How Is the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) on Commercial Trucks Determined?
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GVWR
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Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum legal weight for a vehicle. GVWR is most important for trucks carrying cargo. The gross vehicle weight includes the empty weight of the truck, driver and passengers, fuel and cargo. When a truck goes through the scales on the highway and the weight exceeds the GVWR, the driver will be fined and forced to remove cargo.
Heavy Trucks
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The GVWR is determined and set by the vehicle manufacturer. The manufacturer uses the load rating of several individual components to calculate the final GVWR of the truck. The components that affect a truck's weight rating are the frame, brakes, axles, wheels and tires. Heavy trucks have a straight steel frame; manufacturers will offer frames with different thickness and strength. A too-heavy frame reduces the load capacity so the manufacturer attempts to reduce frame weight while maintaining the desired load capacity. Brake ratings are rarely a factor in GVWR calculation. Modern truck brakes significantly exceed the requirements for the weight rating of the trucks.
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GAWR
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The other components that determine GVWR will be divided between the front and rear axle components. Vehicles also have a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Each axle, usually front and rear, of a truck with a GAWR with the same legal restrictions as the GVWR. To determine an axle's weight rating, the individual ratings of the axle, wheels and tires are compared. The manufacturers of these components are required to provide a load rating for these components. The GAWR of the axle will be the equal to the lowest rated component. For example, if the axle is rated to carry 8,000 pounds, and the wheels and tires have rated capacity of 5,000 pounds each, the GAWR will be 8,000 pounds. There are two wheels and tires on the axle, giving those components 10,000 pounds of load capacity.
Legal Requirements
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The maximum GVWR of the vehicle is the sum of the GAWRs. A truck with an 8,000-pound front GAWR and a 20,000-pound rear GAWR with have a GVWR of 28,000 pounds. The GVWR of a truck may be set lower than the total of the axle ratings to meet legal requirements. The maximum a heavy truck can weigh without special permits on U.S. highways is 80,000 pounds. In most states, a truck over 26,000 pounds requires a commercial driver's license. All trucks will have a placard or sticker listing the GVWR and front and rear GAWRs. The placard is usually in the door frame or just inside the cab.
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