Vehicle Weights and Dims

Weights and dimensions / vehicle plating
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.
Which laws apply?

• EC Directive EC/96/53
• 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
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). 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 DfT annual 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 down plated in order to reduce
Vehicle Excise Duty.
For many vehicles, this may not involve mechanical changes: simply complete a VTG10 Notifiable Alteration form
and pay the appropriate fee to VOSA. An official 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.
For general enquires on uprating or down plating procedures call the Vehicle Inspectorate Technical Services
Branch on 01792 458888. 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.
• EC96/53 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 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
Dry freight trucks: 2,550mm.
Refrigerated trucks: 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 2.5m 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
http://www.roadtransport.com/RoadLegal/11947/weights-dimensions-plating.html

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Vehicle Weights and Dims

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Weights and dimensions / vehicle plating

Which laws apply?

Did you know?

Maximum axle weights

Maximum gross weight

Train weight of tractor-trailer combination

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