Towing Acronyms for Vehicle Manufacturer Specifications

Regardless of your experience and expertise in towing, it is important to review and understand the most common acronyms for vehicle manufacturer specifications in the industry to ensure you are well-prepared for safe travel. Continue reading to learn some key towing acronyms, and share your knowledge with your fellow towers.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Common Towing Abbreviations:

Before you can understand what these terms mean, you must be familiar with the meaning of the term, “gross” first. Gross refers to the total weight without deduction for tare, tret, or waste. See the bottom of the blog for these three definitions.

ATM – Aggregate Trailer Mass

The acronym, “ATM” stands for “Aggregate Trailer Mass”, which refers to the total mass of the trailer (see GTM) when carrying the manufacturer-recommended maximum load.

GCVW – Gross Combined Vehicle Weight

The acronym, “GCVW” stands for “Gross Combined Vehicle Weight”, which refers to the combined weight of a trailer and the towing vehicle, including all passengers, as well as, fuel, equipment, and the cargo on the trailer.

GTM – Gross Trailer Mass

The acronym, “GTM” stands for “Gross Trailer Mass”, which refers to the weight that is transferred to the ground by the trailer wheels when coupled up to the towing vehicle and when carrying the maximum load recommended by the manufacturer.

GTW – Gross Trailer Weight

The acronym, “GTW” stands for “Gross Trailer Weight”, which refers to the total weight of a trailer, including the weight of the cargo. It is the same as “gross vehicle mass”, or “GVM.” See below.

GVM – Gross Vehicle Mass

The acronym, “GVM” stands for “Gross Vehicle Mass”, which refers to the total mass of a trailer and its load combined.

GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight

The acronym, “GVW” stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight”, which refers to the total weight of the towing vehicle, including all passengers, as well as, fuel, equipment, and the cargo on the trailer.

GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The acronym, “GVWR” stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating”, which refers to the maximum recommended weight of the vehicle or trailer when it is fully loaded in adherence to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

TWA – Trailer Weight Allowance

The acronym, “TWA” stands for “Trailer Weight Allowance”, which refers to the maximum weight your vehicle can safely and properly tow. It is also known as “maximum trailer rating” or “tow rating.”

Central Terms to Know:

In Cab This refers to the space inside the tow vehicle cabin.

Tare This terms refers to the empty weight of the trailer.

Tret An allowance for waste, after a deduction for tare.

Spring Center This terms refers to the distance between the center of one set of springs to the center of the other set of springs when mounted on a trailer chassis. This measurement is usually essential for the axel assembly, which ensures that the axle is mounted centrally across the trailer.

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Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable Indianapolis tow truck services you can trust. Our licensed and insured tow truck operators provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! We also provide numerous community services, roadside assistance services, wrecker and recovery services, and much more. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate, anytime!