Most commonly in the work truck industry, alterations to completed vehicles result in increased curb weight. So, upfits such as bins/racks in vans or box removals using a body heavier than the original pickup box will reduce the amount of weight of occupants and cargo that can go in the vehicle before hitting the GVWR. If you know, for example, that you are adding more than 100 lbs. of body and/or permanently attached equipment, then this value must be corrected so the owner/operator understands the new, reduced value of the altered vehicle.

 

 

There are several methods for correcting this information, but the simplest involves utilizing a "Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label". This smaller label is used specifically to show the amount of weight by which the capacity of occupants and cargo on the placard has been reduced. There are requirements for the color and position of the label, but you will just note the amount of permanently attached weight (in both kilograms and pounds) that you are adding to the vehicle. For example, if you add a toolbox and ladder rack to a new F-150 pickup for a dealer, and the toolbox and ladder rack with all attachment hardware weigh 170 lbs. (77 kgs.), you would complete the Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label and place it next to (within 1" of) the existing vehicle placard.

 

 

Note that this is used to state the net increase in curb weight, so any non-permanently attached equipment, such as the removable blade of a snowplow, does not need to be accounted for on this label. While the weight of such items is also important information, those items are considered "cargo" and are not included in the curb weight of a vehicle."

 

The NTEA offers the Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label(Item #2246) in the Shop NTEA section of NTEA.com. 

 

 

Reprinted with permission. July 2014 NTEA News, � 2014 NTEA