NTEA offers a variety of resources designed to support its member companies, and one standout tool is the Vehicle Center of Gravity &Axle Weight Calculator. This intuitive, interactive resource is free for NTEA members and is designed to be part of your toolkit to perform calculations as part of a thorough weight analysis and compliance evaluation of your custom vehicle upfits and modifications. Accessing it is simple — just log in to your ntea.com account and visit ntea.com/weightcalculator.
Why use the calculator?
The tool isn’t just free — it’s incredibly user-friendly, complete with a tutorial for new users. It’s designed to simplify the often complex task of calculating axle weights and center of gravity (CG) location for custom vehicle configurations, helping you determine if weight and CG limitations are being met for compliance with applicable motor vehicle safety standards and Federal Bridge Law.
Getting started
Before diving in, gather key information about your vehicle, including:
- Original chassis weights and dimensions
- Gross axle weight ratings (GAWRs)
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
Once you input your chassis weights and dimensions, you’ll move on to configuring the body type. Choose from a range of options, such as dump bodies, flatbeds, cargo boxes, and more.
The occupant and cargo tab allows you to fine-tune:
- Cargo weight and location
- Passenger weight and location
Optional equipment, like cranes or plows, can also be added; additional optional sections allow for inputs of trailers and axle modifications.
As you fill in each section, completed tabs will display with a green checkmark, indicating that all input fields have data values (an independent review by legal and engineering experts is necessary to determine if the weight limitations are met). If there’s any missing information, a caution symbol will appear, prompting you to review your inputs.
Reviewing outputs
On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll find outputs for:
- Resulting axle weights
- Total truck weight
- Remaining weight capacity
If your inputs exceed chassis weight ratings, the affected fields will turn red. Depending on the situation, reconfiguring the upfit and/or the chassis being evaluated may be necessary.
Why it matters
This calculator doesn’t just help you calculate axle weights and CG — it also evaluates Federal Bridge weight limits for applicable axle groups, and it will indicate whether each group is within respective limits or not. This tool can help ensure your custom upfits and modifications meet legal requirements, enhancing safety for your team and your customers.
Start using the tool today at ntea.com/weightcalculator.