Armor/shield/encumberance check penalty

[buchw001]

If a character has a light load, but is wearing a chain shirt and a buckler the total check penalty is simply 2(armor)+1(shield)=3.

The PHB states "If you are wearing armor, use the worse figure (from armor or from weight) for each category. Do not stack the penalties."

If the character becomes a medium load, the check penalty associated with this category is 3.

So does the total check penalty stay at 3 because the numbers are the same, or does it become 3(med load)+1(shield)=4?

In other words, does the "from armor" wording in the statement above include the shields check penalty as well?

Thanks in advance

As a side note in [3.5] shields have a "shield bonus" NOT an "armor bonus", will this affect the current ruling?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

From armor or from load describes two categories. The shield could be be in either one, but not both. If it is in the armor category, the check penalty is -3. If it is in the load category, the check penalty is still -3. It is not a third category by itself. It is either armor (which I think it is intended to be) or load.