Gross axle weight rating
The gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.
Importance
Road damage rises steeply with axle weight, and is estimated "as a rule of thumb... for reasonably strong pavement surfaces" to be proportional to the fourth power of the axle weight. This means that doubling the axle weight will increase road damage =16 times. For this reason trucks with a high axle weight are heavily taxed in most countries.Examples of GAWR on common axles.
Axle | GAWR | Manufacturer |
Dana 30 | 2,770 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 35 | 2,770 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 44 | 3,500 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 50 | 5,000 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 60 | 6,500 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana S 60 | 7,000 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 70 | 10,000 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana 80 | 12,000 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana S 110 | 14,706 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Dana S 130 | 16,000 lbs | Dana Holding Corporation |
Ford 9-inch axle | 3,600 lbs | Ford Motor Company |
Ford 8.8 axle | 3,800 lbs | Visteon |
Sterling 10.5 axle | 9,750 lbs | Visteon |
10.5" Corporate 14 Bolt Differential | 8,600 lbs | American Axle |
11.5 AAM | 10,000 lbs | American Axle |
10.5 AAM | 9,000 lbs | American Axle |
Saginaw 9.5-inch axle | 6,000 lbs | American Axle |