Gross vehicle mass

A Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is the maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor vehicle, consisting of the tare mass (mass of the vehicle) plus the load (including passengers). The term is also occasionally used for trains

When a vehicle is also towing one or more trailers, the GVM is the total mass of the motor vehicle's wheels on the ground, while the Gross Combination Mass is the total mass of the motor vehicle plus all trailers.

Australia

A car driver licence is limited to driving vehicles up to a maximum GVM of 4,500 kg. Beyond this, a different class of licence is required. A vehicle with a GVM under 4,500 kg is termed a light vehicle, while those over 4,500 kg are termed heavy vehicles.

Vehicles

Many models of small truck are manufactured to have a GVM rating of between 5,000 kg and 7,000 kg but sold with the option of a GVM of just under 4,500 kg so that they can be driven on a car licence. Often, the only difference between the models is where the exhaust exits, with diesel engined heavy rated vehicles having a vertical exhaust stack above the cabin and the light rated vehicles having the exhaust exit under the side or rear like a car.

Roads

Many minor roads, including some in rural areas and some in suburban areas, have GVM restrictions such as 5,000 kg or 8,000 kg. These restrictions may be applied for technical reasons such as load limited bridges, or as a method of reducing the number of heavy vehicles on local roads.

See also

• Aggregate Trailer Mass
• Gross Combination Mass
• Gross Trailer Mass
• Gross vehicle weight rating