According to this info it depended on the year of the 3100.

1948 Chevrolet Specifications
Standard: 8 leafs
Heavy Duty, RPO 254: 9 leafs

1953 Chevrolet Specifications
Standard: 8 leafs
Heavy Duty, RPO 254: 9 leafs

1954 Chevrolet Specifications
Standard: 8 leafs
Heavy Duty, RPO 254: 10 leafs

1955 1st Series Chevrolet Specifications PDF Page 83, Source: GM Heritage Center
Standard: 8 leafs
Heavy Duty, RPO 254: 10 leafs

1954 RPO Page RPO 254 is missing
It shows it in 1953 and 55 1st pdf Specifications
1953 RPO Page
1955 1st,RPO Page, PDF page 113

1954 Chevrolet Salesmen Data book
Standard: 8 leafs 1450 lb
Heavy Duty, RPO 254: 10 leafs 1800 lb

If that is correct, the 10-leaves units were not the GM higher weight capacity RPO units.
I'm not sure what you mean by that statement?