The permissible gross vehicle mass (GVM) is a basic truck knowledge. The vehicle's load capacity is based on, among other things, the permissible gross vehicle mass.
GVM - What Does It Mean?
GVM stands for Permissible Gross Vehicle Mass or Permissible Gross Vehicle Weight. Every vehicle's permissible gross weight must be precisely defined before being allowed on the road.
If you're wondering which GVW truck or a vehicle combination has, such as a tractor unit and trailer, e.g. in Poland, you can check the vehicle registration certificate.
Check the fields labeled as:
Check the fields labeled as:
➡️ F.1 - the maximum mass based on the vehicle's technical parameters - MMC (Maximum Mass Capacity);
➡️ F.2 - the maximum permissible weight according to national regulations - GVM;
➡️ F.3 - the permissible total weight of a vehicle combination.
GVW of Trucks in Poland
The regulations governing the permissible gross vehicle weight of trucks in Poland are laid out in the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure from December 31, 2002. This document defines the technical requirements for vehicles and the scope of necessary equipment.
According to these regulations, the GVW of a vehicle combination consisting of a tractor unit with two or three axles and a trailer with three axles is 40 tons. A slightly higher GVW of 44 tons is allowed only for trucks used in intermodal transport. Here, both the tractor and trailer must have three axles each.
The permissible gross vehicle weight of a truck depends, among other things, on the number of axles.
✅ 10 tons – single-axle trailer,
✅ 11 tons – single-axle trailer with a central axle,
✅ 18 tons – two-axle truck or trailer,
✅ 25 tons – three-axle truck,
✅ 26 tons – three-axle truck with twin wheels on the drive axles,
✅ 34 tons – concrete mixer or dump truck with four axles,
✅ 36 tons – vehicle combination consisting of a truck and trailer, each with two axles.
What Exactly Is GVW?
According to Article 2, Paragraph 54 of the Road Traffic Act, GVW is the maximum mass specified by technical conditions, including the vehicle loaded with cargo and people, permitted to operate on public roads.
When carrying out transportation, it's also essential to consider the permissible axle load. If the dimensions of the cargo allow, it should be placed in the appropriate part of the loading space. This ensures that none of the truck’s axles will be overloaded.
How to Calculate the GVW of a Vehicle Combination?
The first step is to determine the permissible gross weight of each vehicle in the combination. Next, the parameters of the tractor unit and trailer, or truck and trailer, should be added together. Remember that the gross weight of the towed vehicle cannot exceed the GVW of the vehicle combination specified in the registration certificate of the tractor unit or truck that will be pulling the trailer.
Overloading the Vehicle - Consequences
It's important to know the correct GVW values, as exceeding them can result in fines.
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