Cargo weight includes the net weight (the actual goods) plus the weight of all necessary packaging, pallets, crates, and containers, collectively known as the tare weight, to get the total gross weight used for shipping, safety, and cost calculation, while also considering volumetric weight for air freight.
Net weight is the actual weight of only the cargo itself, excluding the weight of the vehicle, container, or any packaging. Sometimes called net mass or payload, this metric is determined by subtracting the tare weight and the weight of any packaging or pallets from the gross weight after the cargo has been loaded.
Gross weight refers to the total weight of a shipment – this means the weight of your products plus the combined weight of any packaging, pallets, and container. It doesn't include the truck or vehicle used to move the load.
Gross Vehicle Weight means the maximum amount a vehicle can weigh when it is fully loaded with fuel, goods and passengers. Every vehicle has a GVW which is written on its VIN plate. GVW can be up to 3500kg for a van. GVW is the most weight that the van can safely handle, and it must never be exceeded.
Gross weight refers to the total weight of the vehicle or container and the goods inside it. It is a comprehensive measure that includes the tare weight and the net weight (weight of the cargo only).
These numbers actually reference the capability and class of each type of pickup. This can be helpful when considering which Silverado is right for your needs. Silverado 1500 - Half-ton pickup, light-duty. Silverado 2500 HD - Three-quarter ton pickup, heavy-duty. Silverado 3500 HD - One-ton pickup, heavy-duty.
Wrong tare weight means wrong shipping costs. Vessels must balance cargo using precise tare weights to maintain vessel stability. International shipping regulations require verified weights before cargo loading.
The "80 towing rule" is a widely followed safety guideline suggesting you should not tow a trailer heavier than 80% of your vehicle's maximum towing capacity, creating a buffer for miscalculations, varied terrain (hills/declines), and to protect your vehicle's brakes, transmission, and suspension from excessive wear, though some manufacturers set lower limits or have specific rules like 80 km/h speed restrictions. It's a common-sense measure for safer towing, giving you a margin for error beyond the manufacturer's official limits.
Many popular 4x4 utes and SUVs can tow 3500kg (3.5 tonnes), including the Ford Ranger/Everest, Toyota HiLux/LandCruiser/Prado, Nissan Patrol, Isuzu D-Max/MU-X, and Land Rover Defender, offering strong options for towing boats or caravans with reliable 4WD systems. Key considerations are engine power (diesel often preferred for torque), chassis strength, and payload capacity when towing at maximum weight.
Gross vehicle mass (GVM)
This includes people, luggage, gear, fuel, tow ball mass from your caravan, everything. Think of the gross vehicle mass as the most your tow vehicle can weigh, including the ball mass of the caravan you are towing.
As we've discussed, an empty 20ft shipping container will typically weigh under 5,000lbs or mostly hover between 3,970lbs and 4,850lbs or between 1.8 and 2.2 metric tonnes.
Vehicles cannot operate as they are intended to when they are overweight. Exceeding the GVWR can: Overburden a vehicle's engine. Make braking less efficient and extend the distance necessary to stop safely.
Heavy cargo, defined as any single piece of freight weighing 150 kilograms (330 pounds) or more, represents a specialized and challenging aspect of logistics and transportation. Transporting heavy cargo necessitates the use of specialized equipment such as heavy-duty trucks, forklifts, cranes, and lifting gear.
Cargo weight refers to the total weight of goods, materials, or products being transported on a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. Accurately measuring cargo weight is important for effectively managing logistics costs and road safety, and to avoid legal penalties.
Do I divide by 4,000, 5000 or 6,000 to calculate volumetric weight? The volumetric divisor depends on the courier and service you're using. If you're sending air freight, or economy freight, the divisor will likely be 6,000. If you're sending with an express courier like UPS or FedEx, the devisor will likely be 5,000.
Does gross weight include the pallet? Yes. The pallet, the packaging, and the product itself are all included in the gross weight.
Benefits of Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
It's perfect for adventures where AWD simply can't keep up. 4WD vehicles often offer better towing capabilities, especially for heavy loads.
The number one mistake people make is overworking their tow vehicle. Overextending your vehicle can start a landslide of engine problems. This mistake could lead to a meltdown on the side of the road and potentially require a brand new transmission.
You generally don't need a special license to tow a trailer if your car has a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) under 4.5 tonnes, allowing you to tow trailers up to their Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) of 4.5 tonnes**, as long as it's within your vehicle's rated towing capacity, but learner/P1 drivers have restrictions (e.g., P1 can tow small trailers up to 250kg unloaded). Always check your car's manual for its specific limit and ensure you have a full license, not learner or P1 (except for specific small trailers).
At long last the new 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado has a 3500kg towing capacity, but is it up to the task? The 2025 Toyota LandCruiser Prado is a better heavy-duty tow vehicle than its predecessor, both in maximum towing capacity and towing performance.
Rules for towing
When towing: you must not tow more than 1 trailer at a time. you must not have any person travelling in a trailer or caravan you're towing.
You should step on the scale first thing in the morning. That's when you'll get your most accurate weight because your body has had the overnight hours to digest and process whatever you ate and drank the day before. And you should try to turn that step into a regular part of your routine.
The word tare originates from the Middle French word tare 'wastage in goods, deficiency, imperfection' (15th c. ), from Italian tara, from Arabic طرح ṭarḥ, lit. 'thing deducted or rejected', from taraha 'to reject'.
In many stores, the electronic of computerized scales used at the check-out counter are set to automatically deduct the tare weight on commodities packaged in the store. On other scales, the sales clerk must manually deduct the tare weight by using the tare function of the scale.