and bridges, the lat ter being governed bythe IRC Bridge Codes.2.2. For purposes of this Standard, three types of commer-cial vehicles have been recognised:

(i) Single unit(ii) Semi-trailer(iii) Truck-trailer combination.

The selection of the vehicle type for design of a road woulddepend upon terrain conditions, economic justification, importanceof the road and similar other considerations.As a general guide, roads in steep and mountainous terrainneed not be designed for truck-trai ler combination and may only bedesigned for single unit vehicle and, where economically feasible,for semi-trailers.Subject to the above, such of the maximum dimensions andweights out of those specified here shall be used that have theseverest effect in the design of any road component. All roadcomponents, to be newly built or improved, shall be so designedthat they are initially adequate or capable of being made adequatesubsequently when the necessity arises, for the movement of vehi-cles conforming to this Standard and selected for design of the

road.3. DEFINITIONS

3.1. AxleThe common axis of rotation of one or more wheels, whetherpower driven or freely rotating, and whether in one or more seg-

ments , and regardless of the number of wheels carried thereon.3.2. Axle GroupAn assemblage of two or more consecutive axles consideredtogether in determining their combined load effect on a pavement

structure.3.3. Gross Weight"The weight of a vehicle and/or vehicle combination withoutload plus the weight of any load thereon.

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IRe: 3-19833.4. Length, OverallThe total longitudinal dimension of any vehicle or combina-tion of vehicles, including any load or load-holding devicesthereon.3.5. Height, OverallThe total vertical dimension of any vehicle above the groundsurface including any load and load holding device thereon.3.6. Semi-TrailerA vehicle designed for carrying persons or property anddrawn by a truck-tractor on which part of its weight and load rests.3.7. Single AxleAn assembly of two or more wheels whose centres are in onetransverse vertical plane or may be included between two paralieltransverse vertical planes one metre apart extending across the fullwidth of the vehicles.3.8. Tandem AxleAny two or more consecutive axles whose centres are morethan 1.2 m but not more than 2.5 m apart and are individuallyattached to and/or articulated from a common attachment to thevehicle including a connecting mechanism to equalise the loadbetween axles.3.9. Tandem Axle WeightThe total weight transmitted to the road by two or moreconsecutive axles whose centres may be included between paralleltransverse vertical planes spaced not less than 1.2 m but not morethan 2.5 m apart, extending the full width of the vehicle.3.10. TrailerA vehicle designed for carrying persons or goods and drawnby a motor vehicle which carries no part of the weight and load ofthe trailer on its own wheels.3.11. TruckA motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primari ly forthe transportation of goods.

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IRC: 3-1983 IRC: 3-19833.12 Truck-TractorA motor vehicle designed for drawing other vehicles, but notfor a load other than part of the weight of the vehicle and loaddrawn.

number of its axles. For instance, a 2-S2 combination is a two-axle truck-tractor with a tandem-axle semi-trailer. Combi-nation 2-2 is a two-axle truck with a two-axle trailer.5. DIMENSIONS OF ROAD DESIGN VEHICLES

3.13. Truck-Trailer CombinationA truck or a tractive unit with a trailer.

5.1. WidthNo vehicle shall have a width exceeding 2.5 m.

3.14. Width OverallThe total outside ~ransve:se dimension of a vehicle includingany load. or load holding devices thereon, but excluding approvedsafety devices and tyre bulge due to load.

5.2. HeightNo vehicle other than a double-decker bus shall have a heightexceeding 3.8 m for normal application and 4.2 m when carryingISO series 1freight containers. Double decker buses may, however,have a height not exceeding 4.75 m.

4. NOTATIONS FOR VEHICLE TYPES. The Figure shows the outline of the vehicle types covered bythis Standard. The first digit indicates the number of axles of thetruck or tru.ck-tra~tor. The letter "S" indicates a semi-trai ler andthe letter Imme.dJately following an "S" indicates the number ofa~les ,on the semi-trailer, Any digit other than the first in a com-

bination, when not preceded by "S" indicates a trailer and the

~ I::] seQTy?:: - 2 - TYPE-";} TYPE2- S,

~ s!lW ~TYPE 2.- sa

5.3. Length5.3.1. The maximum overall length of a single unit truck,exclusive of front and rear bumpers, having two or more axles,shall be 11 m.5.3.2. The maximum overall length of a single unit bus,exclusive of front and rear bumpers, having two or more axles shallbe 12 m.5.3.3. The maximum overall length of a truck-tractorsemi-trailer combination, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, shallbe 16 m.5.3.4. The maximum overall length of a truck-trailercombination, exclusive of front and rear bumpers, shall be 18 m,5.3.5. No combination of vehicles shall comprise more thantwo vehicles.

