Understanding Payload and Weight Ratings

Weight terms appear on every specification sheet, yet they are easy to confuse. Getting them right protects your truck, your licence and your profit.

The key terms

• Kerb weight: the weight of the empty truck with its fuel and standard equipment
• Payload: the weight of cargo the truck can carry
• Gross vehicle weight (GVW): the maximum permitted weight of the truck and its load together
• Gross combination weight (GCW): for a prime mover, the maximum permitted weight of the tractor, trailer and cargo together

How they relate

As a rule of thumb, payload is the gross vehicle weight minus the weight of the empty truck. A heavier body or extra equipment therefore reduces the payload available for cargo. Always ask for the payload of the exact configuration you are buying, not the chassis alone.

Why it matters in Kenya

Axle-load and weight limits are enforced on Kenyan roads, and overloading can lead to penalties and damage to the vehicle and the road. Check the limits that apply to your routes and make sure the truck you choose can carry your usual load within them.

Questions to ask

• What is the payload of this exact configuration with the body fitted?
• What are the GVW and, if relevant, GCW ratings?
• How are the axle loads distributed when the truck is fully loaded?

Related reading: what to check before buying and the Truck Buying Guide.

Want help choosing? Call or WhatsApp Njoki on 0794624466, or request a quotation and describe the work your truck needs to do.