Understanding the consequences of driving overloaded vehicles

Overloaded work trucks create serious safety, compliance and financial risks — yet fleet professionals often have limited control over how vehicles are loaded and operated once placed into service. When GVWR, GAWR or GCWR limits are exceeded, the consequences can include compromised braking and steering performance, longer stopping distances, accelerated component wear, costly downtime, regulatory violations and significant civil or criminal liability exposure. This in-depth whitepaper explains the real-world impacts of driving overloaded vehicles and outlines proactive strategies to control weight during the design and specification phase, including reserve payload planning, stakeholder education and use of NTEA’s weight and life cycle cost tools.