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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
5) Determine the combined weight of lug-
Actual weight of the loaded vehicle and
gage and cargo being loaded on the
WARNING
actual loads at the front and rear axles can
vehicle. That weight may not safely
only be determined by weighing the vehicle
Never overload your vehicle. Over-
exceed the available cargo and luggage
using a vehicle scale. To measure the
loading your vehicle can cause dam-
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
weight and load, try taking your vehicle to
age to your tires and lead to poor
a highway weighing station, shipping com-
steering and braking which can result
Vehicle Loading Example
pany or inspection station for trucks, etc.
in an accident. The gross vehicle
As an example, suppose that the Tire and
Compare these weights to the GVWR and
weight (sum of the weights of the
Loading Information label on your vehicle
GAWR (front and rear) listed on the Safety
loaded vehicle, driver and passen-
indicates that your vehicle’s total load
Certification Label. If the gross vehicle
gers) must never exceed the Gross
capacity is 950 lbs. If you were to drive
weight or the load on either axle exceeds
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) listed
your vehicle with one passenger, and the
these ratings, you must remove enough
on the Safety Certification Label. In
total combined weight of you and your pas-
weight to bring the load down to the rated
addition, never distribute a load so
senger was 350 lbs, then the cargo and
capacity.
that the weight on either the front or
luggage capacity of your vehicle would be
rear axle exceeds the Gross Axle
600 lbs (950 - 350 = 600 lbs).
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the
If you later added 2 more passengers, hav-
Limit
Safety Certification Label.
ing a combined weight of
325 lbs, the
1)
Locate the statement “The combined
cargo and luggage capacity of your vehicle
weight of occupants and cargo should
would be reduced from 600 lbs to 275 lbs
never exceed XXX pounds” on your
If you put things inside your vehicle - like
(600 - 325 = 275 lbs). As you can see, as
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything
vehicle placard.
the number and combined weight of vehi-
2)
Determine the combined weight of the
else - they will go as fast as the vehicle
cle occupants increase, the vehicle’s cargo
goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
driver and passengers that will be riding
and luggage capacity decreases. Do not
in your vehicle.
if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.
carry more than 123 lbs (56 kg) in your
3)
Subtract the combined weight of the
trunk.
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or XXX pounds.
4)
The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
“XXX”
amounts equals 1,400 lbs and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your vehi-
cle, the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1,400
- 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
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