Manufacturer’s mass limits

Vehicle manufacturers set gross mass limits for each vehicle. A vehicle must not be operated at a mass limit that will exceed the:

  • Manufacturer’s gross vehicle mass or gross combination mass
  • Manufacturer’s individual component rating (i.e. axles, springs, tyres, etc)
  • Statutory mass limits or overall axle spacings.

GVM and GCM

Heavy vehicles must comply with both:

  • regulated axle mass requirements and
  • regulated gross vehicle mass requirements.

The safe operating limits for each heavy vehicle are stated as gross vehicle mass (GVM) and gross combination mass (GCM).

  • Gross vehicle mass is the maximum loaded mass of a vehicle as specified by the registration authority or the vehicle’s manufacturer.
  • Gross combination mass is the total maximum loaded mass of the vehicle and any trailers it may be towing, as specified by the registration authority or the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Where the GVM stated by the registration authority is less than the GVM stated by the manufacturer, the mass recorded by the registration authority takes precedence.

The GVM and GCM of the vehicle can be found on the:

  • identification (compliance) plate of vehicles built prior to 1 July 2021 or
  • Register of Approved Vehicles for vehicles built after 1 July 2021 (the vehicle identification number (VIN) is required to conduct a search) or
  • If modified, a modification plate or
  • registration details, available via registration authority records.

The mass limit of a vehicle is the lesser of the manufacturer's mass limits, general mass limits or other mass limits such as those imposed by a sign for a bridge or road.