8705 - Special purpose motor vehicles, other than those principally designed for the transport of persons or goods (for example, wreckers, mobile cranes, fire fighting vehicles, concrete mixers, road sweepers, spraying vehicles, mobile workshops, mobile radiological units):

This HTS category, 8705, encompasses a diverse range of motor vehicles specifically engineered for purposes beyond the standard transport of persons or goods. These are specialized vehicles designed with integrated equipment for particular vocational or industrial tasks. Examples include vehicles equipped for recovery operations (wreckers), lifting and moving heavy materials (mobile cranes), emergency response (firefighting vehicles), construction (concrete mixers), road maintenance (road sweepers), application of materials (spraying vehicles), and mobile service or repair operations (mobile workshops). The defining characteristic is the vehicle's primary function being the execution of a specialized task through its onboard apparatus, rather than simply carrying passengers or cargo.

Unlike other motor vehicles classified within Chapter 87, such as those primarily for passenger transport (e.g., sedans, buses) or general goods transport (e.g., trucks), vehicles under 8705 are distinguished by their integral, specialized equipment and the operational purpose it serves. While many vehicles may have auxiliary equipment, those falling under 8705 have this specialized functionality as their principal design feature and intended use.

The subcategories within 8705 provide further specificity by delineating vehicles based on their primary specialized function. For instance, 8705.10.00 focuses on mobile cranes, differentiating them by their lifting capabilities. Similarly, 8705.30.00.00 specifically identifies firefighting vehicles by their emergency response role. This granular classification allows for precise tariff application based on the particular specialized purpose and integrated equipment of the motor vehicle.