TYPE 3- 51 TYPE "3- S2

dDO~6XJTYPE 2.- 2 TYPE 3- 2. TYPE 2.-3 '16. MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE WEIGHTS

6.1. Single Axle WeightThe total gross weight imposed on the highway by a singleaxle fitted with dual wheels shall not exceed 10.2 tonnes. In thecase of axles with single wheels, the axle weight shall not exceed6 tonnes.

Fig. Vehicle Types6.2. Tandem Axle WeightThe total gross weight imposed on the highway by two. axlesin tandem articulated from a common attachment to the vehicle or

TYPE 3-3

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IRC : 3-1983individually attached to the vehicles and spaced not less then 1.2 mbut not more than 2.5 m apart, shall not exceed 18 tonnes.

6.3. Maximum Permissible Gross WeightThe maximum permissible gross weight for a given vehicle orvehicle combination would be equal to the sum of the individualsingle axle and tandem axle weights indicated above. For typicalvehicles, maximum permissible gross weights are given in the Table.TABLE: MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE GROSS WEIGHTS AND MAXIMUM

AXLE WEIGHTS OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES

Vehicle type Maximum gross Maximum axle weight (tonnes)weight (tonnes)TrucklTractor Trailer

FAW i RAW FAW I RAWType 2 12 6 6(Both axlessingle tyre)Type 2 16.2 6 10.2(FA-Single tyreRA-Dual tyre)Type 3 24 6 18 (TA)Type 2-S1 26.4 6 10.2 10.2Type 2-S2 34.2 6 10.2 18 (TA)Type 3-S1 34.2 6 18 (TA) 10.2Type 3-S2 42 6 18 (TA) 18 (TA)Type 2-2 36.6 6 10.2 10.2 10.2Type 3-2 44.4 6 18 (TA) 10.2 10.2Type 2-3 44.4 6 10.2 10.2 18 (TA)Type 3-3 52.2 6 18 (TA) 10.2 18 (TA)

FA - Front AxleRA - Rear AxleFAW - Weight on Front AxleRAW - Weight on Rear AxleTA - Tandem axle fitted with 8 tyres.

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30. T.K. Natarajan31. A.C.Padhi32. Satish Prasad33. Y.R. Phull34. Maj. Gen. J.M. Rai35. Brig. L.V. Ramakrishna36. G. Raman37. Ra jinder S ingh38. A.R. Rao39. T .S . Reddy40. Prof. N. Ranganathan41. Dr. O.S. Saghal42. C .D. Tha tt e43. N. Sen44. R.P. Sikka4 5 . L. Shivalingaiah46. J.S. Sodhi47. Dr. N .S. Sr in ivasan48. G.M. Shonthu49. P rof. C .G. Swamina than50. B.T. Unwalla51. M.n. Uppal52, M.C. Vakil53. The Director

(S.A. Latheef)

IRC: 3-1983peputy Directo r and Head , Soil Mechanics Division,Central Road Research Insti tuteChairman, Orissa Public Service CommissionManager , Indian Oi l, AI-103, Safdar jung Enc lave , NewDelhiHead, Rigid Pavements Division, Central RoadResearch InstituteDirec tor General Border RoadsDirector of Utilities, E.in-C's Branch, Army Head-quartersDirec tor (Civil Enginee ring), Indian S tandards Ins ti tu-t ion, New DelhiChie f Engineer , J ammu P.W.D., B & RChairman, Bhubaneswar Regional Improvement TrustProject Co-ordinator, Central Road Research Insti tuteHead , Traffic and T ransportation Plann ing, Schoo l ofPlanning &ArchitecturePrincipal , Punjab Engineering College, ChandigarhDirector, Gujarat Engineering Research Insti tuteChief Engineer (Retd.) 12-A, Chit ta ranjan Park, NewDelhiChief Engineer (Roads), Minis try of Shipping & Trans-port .Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Karnataka StateConstruction CorporationDirector, Quali ty Control , Punjab P.W.D. ChandigarhExecutive Direc tor, Nat iona l Transporta tion P lanning& Research Centre, TrivandrumChie f Enginee r, Kashmir , P .W.D. B & RDirector, Central Road Research Insti tuteChief Engineer (Retd.) 15/9, Rustom Baug, Sant SavtaMarg, Byculla, Bombay-400 027Enginee r- in-Chie f, Haryana P.W.D. B &RSuperintending Engineer, H.P. P.W.D.Highways Research Station, Madras