Max payload calculator
Enter your truck and trailer ratings and what they weigh empty. You get the most freight you can legally carry, and which rating stops you first.
By Gustavo · Updated October 2026
LEGAL PAYLOAD
- Limited by
- trailer GVWR
- Under 26,000 lb line
- 10,000 lb
16,500 lb of legal payload. We filter every load by that number before it reaches you.
How it is calculated
- Combined limit = the manufacturer's GCWR if you know it, otherwise truck GVWR + trailer GVWR.
- By combined rating = combined limit - truck empty - trailer empty.
- By trailer rating = trailer GVWR - trailer empty.
- Legal payload = the smaller of the two.
The tool also shows how much freight keeps the rig under 26,000 lb combined, the line where a Class A CDL starts for a combination with a trailer rated over 10,000 lb.
Worked example
EXAMPLE
- Truck 14,000 + trailer 24,000
- 38,000 lb
- Empty 8,500 + 7,500
- 16,000 lb
- By combined rating
- 22,000 lb
- By trailer rating
- 16,500 lb
- Under 26,000 lb line
- 10,000 lb
This CDL hotshot is limited by the trailer, not the combined rating. The same truck with a 12,000 lb trailer would be a non-CDL rig with far less room.
What the tool leaves out
- The truck's own GVWR. Gooseneck pin weight sits on the truck. A heavy pin can put the truck over its GVWR before the trailer is full. Weigh both.
- Axle and tire ratings. Each axle and each tire has its own limit.
- Your gear and fuel. Straps, chains, ramps and a full tank all count as weight. Scale the rig loaded with your usual gear.
- Road limits. Federal and state axle limits apply on top of your ratings. Check those with the truck weight limit checker.
Payload across equipment
| Rig | Rough legal payload |
|---|---|
| Non-CDL hotshot, 26,000 lb combined | 6,000 to 10,000 lb |
| CDL hotshot with 40 ft gooseneck | 14,000 to 20,000 lb |
| 26 ft box truck, about 26,000 lb GVWR | about 10,000 lb |
| Tractor and 53 ft dry van | about 43,000 to 45,000 lb |
| Tractor and flatbed | about 46,000 to 48,000 lb |
Good and bad results
A payload close to what your usual freight weighs is the danger zone. Posted weights are estimates, and freight that scales a few hundred pounds heavy can put you over. Leave a margin. If your payload is low for the freight in your area, a lighter trailer or a higher-rated one can change the picture, but a higher rating can also cross the CDL line. Run the numbers before you buy.
Loads matched to your payload
We ask for your ratings and empty weights on the first call. Every load is checked against your payload before it reaches you, and we ask the broker for the real weight. You approve every load, and the rate confirmation comes straight to you. See how it works on hotshot dispatch, or plan straps with the load securement calculator.
Questions about this calculator
Q01What is payload capacity in a truck?
The weight of freight, people and gear a truck can carry without going over its GVWR. It equals GVWR minus the empty (curb) weight. For a rig with a trailer, the combined rating and the trailer's own rating limit it too.
Q02How much weight can a box truck carry?
A 26 ft box truck rated at about 26,000 lb GVWR that weighs 15,000 to 16,000 lb empty can carry roughly 10,000 lb of freight. Your own truck's door sticker and a scale ticket give the real number.
Q03How much weight can a semi truck carry?
At the federal 80,000 lb gross limit, a typical tractor and dry van weighing around 35,000 lb empty can carry about 45,000 lb, if every axle is legal. Heavier tractors, reefers and flatbeds with gear carry less.
Q04How much weight can a half ton truck carry?
Most half-ton pickups carry somewhere between about 1,500 and 2,300 lb, people included. The tire and loading sticker in the driver's door shows the exact number for your truck and trim.
Q05Where can I find a truck payload capacity chart?
Manufacturers publish payload and towing charts for each model year, but options change the number. The sticker on your door and a certified scale ticket are more reliable than any chart.