Gross vehicle weight rating
Encyclopedia
A gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
is the maximum allowable total weight
of a road
vehicle
or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passenger
s, and cargo
.
The difference between gross weight and curb weight
is the total passenger and cargo weight capacity of the vehicle. For example, a pickup truck with a curb weight of 4500 pounds (2,041 kg) might have a cargo capacity of 2000 pounds (907 kg), meaning it can have a gross weight of 6500 pounds (2,948 kg) when fully loaded.
, two important GVWR limitations are 6000 pounds (2,722 kg) and 8500 pounds (3,856 kg). Vehicles over 6,000 pounds are restricted from some city
roadways (though there is some dispute about whether this restriction is for actual curb weight or GVWR), and vehicles over the 8,500 pound threshold are required to have insurance under Section 387.303 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980
.
Most U.S. and Australian commercial trucks (especially semi-trailer
truck
s and dump truck
s) are required by licensing authorities to have this information printed on the outside of the vehicle, and for it to be clearly visible from a specified distance. Many do so by painting these numbers in a large font on the driver's side of the truck near or on the door.
For vehicles containing no fuel or driver, the gross weight is the sum of the tare weight
(the unladen vehicle weight) and the weight of the load carried. For the measuring of loads picked up at a depot or materials yard (such as gravel or rock, or other bulk goods), the weight of the driver, fuel, and existing loads are assumed to be constant between the weighing of the vehicle upon entrance (tare) and laden (gross) upon exit. Such weights are determined by a specialized scale called a weigh bridge, and such scales will usually have a computing function within the display to compute tare weight.
is the maximum allowable total weight
Weight
In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
of a road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
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....
or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
s, and cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
.
The difference between gross weight and curb weight
Curb weight
Curb weight or kerb weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables , a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental regulatory agencies or other...
is the total passenger and cargo weight capacity of the vehicle. For example, a pickup truck with a curb weight of 4500 pounds (2,041 kg) might have a cargo capacity of 2000 pounds (907 kg), meaning it can have a gross weight of 6500 pounds (2,948 kg) when fully loaded.
Restrictions
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, two important GVWR limitations are 6000 pounds (2,722 kg) and 8500 pounds (3,856 kg). Vehicles over 6,000 pounds are restricted from some city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
roadways (though there is some dispute about whether this restriction is for actual curb weight or GVWR), and vehicles over the 8,500 pound threshold are required to have insurance under Section 387.303 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980
Motor Carrier Act of 1980
The Motor Carrier Regulatory Reform and Modernization Act, more commonly known as the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 is a United States federal law which deregulated the trucking industry.-Background:...
.
Labeling
Most U.S. cars have a placard (sticker) with this information. It is located typically either in the driver's side door or doorframe, owners manual, or also may be present on another sticker immediately under the hood near the radiator, although that sticker more typically contains information about the size of the motor, various fluid capacities, etc.Most U.S. and Australian commercial trucks (especially semi-trailer
Semi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
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 and dump truck
Dump truck
A dump truck is a truck used for transporting loose material for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of...
s) are required by licensing authorities to have this information printed on the outside of the vehicle, and for it to be clearly visible from a specified distance. Many do so by painting these numbers in a large font on the driver's side of the truck near or on the door.
For vehicles containing no fuel or driver, the gross weight is the sum of the tare weight
Tare weight
Tare , from the Middle French word tare "wastage in goods, deficiency, imperfection" , from Italian tara, from Arabic tarah, lit. "thing deducted or rejected," from taraha "to reject" weight, sometimes called unladen weight, is the weight of an empty vehicle or container...
(the unladen vehicle weight) and the weight of the load carried. For the measuring of loads picked up at a depot or materials yard (such as gravel or rock, or other bulk goods), the weight of the driver, fuel, and existing loads are assumed to be constant between the weighing of the vehicle upon entrance (tare) and laden (gross) upon exit. Such weights are determined by a specialized scale called a weigh bridge, and such scales will usually have a computing function within the display to compute tare weight.
See also
- Curb weightCurb weightCurb weight or kerb weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables , a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental regulatory agencies or other...
- Heavy-duty vehicle
- Light-duty vehicle
- Vehicle categoryVehicle categoryA vehicle category classifies a land vehicle for regulatory purposes.- EU classification :In Europe, the classifications for vehicle category are defined by:...
- Gross axle weight ratingGross axle weight ratingThe gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.-Importance:...
(GAWR) - Gross combined weight ratingGross combined weight ratingThe gross combination weight rating is the maximum allowable combined mass of a towing road vehicle, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle, plus the mass of the trailer and cargo in the trailer...
(GCWR) - Gross trailer weight ratingGross trailer weight ratingIn motor vehicles, the gross trailer weight rating is the total mass of a road trailer that is loaded to capacity, including the weight of the trailer itself, plus fluids, and cargo, that a vehicle is rated to tow by the manufacturer...
(GTWR) - Gross vehicle massGross vehicle massA Gross Vehicle Mass is the maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor vehicle, consisting of the tare mass plus the load...
(GVM) - Corporate Average Fuel EconomyCorporate Average Fuel EconomyThe Corporate Average Fuel Economy are regulations in the United States, first enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1975, and intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold in the US in the wake of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo...
(CAFE) - Truck classificationTruck classificationIn the United States, commercial truck classification is determined based on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating . The classes range from 1-8...
External links
- What is GVWR? from about.comAbout.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....