https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-weights-explained
Vehicle weights explained
Vehicle categories on driving licences can depend on the weight of the vehicle - the different terms you might see are explained below.
Unladen weight
The unladen weight of any vehicle is the weight of the vehicle when it’s not carrying any passengers, goods or other items.
It includes the body and all parts normally used with the vehicle or trailer when it’s used on a road.
It doesn’t include the weight of the fuel or, if it’s an electric vehicle, the batteries.
Maximum authorised mass
Maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
This is also known as gross vehicle weight (GVW) or permissible maximum weight.
It will be listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle.
The plate or sticker may also show a gross train weight (GTW), also sometimes called gross combination weight (GCW). This is the total weight of the tractor unit plus trailer plus load.
Down-plating
If a vehicle is unlikely to be used at its potential maximum weight, it may be ‘down-plated’. This means that a lower weight is shown on the plate or sticker attached to the vehicle.
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Weights and dimensions / vehicle plating
Weights and dimensions / vehicle plating
The European Union sets permitted weights and dimensions for vehicles on international journeys within the EU. National governments can also set their own limits for domestic journeys. Goods vehicles must carry a plate showing permitted or authorised axle and gross weights.
Which laws apply?
- EC Directive 96/53/EC
- The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (C&U Regs)
- Overloading authorised axle, gross vehicle or train weights is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and carries a £5,000 penalty per offence or a graduated fixed penalty at the roadside of between £60 and £200 depending upon the extent of the excess weight.
Definitions
- Gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the maximum legally permitted weight of the vehicle plus load (not to be confused with design weight, which is usually higher).
- Gross train weight (GTW) is the total weight of the tractor unit plus trailer plus load (sometimes called gross combination weight (GCW)).
- Maximum authorised mass (MAM) is a term for permissible maximum weight, used on the vehicle plate.
Plated weight
This is the total permitted weight of a loaded vehicle. Each vehicle should carry a permanently fixed Department of Transport (DfT) plate (also called a Ministry plate) and plating certificate (a VTG7 – for all vehicles and trailers). If there is no DfT plate, there should be a manufacturer’s plate. DfT plates are fitted on trucks at first registration and on trailers after they have undergone a DfTannual test.
- Goods vehicles over 3,500kg gross: The vehicle must have a plate on the cab showing manufacturer, vehicle type, engine type, power, VIN number, number of axles and maximum design and plated weights.
- Goods vehicles below 3,500kg: No plate is required.
- Trailers over 1,020kg unladen weight: The trailer must have a plate showing manufacturer, chassis number, number of axles, maximum load imposed on towing vehicle, year of manufacture and maximum design and plated weights.
Downplating
If the vehicle is unlikely to carry the potential maximum weight, it can be downplated in order to reduce vehicle excise duty (VED). For many vehicles, this may not involve mechanical changes: simply complete a VTG10 Notifiable Alteration form, obtainable from goods vehicle test stations, and pay the appropriate fee to VOSA. An offical plating test may be required. You can also uprate a downplated vehicle if, for example, you buy a downplated used truck but want to operate it at its original permitted weight.
To downplate to 3,500kg or 7,500kg, however, mechanical alternations to the vehicle are required.
If you wish to change the vehicle plate so that, for example, it can be driven on a category C1 driving licence, or for reasons associated with other legislation (aside from vehicle excise duty), then downplating is not sufficient and you will need to downrate instead. Downrating reduces the design capacity of the vehicle and so in almost every case a physical change is required to be made.
For general enquires on uprating or downplating procedures contact the Goods Vehicle Centre at Swansea or call the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) Helpline 0300 123 9000. For information on specific vehicles, contact the vehicle manufacturer.
Weights
Maximum legal weights are determined by a number of factors, including the spacing between the axles, the outer axle and bogie spread, the number of tyres on each axle, and the type of suspension fitted. Vehicles with Road Friendly Suspension (RFS) and twin tyres on the drive axle are permitted higher weights than those without. The majority of vehicles with RFS operate on air suspension, but some rubber and hydraulic suspension may also count as road-friendly.
- 96/53/EC authorises trucks on international journeys at 40 tonnes GVW on five axles (a two-axle tractor towing a three-axle trailer) provided the drive axle weight does not exceed 11,500kg.
Did you know?
UK hauliers are allowed to operate at a higher weight limit than is generally the case in the rest of Europe. The government calculated that permitting 44 tonnes on six axles is less damaging to roads than the 40 tonnes on five axles authorised under EC96/53.
To operate at 44 tonnes both the tractor and trailer must have three axles, none of which should exceed 10,500kg and all of which must have RFS. The distance between the coupling centre and the centre of the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer must be at least 8m.
Authorised weights
The main weight categories are given below. The basis of the calculation is to multiply the distance between the foremost and rearmost axles in metres by the maximum permitted factor in kilograms. A factor of 6,000kg is applied to two-axle vehicles, tractor units and drawbars, 5,500kg to three-axle rigids and 5,000kg to four-axle rigids.
The maximum weights on three- and four-axled vehicles are only permitted with twin tyres and either RFS on the drive axle or with a single axle limit of 9,500kg.
The technical departments at the vehicle manufacturers and axle conversion specialists are expert at these calculations, so are the best source for advice.
Maximum axle weights
- Solo, driven axles: 11,500kg
- Solo, non-driven: 10,000kg
- Tandem, driven: 19,000kg
Maximum gross weight
Rigids
- 2 axles: 18,000kg
- 3 axles: 26,000kg
- 4 axles: 32,000kg
Tractors
- 2 axles: 18,000kg
- 3 axles: 26,000kg
Drawbars
- 3 axles: 26,000kg
- 4 axles: 36,000kg
- 5 axles: 34,000kg
- 5 axles: 40,000kg
- 6 axles: 44,000kg
Trailers
- 1 axle: 11,500kg (driven axle)
- 2 axles: 20,000kg
- 3 axles: 24,000kg
Train weight of tractor-trailer combination
- 3 axles: 26,000kg
- 4 axles: 38,000kg (18,000kg+20,000kg)
- 5 axles: 40,000kg
- 6 axles: 41,000kg
- 6 axles: 44,000kg
Dimensions
Vehicle dimensions are also determined by EC96/53.
Height
For international journeys, a 4m height limit applies. Within the UK, however, there is no legal maximum height limit, although any vehicle over 3m must display the height in the cab. The main constraint on height is the vehicle’s ability to negotiate under motorway bridges, so the practical maximum is usually 4.8 or 4.9m.
Width
- Goods vehicles and trailers: 2,550mm.
- Refrigerated vehicles: 2,600mm (to accommodate 45mm insulated side panels and maintain internal load width).
Length
Permitted length depends on axle spacings.
- Rigids: 12m
- Artics: 15.5 or 16.5m provided kingpin to rear of trailer is within 12.2m and it meets turning circle requirements
Turning circle
All vehicles now have to comply with turning circle legislation originally introduced for artics. This stipulates that when steering, the vehicle should not pass outside a 12.5m outer circle and a 5.3m inner circle. Rigid vehicles can alternatively meet a swing-out measurement of 8000mm (1000mm for vehicles with lift-axles).
Up to 3,500kg
Vehicles and trailers below 3,500kg fall outside the C&U regulations – there is no legal requirement governing the weight of the towing vehicle and the weight of the trailers. Instead, the maximum GTW of a light truck or van is quoted by the vehicle manufacturer.
Trailers must not exceed 2,300mm width or 7,000mm length.
Updated by Lucy Wood & Anton Balkitis www.keepmeontheroad.co.uk
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