What is the difference between GVW, tare weight, and payload?

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) is the total weight of the vehicle including everything on it: tractor, trailer, fuel, driver, and all cargo. Tare weight is the weight of the empty vehicle — tractor plus trailer with no cargo loaded. Net payload is the difference: GVW minus tare. This is the maximum weight of cargo you can legally carry. If your GVW limit is 40,000 kg and your tare is 16,000 kg, your maximum payload is 24,000 kg. All three figures appear on your transport documents and vehicle registration.

How do I find my truck's tare weight?

The tare weight is on the vehicle's Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or registration document (in the EU, this is typically field G or F2 on the V5/registration certificate). For trailers, the tare is on the trailer's own registration or technical inspection certificate. If you're unsure, drive the empty vehicle to a public weighbridge and get a certified empty weight — this is the most accurate method. Remember that anything permanently fitted to the truck (including strapping equipment, pallets, load bars left on the trailer) counts as part of the tare for practical payload planning.

Why is the EU payload lower than the US payload despite a similar GVW?

The EU maximum GVW for a 5-axle combination is 40,000 kg (88,185 lbs), while the US limit is 80,000 lbs (36,287 kg) — so the EU limit is actually higher in absolute kg terms. The reason EU payload feels 'lower' in practice is that EU trucks tend to have heavier tare weights relative to the GVW allowance. A typical EU 5-axle combination has a tare of 14,000–18,000 kg, leaving 22,000–26,000 kg payload. A US 5-axle has a higher tare in lbs (28,000–32,000 lbs) but a much higher GVW, resulting in 48,000–52,000 lbs (21,700–23,600 kg) of payload — broadly similar in kg terms.

Do fuel weight and driver weight count toward payload?

Technically, fuel, driver, and all non-permanently-fitted items are counted against GVW — but in practice, they are usually included in the tare figure on registration documents (tare is often measured with a full fuel tank and driver). The critical items to check are equipment that may have been added since the vehicle was last weighed: additional strapping gear, pallet cages, refrigeration units, tail lifts, or load bars stored on the trailer. Each item reduces your available cargo payload. When in doubt, use a weighbridge to get the actual laden and unladen weights.

Can I exceed the GVW limit with a special permit?

Yes, in most jurisdictions overweight permits are available for loads that cannot be reduced (e.g. heavy machinery, indivisible loads). The permit specifies the approved route, time window, maximum speed, and any escort requirements. In the EU, permits are issued country by country — a German permit does not cover a route through Poland. Permit GVW limits vary: Germany allows up to 250 tonnes with full escorts; most single-country permits cap at 60,000–80,000 kg for abnormal loads on approved heavy routes. Permits cost €100–€1,000+ per country and require 5–15 working days of advance notice. For divisible loads (e.g. palletised goods), overweight permits are rarely granted — split the load instead.

Truck Weight Guide

How to Calculate Truck Payload

GVW minus tare weight equals your legal payload. Get the formula right — once per load, before the truck leaves the dock.

EU max GVW (5-axle)

40,000 kg

US max GVW (5-axle)

80,000 lbs / 36,287 kg

Typical EU tare

~16,000 kg

Typical EU payload

~24,000 kg

Payload Calculator

Select a configuration to see the payload breakdown

40% tare

60% payload

0 40,000 kg GVW

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 40,000 kg

Tractor tare − 8,500 kg

Trailer tare − 7,500 kg

Net payload = 24,000 kg

With 5% safety margin 22,800 kg

Formula GVW − Tare = Net Payload

Calculation Guide

How to calculate truck payload in 6 steps

Follow this sequence every time you plan a load — weight violations at weigh stations or border crossings mean fines, delays, and out-of-service orders.

Step 1

Find the legal GVW limit for your route

GVW limits vary by country and vehicle type. The EU standard for a 5-axle articulated combination (3-axle tractor + 2-axle semi-trailer) is 40,000 kg. The US federal limit for the same configuration is 80,000 lbs (36,287 kg). For intermodal transport in the EU (road + rail or short-sea leg), the limit rises to 44,000 kg. Some countries apply stricter limits on secondary roads or during seasonal spring thaw — always check every country on your route, not just the destination.

