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Read moreGross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) are critical for fleet managers to understand and utilize for fleet safety and compliance.
Ignoring these vehicle ratings can have dire consequences: The heavier the vehicle, the more likely it is to be in a crash, and loading is a contributing cause of rollovers (1), according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
In fact, those vehicles that exceed the weight rating “will have a dramatic effect on performance. Steering, maneuverability, braking and acceleration are all affected” (2) and can increase the risk of crashes and road accidents.
Here’s what fleet managers need to know about GVWR to protect the integrity of your vehicles and the safety of your drivers and others on the road.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable weight a vehicle can safely support, as determined by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
The gross vehicle weight rating includes the weight of the vehicle itself, passengers, fuel and additional accessories or equipment, such as toolboxes, bed liners, truck racks and cargo slides. The rating is typically found on a truck’s door jamb or the inside of the door and can be labeled as gross vehicle weight rating, GVWR or gross weight.
Adhering to the GVWR helps curb excessive wear and tear on vehicle parts and reduces the risk and severity of crashes. However, this is not the only weight information you need to determine if your vehicle is properly loaded.
Fleet managers are increasingly turning to fleet technologies to help manage maintenance and find cost savings—see how much in our 2025 Fleet Technology Trends Report.
In addition to GVWR, several other weight-related metrics are essential for fleet management:
These classifications are essential for ensuring that fleet vehicles operate within safe weight limits, which can help reduce the possibility of breakdowns and meet compliance with federal and state regulations, particularly new emissions regulations whose rules are based around GVWR.(3)
Years ago, adding the gross axle weight rating together for all axles was a common way of calculating GVWR, but that’s no longer the case and is now an inaccurate way of determining gross vehicle weight ratings.
Today, establishing a vehicle’s GVWR is more complicated because manufacturers cannot just consider component parts, but also safety system standards and how vehicles meet those standards. That is why you may see gross vehicle weight ratings that are lower than the sum of the axle ratings.
Adhering to GVWR is critical for fleet safety. Overloaded vehicles can encounter drivability issues, reduced reliability and heightened maintenance problems. Even if you are not exceeding the weight limits, drivers should be aware of their vehicle’s gross weight limit and how close it is to the maximum rate so they can adjust their driving accordingly.
Adhering to gross vehicle weight rate can potentially reduce the following:
Understanding and adhering to GVWR can also reduce your potential liability in a crash and demonstrate commitment to compliance because you have followed the manufacturer's recommendations and met your legal obligation regarding load limits.
If you’ve got fleet safety on your mind, fleet management software like GPS tracking and dashcam video can also help you drive a safer tomorrow through vehicle tracking, maintenance and driver coaching.
If you want to see how fleet management can help you achieve safety goals, set up a demo today.
Disclaimer: KMZ MOTOR does not provide legal advice and shall have no liability whatsoever for any damages that arise from, or are connected with, your use of this [blog/article, whatever it's positioned as]. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for legal advice. You should consult your own legal advisors to seek the proper advice with reference to any compliance-related information.
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Tags: Safety
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