What are GVWR and GAWR, and How Are These Terms Important

Whether you are a novice or an experienced hauler, ensuring your load stays within your trailer’s weight capacity is crucial. It is essential for your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road. All too often, accidents occur when a driver towing an overloaded flatbed trailer loses control and swerves into other traffic lanes, leading to injuries and even fatalities. So, what do gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and gross axle weight rating (GAWR) mean, and why are these terms important? More importantly, how do they contribute to keeping you safe on the road?

The Keys to Safe Hauling: GVWR and GAWR

Every trailer has a weight limit, and exceeding it can have disastrous consequences. Whether you’re a seasoned hauler or just starting out, understanding Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is crucial for ensuring your safety and that of others on the road.

What is GVWR?

The GVWR is the maximum allowable weight for your entire vehicle, including the trailer, cargo, and passengers. It’s the total weight your trailer can safely support. It doesn’t matter if you’re carrying bags of rice or transporting heavy equipment; exceeding the GVWR can cause several critical failures, including:

Loss of control: An overloaded trailer can become unstable and difficult to handle, increasing the risk of swerving or tipping over.

Brake failure: Brakes are designed to handle a specific weight limit. Exceeding it can strain the brakes excessively, potentially causing failure and an accident with another vehicle.

Tire damage: Loads that exceed the GVWR can make tires more vulnerable to blowouts, which can cause severe damage to the wheels and axles.

Suspension damage: The trailer’s suspension system is designed to handle a specific weight capacity. Exceeding the GVWR can damage the suspension, leading to premature failure and replacement.

Never exceed the GVWR—doing so can cause instability, damage the trailer, and put you and others at risk.

What is GAWR?

The GAWR is the maximum allowable weight for each axle on your trailer. It’s important to consider not just the total weight of your payload but also how that weight is distributed across the axles. Uneven load and balance can result in the following:

Uneven tire wear: Tires on overloaded axles will wear out faster than those within weight limits.

Axle damage: Exceeding the GAWR can damage the axle and require replacement.

Essentially, exceeding the GAWR will require the premature replacement of your tires and axles, not to mention the time and revenue loss while your trailer is out of service.

Staying Safe on the Road

• Knowing your trailer’s GVWR and GAWR is vital for safe hauling. It is also the law. Here’s how they can help you:
• Prevent overloading: Understanding the weight limits can ensure your trailer doesn’t overload. Look for the GVWR and GAWR placards on the trailer. You can also find this information in the owner’s manual.
• Load distribution: Once you know the weight of your load, you can distribute it evenly across the axles to stay within the GAWR limits.
• Proper trailer selection: If you plan on hauling heavy cargo, you may need a bumper pull trailer with a higher weight rating.

By understanding and adhering to your trailer’s weight limits, you can ensure a safe and reliable hauling experience for yourself and others on the road.

Where to Buy a DOT-Compliant Flatbed Trailer Near Me

Bigfoot Trailers delivers DOT-compliant flatbed trailers! As a factory-direct manufacturer, we service the entire Eastern United States with locations in Amherst, VA; Jacksonville, FL; Raleigh, NC; Springfield, MA; and by appointment with retailers in Fort Myers and Marianna, FL. Call or contact us for a free quote.