A regional jet Captain reported a wake encounter with a medium-large twin jet air carrier on approach to CLT. The reporter stated this is not unusual in CLT.

Narrative

Being vectored on to the Runway 23 approach in CLT the Approach Controller put us on and cleared us for the approach 4.5 miles in trail of another aircraft. She assigned us 160 KTS till LECAR. She handed us over to the Tower and that's when the event started; the aircraft started to roll right then left 40 degrees and it got worse for approximately a minute or two. Once we got the aircraft under control I called the Tower and asked what type of aircraft we were behind. I was told [an air carrier medium-large twin]. I informed him that we had been through severe wake turbulence. He asked if it was weather related or wake. I responded it was definitely wake; as it was 5 miles visibility and clear skies. This seems to happen a lot in CLT. Controllers constantly push the limits behind larger aircraft on both takeoff phase and approach phase. If I had known the aircraft type ahead I would have had the First Officer fly the approach high as the weather conditions would permit it. Something needs to be done with creating criteria for this type of event with ATC. Someone is going to get killed if something isn't done. I understand the idea of moving the traffic but this is not safe. Maybe the approach controllers should advise of the aircraft type ahead and provide at least 5 mile in trail all the way to the runway.