Vehicle weight: Difference between revisions

'''Curb weight''' (U.S.American English) or '''kerb weight''' (British English) is the total mass of a vehicle with standard equipment and all necessary operating consumables such as [[motor oil]], transmission oil, [[brake fluid]], [[coolant]], air conditioning refrigerant, and sometimes a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo. The [[#Gross vehicle weight rating|gross vehicle weight]] is larger and includes the maximum payload of passengers and cargo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Curb Weight vs Gross Vehicle Weight – CarsDirect|url=https://www.carsdirect.com/car-safety/curb-weight-vs-gross-vehicle-weight}}</ref>

This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental [[regulatory agency|regulatory agencies]] or other organizations. For example, many [[European Union]] manufacturers include the weight of a {{convert|75|kg|lb|adj=on}} driver and luggage to follow European Directive 95/48/EC.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31995L0048:EN:HTML | title= EU Commission Directive 95/48/EC | publisher = [[European Commission]] | access-date=4 January 2009 }}</ref> Organizations may also define curb weight with fixed levels of fuel and other variables to equalize the value for the comparison of different vehicles. The EU-directive actually defines Mass in running order, not curb-weight. Mass in running order is without the 75kg driver mentioned obove. Definition of mass in running order stated in the directive.

Dry weight is the weight of a vehicle without any consumables, passengers, or cargo. It is significantly less than the weight of a vehicle in a driveabledrivable condition and therefore rarely used. Quoting a dry weight can make a car's weight and [[Power-to-weight ratio|power-to-weight]] figures appear far more favorable than those of rival cars using [[curb weight]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/vehicle-weights-whats-the-difference-109425/ |title=Vehicle weights - What's the difference? |website=carsales.com.au |access-date=12 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="evo">{{cite web |url=https://www.evo.co.uk/features/21040/what-is-kerb-weight-and-how-much-does-your-car-weigh |title=What is kerb weight and how much does your car weigh? |first=John |last=Barker |date=31 March 2018 |work=[[Evo (magazine)|Evo]] |publisher=Dennis Publishing}}</ref>

==={{anchor|GVW|GVWR|GCWR|Gross}} Gross vehicle weight rating===

A standard [[European driving licence|car driving licence issued by an EU country]] (i.e. class B) limits the licence-holder to driving vehicles with a "maximum authorised mass" (i.e. GVWR)<ref>For the UK terms relating to the weight of vehicles, see {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-weights-explained |title=Vehicle weights explained |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=12 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> of {{convert|3500|kg|lb|abbr=on|-2}}. This includes holders of [[UK driving licence|UK class B driving licences]] who passed their driving tests on or after 1 January 1997.

In the United States, twothree important GVWR limitations are {{convert|6000|and,|8500|, and |26,000|lb|kg|0|abbr=~}}. Vehicles over 6,000&nbsp;lb are restricted from some city roadways, although it is not always clear if this restriction is for actual curb weight or GVWR. Commercial vehicles over the 8,500&nbsp;lb threshold are required to have insurance under the [[Motor Carrier Act of 1980]] and {{USCFR|49|387|303}}.

Vehicles or combinations with a GVWR over {{convert|26000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} generally require a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or a Non-Commercial Class "A" or "B" license. A CDL is also required for certain vehicles under 26,000&nbsp;lb GVWR, such as buses and for-hire passenger vehicles of 16 or more passengers, all vehicles transporting placarded hazardous materials or wastes regardless of weight or load class, and any vehicle towing a trailer with a Gross Trailer Weight over {{convert|10000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} where the combined weight isratings of the vehicle and trailer are greater than 26,000&nbsp;lbs.

Laws vary from state to state, but typically vehicles over 10,000&nbsp;lb are required to stop at [[weigh station]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-vehicles-need-to-stop-at-weigh-stations |title=Which Vehicles Need to Stop at Weigh Stations |website=Yourmechanic.com |access-date=12 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sometimes large passenger or non-commercial vehicles such as RVs are exempt from this. Additionally, many states use the GVWR for registration purposes, where over a certain weight such as 8,000&nbsp;lb, a [[mill rate]] is applied to the GVWR to arrive at a registration fee.{{cn|date=May 2023}}.

In the EU and U.S. legal maximum load restrictions are placed on weight, independent of the manufacturer's rating. In the EU a tractor can generally have {{convert|10|tonne|lb}} on a single axle, with suspension type and number of tires often allowing slightly higher loads. In the U.S. weight restrictions are generally {{convert|20000|lb|kg}} on a single axle, and {{convert|34000|lb|kg}} (less than two single axles) on a tandem. The primary factor is distance between axle centerlines, also used to measure [[Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula|bridge formulas]]. A bridge formula does not reduce axle load allowance, rather gross vehicle weight (GVW), which can affect load distribution and actual axle weights.<ref name=eusize>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Vehicle%20Std%20Leg/Vehicle%20regs/Weights_Dimensions_Leaflet.pdf|title=Guidelines on Maximum Weights…Criteria (EU)|publisher=Road Safety Authority|date=2013|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=usdotbridge>{{cite web|url=httphttps://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/brdg_frm_wghts/index.htm|title=Freight Management and Operations: Bridge Formula Weights|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=usdotsize>{{cite web|url=httphttps://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/size_regs_final_rpt/|title=Freight Management and Operations: Size Regulations|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref>