Interpretation ID: aiam3256
Douthitt
Mitchell & Paul
P.O. Box 549
201 N. Bridge Street
Henrietta
TX 76365;
Dear Mr. Douthitt: This responds to your March 19, 1980, letter asking whether it is lega for a manufacturer to build a chassis that would normally have a high gross axle weight rating (GAWR) while continuing to certify the combined axle and chassis to a lower GAWR and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The answer to your question is yes.; The chassis-cab manufacturer and the final-stage manufacturer whe certifying the proper GVWR and GAWR must consider the entire vehicle and its capacity to sustain the load for which it is designed. Therefore, if a manufacturer installs a heavy axle but does not reinforce the frame to correspond with the heavier axle, it must select a GVWR that reflects the capacity of the weaker frame rather than the stronger axle. The GAWR can be any amount appropriate for a given axle without regard to the vehicle's GVWR, provided the sum total of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) is not less than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).; Your problem arises because the contract for purchase of th chassis-cab specified only the GAWR without insisting that the GVWR be similarly increased. This is entirely a private contractual matter and no Federal regulation of which we are aware has been violated.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel