Most people never consider how much their vehicle weighs, especially if they never tow a trailer. However, truck drivers need to be extremely familiar with their truck’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and any trailer they might be towing. This figure is significant because it can dictate which regulations apply to your vehicle as well as what type of commercial driver’s license you need to operate it in Florida.
While some people believe that the GVWR is just the vehicle’s weight, it is slightly more complicated than that. Dig into all the details below to learn more about GVWR, including what it is and how it might affect you.
What Is GVWR?
Your vehicle’s GVWR is more than just its weight. This number specifies the maximum operating weight of the vehicle. This is the upper limit, or the maximum amount that your vehicle should ever weigh while being operated on the road.
The actual weight of your vehicle fluctuates often, depending on how much fuel you have, how much cargo you are carrying, how many passengers are in the cab, and a few other factors. However, the GVWR does not change. This is a fixed number based on your vehicle’s make, model, and other technical specifications.
To calculate your vehicle’s GVWR, you will need to add:
- The weight of your vehicle when totally empty
- The weight of all allowable fuel, passengers, accessories, or other cargo in the cab
- The maximum weight of cargo or tongue weight of any trailer you are towing
Thankfully, there is a much easier way to find your vehicle’s GVWR than by manually calculating and adding all these weights.
Where Do I Find My Vehicle’s GVWR?
You need to know your vehicle’s GVWR in many instances. This is especially true if you are in the trucking industry. The easiest way to find your vehicle’s GVWR is to look for the sticker inside the driver’s door frame. Manufacturers include this sticker here to make it easy for owners to find the GVWR and other critical vehicle information, such as the tire size, required tire pressure, paint codes, and more.
If you cannot locate the sticker or it is missing, you can always check your owner’s manual. This information will be located inside the owner’s manual as well. Finally, you can almost always find your vehicle’s GVWR online. Just be sure that you are looking at the correct year, make, and model for your specific vehicle.
GVWR vs. Towing Capacity
It is important to understand that GVWR is not the same as your vehicle’s towing capacity. While the GVWR refers to your vehicle’s maximum allowable weight, the towing capacity specifies how much weight your vehicle can pull. If you hook up a trailer for towing, the total weight of the trailer cannot exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity.
What Happens if My Truck’s Weight Exceeds the GVWR?
Exceeding the GVWR of your vehicle can have some serious consequences. First, you could do severe damage to your vehicle.
This can put additional strain on your vehicle, and it could cause parts to fail, such as:
- Axles
- Transmission
- Brakes
- Tires
This can create a dangerous situation on the road, and it could lead to a serious accident, such as a tire blowout accident or brake failure accident. If it is proven that you exceeded the GVWR of your vehicle, you could likely be held liable for any injuries or damages that result from one of these accidents.
Exceeding the GVWR of your vehicle could also get you into legal trouble. At a minimum, you could receive a ticket. However, you could face even more trouble if your actual weight requires you to have a CDL and you don’t have one. This situation could result in some very hefty fines and potentially even jail time.
Contact the Florida Truck Accident Attorneys at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. for Help Today
Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you fully understand what GVWR is and how to find it for your vehicle. Be careful not to exceed this rating and make sure that you have all the proper licenses for driving a vehicle within that size range.
If you need help after a truck accident, Shaked Law Firm, P.A. is here for you. Contact our Florida truck accident lawyers for a free consultation.
If you’ve been injured in a truck collision in Florida and need legal help, contact a Florida 18-wheelers attorney at Shaked Law Firm, P.A.
Shaked Law Firm, P.A.
20900 NE 30th Ave STE 705
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191
*Relocated across the street from Aventura Hospital.
Available 24/7