What is Gross Weight? Differences and Calculations vs Net Weight
International shipments need the net, gross, and tare weights to ensure vessels are not overloaded. In addition, the quotes, paperwork, and bill of lading indicate which weights, including the vehicle’s own weight, determine the shipment costs for the given freight company. Understanding the differences between the types of weights is critical to interpreting the paperwork.
Container weight is one of the primary components of the bill of lading. For example, light containers are usually placed on heavy containers during shipment to ensure a ship’s stability. Weight management mistakes or a weight that is not declared correctly can make a vessel sink, making weight declaration accuracy a critical component of safety and damage prevention or loss.
Understanding Weight Terms
Understanding the various weight terms related to vehicles and cargo is crucial for safe and legal transportation. In this section, we will break down the key weight terms and their definitions.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. This includes the weight of the vehicle itself, cargo, passengers, and any trailer being towed. Adhering to the vehicle’s GVWR ensures safe operation and prevents overloading.
- Gross Weight: Gross weight refers to the total weight of a vehicle, including the weight of the vehicle, cargo, passengers, and fuel. This is a critical measure for determining if a vehicle is within safe operating limits.
- Curb Weight: Curb weight is the weight of a vehicle in its bare-bones state, without any additional load, passengers, or cargo. It includes all standard equipment and a full tank of fuel but excludes any payload.
- Total Weight: Total weight is the combined weight of a vehicle and its cargo. This term is often used interchangeably with gross weight but can sometimes refer specifically to the weight of the vehicle plus its cargo, excluding passengers and fuel.
- Vehicle Weight Rating: The vehicle weight rating is the maximum weight of a vehicle, including its cargo and passengers, as specified by the manufacturer. This rating helps ensure that the vehicle is not overloaded, which can affect vehicle performance and safety.
What Is Net Weight?
Net weight refers to the total weight of goods outside the transportation container and accessories such as dunnage. You can also define net weight as the total weight of your cargo minus the container’s tare weight. The net weight excludes only the weight of packaging and cargo protection equipment like shelves and pallets.
For example, if you export raw beans in cartons, only the beans count as net weight. But if you ship canned beans preserved in a liquid, the fluid counts towards the net weight.
How To Calculate Net Weight
Follow the steps below to get your net weight.
- Weigh the product while in its container or package to get the gross weight
- Remove the product from the package, then weigh the package to get the tare weight
- Subtract the tare from the gross weight to get the net weight
In short, the mathematical formula for net weight is;
Net weight = gross weight – tare weight, or
Net weight = product quantity * product weight
You can use the first formula when you don’t know the product quantity and weight. For instance, if you assume the gross weight of a shipment is 6200 kgs, and the tare weight is 1800 kg, you will need this formula.
Net weight = Gross weight – tare weight
Net weight = 6200 – 1800
Net weight = 4400 kgs
Here’s an example of when and how to use the second formula:
Suppose you want to export glass plates each weighing 0.2 KG without packaging. If you deliver 10 000 pieces, the net weight will be:
Net weight = product quantity * product weight
Net weight = 10 000 * 0.2
Net weight = 2 000 KGs
What Is Gross Weight?
Gross weight is the weight of your goods plus the package used for transportation. For instance, the gross weight of liquids is how much the liquid weighs plus the bottle or can in which it is stored. If the products are packed in cans and put in a carton, the weight of the cans and cartons contributes to the gross weight.
Gross trailer weight (GTW) refers to the actual weight of a fully-loaded trailer, which is crucial for calculating the overall vehicle and trailer weight for safe towing.
The includes the net and tare weight and the vessel. The gross weight for water transportation is the tare weight and your product’s net weight. However, the gross weight for road vehicles is the weight of the products being transported and the vehicle combined.
Tongue weight refers to the static force exerted by the trailer tongue on the hitch ball, and it is important for determining safe towing capacities.
What Is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)?
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is a critical safety measure that determines the maximum weight of a vehicle and its cargo. GVWR is assigned by the vehicle manufacturer and represents the maximum weight of the vehicle and what it can carry when fully loaded. This includes the vehicle’s curb weight, passengers, cargo, and any additional equipment.
GVWR: A Critical Safety Measure
GVWR is a critical safety measure because it ensures that a vehicle is not overloaded. Overloading a vehicle can lead to accidents, damage to the vehicle, and potential loss of cargo. It can also result in costly repairs and downtime. By adhering to the vehicle’s GVWR, operators can maintain optimal vehicle performance and safety.
GVWR vs GCWR: Key Differences
While GVWR refers to the maximum weight of a single vehicle, the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum weight of a vehicle and its trailer combined. GCWR includes the weight of the tow vehicle, the trailer, and all cargo and passengers in both. Understanding the difference between these two ratings is essential for safe towing and vehicle operation.
How To Calculate Gross Weight Calculation
To calculate the gross weight, add your product’s net weight to the container’s weight. Payload capacity weight is the allowable weight that can be added to a vehicle’s curb weight, including cargo and passengers. Gross weight calculation can vary between different transportation modes. Here are some examples:
Air Transport
The gross weight calculation includes the plane’s weight, the people on board, and fuel.
Road Transport
Gross weight equals the truck’s weight plus the tare and net weight, where the truck’s weight refers to how much the vehicle weighs without any additional load, also known as the curb weight.
Water Transport
Add the net weight and tare weight to get the gross weight.
Mathematically, the formula to calculate gross weight is:
Gross weight = Tare weight + Net weight + Other Accessories
You can also calculate gross weight from the net weight. Once you have the net weight, add the weight of the empty container and other accessories to your products’ weight to get the gross weight. Consider the following example;
You want to export 2 000 duvets, each weighing 5 kg. The net weight will be 10 000 kg. Now you will need to send the duvets in a package. Consider that each package weighs 200 g. So the total packaging weight is 400 kg. railway 5.2 kg. Besides the items, you will need a container, so assume the container weighs 2800 kg.
In addition, you will need racks or pallets to hold your goods. If that is the case, the gross weight will include the weight of the racks/pallets. In the above example, assume you will need a 600 kg shelf. So, the total gross weight will be;
Gross weight = tare weight + net weight + Accessories (pallets and packaging)
Gross weight = 2 800 + 10 000 + (600+400)
Gross weight = 13 800 kg or 13.8 metric tonnes
Net Weight vs Gross Weight: The Differences
Net weight and gross weight are two important weight terms that are often confused with each other. In this section, we will break down the differences between net weight and gross weight.
- Net Weight: Net weight is the weight of goods outside the transportation container and accessories. It excludes the weight of packaging and cargo protection equipment like shelves and pallets. Net weight is crucial for calculating the actual weight of the goods being shipped.
- Gross Weight: Gross weight is the weight of goods plus the package used for transportation. This includes the net weight, tare weight, and any additional accessories. Gross weight is used for calculating the total weight of the shipment and determining shipping costs.
The key difference between net weight and gross weight is that net weight excludes packaging and cargo protection equipment, while gross weight includes these weights. Net weight is used for calculating the actual weight of the goods, while gross weight is used for calculating the total weight and shipping costs. Understanding these differences is essential for accurate weight management and cost calculation in logistics.
Net Weight vs Gross Weight The Differences
The table below explores the differences between net weight and gross weight.
Understanding payload capacity is essential for trucking operations to plan cargo loads and adhere to legal weight limits.
| Net Weight | Gross Weight |
|---|---|
| The weight of goods only | The total of goods plus the package, packaging, and accessories |
| Determines the weight of cargo before packaging | Determines the shipping costs |
| The calculation is constant in all modes of transport | The calculation depends on the transportation type |
| The calculation unit is kilograms or pounds | The calculation unit can be a metric ton or metric tons |
| Excludes the tare weight | Includes the tare weight |
Tare Weight and How It Relates
Also known as unladen weight, tare weight is the weight of an empty container or vehicle. The tare weight can either be actual or average tare weights. The actual tare is the actual weight of the container without the pallets and packaging. The average weight is the sum of the tare weight of several containers divided by the number of containers. The vehicle’s curb weight is the weight of the vehicle when it is empty, which is crucial for understanding its total capacity.
Tare weight is vital to the calculation of the gross or net weight. For example, if you add the tare weight to the net weight, you get the gross weight. You get the net weight if you deduct the tare weight from the gross weight. Mathematically,
- Gross weight = Tare weight + Net weight
- Net weight = Gross weight – Tare weight
- Tare weight = Gross weight – Net weight
Knowing the vehicle’s GVWR helps prevent overloading and ensures safety and compliance. You can find the tare weight printed on intermodal containers. The weights usually vary depending on the size of the container.