Step 2

Get the tare weight from the vehicle documents

Tare weight is the weight of the empty vehicle — tractor plus trailer. You'll find it on the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or the vehicle registration document. Typical EU tractor tare: 7,500–9,500 kg. Typical EU curtainsider trailer tare: 6,500–8,500 kg. Total tare is commonly 14,000–18,000 kg. Do not use average or estimated values — get the actual figure from the documents, as different specs (liftaxles, refrigeration units, tail lifts) change tare weight significantly.

Step 3

Calculate net payload: GVW minus total tare

The formula is simple: Net Payload = GVW − Total Tare. For a standard EU 5-axle combination: 40,000 kg − 16,000 kg = 24,000 kg payload. For a US 5-axle: 80,000 lbs − 29,500 lbs = 50,500 lbs (22,906 kg). This is your maximum legal cargo weight. Remember that fuel, driver, and any equipment loaded on the truck (straps, load bars, pallets) all count toward tare — they reduce your available payload.

Step 4

Apply a safety margin of 3–5%

Scales are never 100% accurate, and cargo weight declarations from shippers are sometimes underestimated. A 3–5% safety margin on net payload protects you from accidental overloads. At 5%: EU 24,000 kg × 0.95 = 22,800 kg working payload. Never load to the exact legal limit — one wet pallet or a heavier-than-declared cargo can push you over. Many experienced operators use 23,000 kg as a working limit for a standard EU curtainsider.

Step 5

Check individual axle limits — total GVW is not enough

Even if total GVW is within the limit, each axle group must be within its own legal limit. EU axle limits: steer axle 7,500 kg, drive tandem 19,000 kg, trailer bogie 21,000 kg. US limits: steer 12,000 lbs, drive tandem 34,000 lbs, trailer tandem 34,000 lbs. Cargo position within the trailer determines how weight is distributed across axles. Heavy cargo loaded too far forward or rearward will overload one axle group even when total weight is legal. Always verify axle loads from load positioning, not just total weight.

Step 6

Record the payload on your transport documents

Cargo weight must be declared on the CMR waybill (EU international), Bill of Lading, or relevant national transport document. The declared weight is a legal declaration — signing a CMR with an underweight declaration to stay under a limit is fraud. If the shipper provides an incorrect weight declaration, the carrier still bears operational responsibility for the vehicle weight at weigh stations. Request a verified cargo weight certificate from the shipper for high-density or bulk loads.

Weight Limits Reference

GVW and payload limits at a glance

These are federal/directive-level limits. Individual roads, bridges, and seasonal restrictions can be lower — always verify for your specific route.

EU 5-axle GVW

40,000 kg

44,000 kg for intermodal

US 5-axle GVW

80,000 lbs

36,287 kg federal limit

Typical EU payload

~24,000 kg

Varies with tare spec

Typical US payload

~50,500 lbs

~22,900 kg net

EU intermodal bonus

+4,000 kg (44,000 kg GVW)

Truck combinations carrying ISO containers or swap bodies as part of a combined road + rail or road + short-sea transport chain qualify for a 44,000 kg GVW allowance under EC Directive 96/53. The road leg must be part of a documented intermodal chain. This gives approximately 28,000 kg payload for a standard EU tare — useful for heavy container inland haulage.

Seasonal weight restrictions

80–90% of normal limits

Several EU countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, parts of Scandinavia) reduce permitted axle loads by 10–20% during spring thaw (typically March–May) to protect road surfaces. Some Nordic countries apply seasonal restrictions year-round on specific roads. If your route passes through affected countries during thaw season, your effective legal payload drops significantly — plan accordingly or route around restricted roads.

Overweight fines

€500 – €10,000+

Overweight fines vary widely by country and degree of excess. Germany: up to €5,000 for the driver, up to €25,000 for the company. France: up to €15,000. UK: unlimited fixed penalty per axle group. US: fines per pound over limit, compounded by state. In many jurisdictions the load must be offloaded at the point of detection and cannot continue until weight is reduced — this adds delay costs on top of the fine.

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