The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle

Axle

An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...

 of a road vehicle

Vehicle

A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....

. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.

Importance

Road damage rises steeply with axle weight, and is estimated "as a rule of thumb... for reasonably strong pavement surfaces" to be proportional to the fourth power

Fourth power

In arithmetic and algebra, the fourth power of a number n is the result of multiplying n by itself four times. So:Fourth powers are also formed by multiplying a number by its cube...

 of the axle weight. This means that doubling the axle weight will increase road damage (2x2x2x2)=16 times. For this reason truck

Truck

A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...

s with a high axle weight are heavily taxed in most countries.

Examples of GAWR on common axles.

Axle	GAWR (Max)	Manufacturer
Dana 30 Dana 30 The Dana/Spicer Model 30 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp., has a history that dates back to the 1930s and can still be seen in Jeep front ends today. The Dana 30 has been manufactured as a beam axle and independent suspension axle setups...	2,770 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 35 Dana 35 The Dana/Spicer Model 35 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. since 1985 when American Motors sold its axle tooling equipment to Dana. The axle was originally named an AMC-15 when it was first made in 1962. Dana upgraded the axle, and made IFS and Twin Traction Beam front axle...	2,770 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 44 Dana 44 The Dana/Spicer Model 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and is used extensively among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket area as well. The Dana 44 was first manufactured in the 1940s and is still being manufactured today, both front and rear axle variants...	3,500 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 50 Dana 50 The Dana/Spicer Model 50 was an automotive axle manufactured by the Dana Corp. for 25 years and was used solely in OEM Ford applications. Dana 50's were made as front axles only. The Dana 50 has a "50" cast in to the housing and is regarded to have more strength than a Dana 44, but not as much...	5,000 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 60 Dana 60 The Dana/Spicer Model 60 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and used in OEM "heavy duty" pickup applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ford. There are rear axle and four wheel drive front steering versions of the Dana 60. It can be readily identified by its straight axle...	6,500 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 70 Dana 70 The Dana/Spicer Model 70 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and has been used in OEM heavy duty applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford. It can be identified by its straight axle tubes, 10 bolt asymmetrical cover, and a "70" cast in to the housing and is visually similar to the...	10,000 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana 80 Dana 80 The Dana/Spicer Model 80 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and has been used in OEM heavy duty applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford. It can be identified by its straight axle tubes, 10 bolt asymmetrical cover, and a "80" cast in to the housing. Dana 80's are made as full...	11,000 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Dana S 110 Dana S 110 The Dana/Spicer Model S110 is an automotive axle manufactured by the Dana Corp. and the Eaton Corporation. Eaton manufacturers the carrier and Dana manufacturers the rest of the axle. The S110 model follows a newer nomenclature for Dana axles. The "S" meaning: single rear axle...	14,706 lbs	Dana Corp. Dana Corp. The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....
Ford 9-inch axle Ford 9-inch axle The Ford 9 inch is known as one of the most popular axles in automotive history. Ford ended its production in 1986 however aftermarket companies still produce this axle. The Ford 9 inch is a semi-floating, drop-out axle. It had a GAWR up to 3600 lbs...	3,600 lbs	Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Ford 8.8 axle Ford 8.8 axle The Ford 8.8 is an automotive axle manufactured by Visteon at the Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights, MI. It was first used in model year 1983 Ford trucks. The axle was developed to replace the Ford 9-inch axle...	3,800 lbs	Visteon Visteon Visteon is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts. The company formed in 1997 and spun off from the Ford Motor Company in 2000. In 2005, Visteon moved to new headquarters in Van Buren Township, Michigan...
Sterling 10.5 axle Sterling 10.5 axle The Sterling 10.5 axle is an automotive axle manufactured by Visteon at the Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights, MI. It was first used in model year 1985 Ford trucks. The axle was developed to replace the Dana 60 and Dana 70...	9,750 lbs	Visteon Visteon Visteon is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts. The company formed in 1997 and spun off from the Ford Motor Company in 2000. In 2005, Visteon moved to new headquarters in Van Buren Township, Michigan...
10.5" Corporate 14 Bolt Differential	8,600 lbs	American Axle American Axle American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. , headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a manufacturer of automobile driveline and drivetrain components and systems.-History:...
11.5 AAM	10,000 lbs	American Axle American Axle American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. , headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a manufacturer of automobile driveline and drivetrain components and systems.-History:...
10.5 AAM	9,000 lbs	American Axle American Axle American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. , headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a manufacturer of automobile driveline and drivetrain components and systems.-History:...