Gross vehicle mass in the logistics industry is nothing more than vehicle mass determined based on vehicle weight and maximum load of the car or semi-trailer. This value specifically determines in Polish law the maximum possible vehicle load, which for the driver means the limit of cargo that can be transported as part of the transport service implementation. In Polish transport law it is the maximum possible vehicle load with a given cargo. Exceeding GVM involves financial penalties, and even the necessity to reload goods at the moment of inspection.
Gross vehicle mass – what does it mean?
The abbreviation GVM (DMC in Polish) in the logistics industry is nothing more than the gross vehicle mass of the vehicle transporting the load. Each vehicle belonging to the company fleet has appropriate parameters regarding total mass for the transported load contained in the registration certificate.
Gross vehicle mass in the registration certificate determines the so-called maximum permissible vehicle load with cargoes. It is also worth bearing in mind regulations specified by Polish transport law, which concern weight limits for transported conditions.
Limits for goods according to Polish law regulations
Do you want to know what are the GVM limits for individual types of vehicles?
Gross vehicle mass in Poland depends on the vehicle mean used.
- 10 tons – this is the maximum permissible load for a single-axle trailer
- 11 tons – this is GVM for a trailer that has only one central axle.
- 18 tons – this is GVM for a two-axle motor vehicle or trailer with two axles,
- 19 tons – for electric cars
- 19.5 tons – this is the maximum load for a bus with two axles
- 10 tons – this is the maximum load of one trailer axle as part of transport using a so-called vehicle combination
- 18 tons is the maximum GVM for a trailer with two axles (counted without semi-trailer)
- 24 tons – is GVM for semi-trailers that have more than 2 axles and 2 wheels (also counted without semi-trailer)
- 28 tons for total value of vehicles, and 25 tons for three-axle vehicles.
Detailed parameters for GVM of individual types of vehicles used to provide transport services and detailed technical conditions of vehicles admitted to service provision are specified by the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of December 31, 2002.
What are the penalties and consequences for exceeding gross vehicle mass?
Each vehicle belonging to the company fleet is subject to legal regulations related to the so-called maximum vehicle load. The state authority that controls the GVM of each vehicle is the Road Transport Inspectorate (ITD). However, GVM control of the vehicle can also be carried out by police, border guard or customs service.
The Road Transport Inspectorate very often carries out such controls during drivers’ driving and verifies if a given load has not exceeded the limit. In case of exceeding GVM, the driver and owner of the transport company are obliged to pay a monetary penalty, the amount of which is set by the ITD board.
It is worth bearing in mind that too much overloading of the vehicle with cargoes can cause danger to other road users. The consequence of driving on Polish roads with such an overloaded vehicle is too long braking distance and greater risk of a road accident, which is why drivers are obliged to observe limits regarding maximum permissible vehicle load capacity.
If during inspection it turns out that the vehicle GVM is exceeded, the person controlling the vehicle can order the driver to reload the vehicle, which also affects additional transport costs and extends the time of delivering the load. That is why drivers’ awareness regarding gross vehicle mass is so important, to
How much are penalties for exceeding GVM in other countries in Europe?
In Europe there are also high penalties for exceeding vehicle GVM, which are worth remembering. Traveling through Germany, every driver must reckon with very high penalties and control by the BAG authority. In Belgium, for exceeding norms regarding transported load by 3 tons one can receive a penalty in the amount of 300,000 PLN! Exceeding GVM in Germany involves the necessity of a fee in the amount of 10,000 PLN, if the load weight is exceeded even by 25% in relation to vehicle GVM.
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What is worth knowing about gross vehicle mass?
Gross vehicle mass (GVM) is a value which, for reasons of safety of oneself and other road users, should not be exceeded on Polish and European roads. High penalties associated with exceeding the maximum permissible vehicle load capacity make many drivers pay increasing attention to correct load weight and take care not to overload vehicles.