GCWR and what Im seeing required for hot shot???

GVWR/GCVWR = what class license you need.

GAWR = what the max weight you can carry, provided you have the correct license / registration .

 

Getting the tags for 2000 lbs over what you intend to haul and then firmly aiming for what you intend sounds like a good idea for having a legal safety margin.

THEN AGAIN, A CUSTOMER NEVER LIES ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF THEIR LOAD, RIGHT???

Any 1 Ton pickup truck registered over 26,001 lbs and towing loaded trailer that is over 10,000 lbs loaded looks to be a class "A" license.
The same truck with the trailer that is under 10,000 lbs looks like a class "B".

• Class A License - Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the Vehicle/Trailer(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Class B License - Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
• Class C License - Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is placarded for hazardous materials.

For a CDL Class A drivers license, you will need to successfully pass the following exams:

• General Knowledge Test
• Air Brakes
• Combination Vehicle
• Pre-Trip Inspection
• Other Applicable Exams for Desired Endorsements like Double/Triple trailers, Tankers, and Hazmat.

 

I have a trailer gross weight of 25900 and a 3500 Chevy how much weight can I haul

 

Add up your axle ratings, on both the truck and trailer and then put your truck and trailer on a certified truck scale. Deduct the weight of the truck and trailer from the combined axle capacities and what you have left is the weight you could legally haul. Provided that's it's positioned correctly on your trailer, and the tire weight ratings match or exceed the axle ratings. And provided you have. Class A License and your equipment is licensed for your gross weight.

Some advice, you may legally be able to haul more weight than what "I" personally consider safe. For instance, let's say you can haul 20,000 or 24,000 lbs legally. that doesn't mean you should. For instance, my truck is registered for 40,000 lbs. my state forced me to register it for that much. I have a 3500 Ram drw, my trailer has a gvw of 24,999 lbs. I could easily load 20,000 lbs or more on it but I refuse to do it. I personally limit my load weight to 15,000 lbs. I have gone over my (self imposed) load weight limit a time or two but by no more than 1,000 lbs.

You'll see a lot of Hotshot rigs on the road hauling "in my opinion" way more weight than they should. What many people, including those that are out there hauling more weight than they should don't realize is they're defeating the very purpose of owning a hotshot rig. They have extremely high maintenance bills, get very bad fuel mileage, and usually wear their equipment out, long before they get it paid off.

Not to mention that if you run maxed out, the brakes on these Hotshot trucks and trailer won't last. You'd probably kill yourself or someone else coming down a mountain.

 

Look on the truck door jamb at the sticker. My GMC can weigh up to 11,400 pounds. The sticker on the trailer was derated to 14,500 pounds.
Truck
Front axle = 4670 pounds each tire = 2680 x 2 = 5360 pounds
Rear axle = 8550 pounds =2470 x 4 = 9880 pounds
Total = 11,400 pounds = 15240 pounds

Trailer
Front axle = 7000 pounds each tire = 4400 x 2 = 8800
Rear axle = 7000 pounds =4400 x 2= 8800
Weight transfer to hitch = +/ 500 pounds
Total = 14,500 pounds 17,600 pounds

Sticker total = 25900 pounds
Axle total = 27220 pounds
Tire total = 32,820 pounds

The smallest number is the 25, 900 which is what the DOT will look at.
Each seperate axle weight is the next limit looked at by the DOT.

Front axle must be less then 4670
Rear axle must be less then 8550
Each trailer axle must be less then 7000
But the total must be less then 25900.

Since the axle weights are less then the tire ratings the tire ratings do not count for anything in my example.

25,900 max weight
15000 empty weight

10,900 total load.