What Is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in Trucking?

Becoming a motor carrier or commercial trucker involves more than completing a US DOT number application and buying a vehicle. You must also understand the safety risks of hauling trailers with a load imbalance.

Gross vehicle weight rating can help you and your truckers stay safe on the road and comply with state and federal regulations, but what is gross vehicle weight rating? Continue reading to find out more details. 

What Are Key Terms to Remember Regarding Truck Weight Assignments?

Before going into a GVWR explanation, it's helpful to learn certain terms relating to commercial truck weight assignments. For instance, curb weight refers to how much a truck weighs with all of its equipment and a full tank of gas. Yet, it doesn't account for cargo, extra equipment, or passengers. 

Other key terms to remember are:

• Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating - How much a truck weighs with a trailer
• Towing Capacity - How much weight a truck can safely haul behind it
• Payload Capacity - The weight of what a truck bed holds including passengers and cargo

Gross Weight Rating Explained

The GVWR definition is relatively straightforward. It's the maximum weight for all trucks, from pick-up trucks to tractor-trailers, including passengers, fuel, cargo, and vehicle accessories. This rating outlines the most a vehicle in specific classifications can weigh before it sustains damage or becomes too unsafe to drive. 

The gross vehicle weight rating is a figure that likely will remain the same. The exception to that rule is if a truck manufacturer or the Freight Management and Operations sector of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration issues a formal change regarding GVWR.

What Are the GVWR Weight Classes for Commercial Trucks?

You can break down the essence of GVWR into a vehicle's base curb weight coupled with the weight of extra truck accessories, the driver, passengers, and cargo. Though the rating system has eight distinct weight classes for all trucks, only three apply to commercial trucks. 

When asking, "What is gross vehicle weight rating in trucking?" these are the categories and numbers to remember.

Light-Duty Vehicles

The three GVWR classes for light-duty trucks are:

• Class 1 - 1 to 6,000 pounds
• Class 2 - 6,001 to 10,000 pounds
• Class 3 - 10,001 to 14,000 pounds

Medium-Duty Vehicles

The three GVWR classes for medium-duty trucks are:

• Class 4 - 14,001 to 16,000 pounds
• Class 5 - 16,001 to 19,500 pounds
• Class 6 - 19,501 to 26,000 pounds

Heavy-Duty Vehicles

The GVWR for heavy-duty trucks only consists of two classes: the weight range for Class 7 is 26,001 to 33,000 pounds, and Class 8 is 33,001 pounds and higher.

Why Is GVWR Important?

Knowing a truck's GVWR is important because it helps motor carriers understand what their fleet can and can't do. They prevent carriers from overloading their vehicles which can lead to major problems during a collision. If you exceed your truck's gross vehicle weight rating and are in an auto accident, you could be liable for significant damages. 

The total weight of a truck and its contents can also affect a driver's ability to control the vehicle. When trucks have too much weight, steering and maneuvering become substantially harder for drivers. This can also impact braking and acceleration, increasing the chances of a roadside accident and injuries. 

Aside from safety, GVWRs are necessary when accounting for fleet maintenance expenses. The more weight you add to a vehicle, the quicker its components like the tires, suspension system, and axles will wear down and possibly cause a premature breakdown. Taking your truck off the road for unplanned repairs will increase your vehicle maintenance costs while reducing your profits due to the truck being out of commission.

How Do You Calculate Vehicle Load Capacity?

People often assume that calculating a truck's gross vehicle weight rating involves adding the gross axle eight ratings for every axle. This standard is outdated and doesn't account for modern safety system standards.

You may use a general calculation to ensure you meet all vehicle weight regulations for the trucking industry. The formula is Trailer Capacity + Trailer Weight = GVWR. Trailer capacity refers to what the truck can safely hold, while the trailer weight is the weight of everything you haul in the vehicle. The latter also includes added truck accessories. 

Contact FMCA Filings for More Help

No matter if you work intrastate or interstate in trucking, you must know the answer to "What is gross vehicle weight rating?" Understanding gross vehicle weight ratings and all it entails will help you comply with safety regulations as a motor carrier. Working with FMCA Filings can also put you on the right path. 

At FMCA Filings, you will find an array of information on an easy-to-use portal regarding compliance regulations, vehicle weight limits, permits, and more. For more details, contact our representatives through our online portal or live chat feature.