GVWR

Go to a CAT scale and weigh it. Cost you eleven dollars.

First make sure it's fueled up with whatever equipment you keep in board so you get an accurate "empty" weight.

 

Go to a truck stop and scale the truck.

 

If you are running local, you may also be able to go to a local quarry or scrap yard or shipper that has a truck scale.
Some will charge you, but some you can drive on the scale, stop, and read the weight off of the big display!
You should also get your front and rear axle weights, which with a normal scale you do by pulling your front end on until the rear tires are almost on the scale but not quite touching, writing that weight down, then pulling all the way on for your total weight, the pulling just the front wheels off and writing down your rear axle weight.

(or, if one is close, spend the $11 at a Cat Scale, and get a nice printout of your axle and overall weight lol)

As said, make sure you have a full tank of fuel, and all the tools and tiedowns and gear you keep with you so you get your max weight without cargo.

 

The manufacturer gives this rating based on the components on the truck, frame, axels, tires, etc. Take your truck empty to a scale, the difference between the empty weight and the GVWR is the amount of cargo you can legally carry.

 

Make sure your tires are rated for the weight. It's a very small detail. If you have crappy tires it will fail (The good ones are a bomb... BOOM) or if you have a DOT inspection from hell it's going to ticket you on crappy tires.

That's a class B truck for sure, they start at 26000 pounds and up. A's go all way to 80,000 and beyond upwards of 160K if not more with the right equipment (And state etc)

Everyone said Cat scale the rig. Learn your empty. Do it with your heaviest driver. If you normally run two people weigh them too. Those CATs are sensitive to 20 pounds or less they will "Feel it" make sure she is full of fuel. 300 gallons of desiel works out to a ton or two. You could cheat by carrying just enough fuel to get past a nazi scale if you had to but that is precision compliance with the law which is not often used.

The cat will always give you correct axle weights as long you have the steer on the small forward platform and allow a moment with brakes OFF for it to float and settle.

If you are up against a platform that is not a CAT and has no axle platforms, take the weight with everything on it Write that number down. Such as 80,000

Pull forward one axle off (The front) and stop. Wait a moment write the next number down usually around 68000 for a 18 wheeler. If I see that number or less I know my axles are legal generally but must check again the last tandem set to be sure.

Pull forward until the drives are off with a semi truck, that is your trailer tandem weight, write that down, it should be 34,000 the result would be 12,000 34000 and 34000 done. ANything that is over 80K has to be off loaded or axles adjusted. You go to 40,000 on spread axle trailers and it gets much more detailed and specific from there.

IF you are in a dump truck and loaded rock, blacktop etc the resulting weight difference between empty and full is the cost of the material billable to your boss and ultimately is paid by the customer buying the parking lot, drive way etc.

 

It gets a little more complicated than that... 33k is the manufacturer's rated GVWR... it may actually be less legally depending on wheelbase.

 

What, bridge law? A ten foot spread axle gives you 40,000, it would have to be one heck of a tiny truck for bridge law to restrict below 33k.

 

He is driving a two axle straight truck. No spread axle.

 

I know. Nevertheless, bridge law gives 40,000 to two axles ten feet apart. Spread axles are not some special provision. Thus, I don't see how bridge law is going to cut him down below 33000 pounds.