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C-2 WEIGHT & BALANCE Definitions You Should Know You may be subject to penalties for being overloaded. Here are some definitions of weight you should know: Gross vehicle weight (GVW). The total weight of a single vehicle plus its load. Gross combination weight (GCW). The total weight of a powered unit plus trailer(s) plus the cargo. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The maximum GVW specified by the manufacturer for a single vehicle plus its load. Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR). The maximum GCW specified by the manufacturer for a specific combination of vehicles plus its load. Axle Weight. The weight transmitted to the ground by one axle or one set of axles. Tire load. The maximum safe weight a tire can carry at a specified pressure. This rating is stated on the side of each tire. Suspension systems. Suspension systems have a manufacturer’s weight capacity rating. Coupling device capacity. Coupling devices are rated for the maximum weight they can pull and/or carry. Legal Weight Limits You are responsible for keeping weights within legal limits. States have maximums for GVWs, GCWs and axle weights. Often, maximumaxle weights are set by a bridge formula. A bridge formula permits less maximum axle weight for axles that are closer together. This is to prevent overloading bridges and roadways. Overloading can have bad effects on steering, braking, and speed control. Overloaded trucks have to go very slow on upgrades. Worse, they may gain too much speed on downgrades. Stopping distance increases. Brakes can fail when forced to work too hard. During bad weather or in mountains, it may not be safe to operate at legal maximum weights. Take this into account before driving. Don't Be Top-Heavy The height of the vehicle’s center of gravity is very important for safe handling. A high center of gravity (cargo piled up high, or heavy cargo on top) means you are more likely to tip over. It is most dangerous in curves or if you have to swerve to avoid a hazard. Distribute the cargo so it is as low as possible; put the heaviest parts of the cargo under the lightest parts. |
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