What does gross vehicle weight (GVW) mean?

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle, as specified by the manufacturer including: the vehicle’s chassis; body; engine; engine fluids; fuel; accessories; driver; passengers; and the maximum cargo that can be safely carried (excluding that of any trailers). You can usually find the GVW on a plate located on a commercial vehicle or by referring to the manufacturer’s documentation or webpage. It is important to identify the correct GVW as this will help determine the correct Harmonized System (HS) code.