Interpretation ID: aiam2781
Jr.
General Engines Co.
Inc.
Interstate 295
Thorofare
NJ 08086;
Dear Mr. Flowers: This responds to your January 13, 1978, letter asking whether prior t September of 1976, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required the GAWR determination to be based upon an 'unrestricted' speed of 60 miles per hour.; The NHTSA requires that a vehicle's GAWR be based upon an unqualifie speed of 60 miles per hour. This GAWR computation is then inserted on a vehicle's certification plate by the manufacturer to inform users of the safe GAWR. However, it is permissible to then list at the bottom of a certification plate different GAWR's based upon reduced speeds. If you intended one of your vehicles to operate under a reduced speed with a higher GAWR, you should have marked the correct GAWR on the certification label computed at 60 miles per hour and listed the higher GAWR's for the reduced speeds at the bottom of the plate.; The 1976 amendment to which you refer, Standard No. 120, continues t require the same approach to GAWR as has been the agency's practice for many years. The only difference incorporated by the 1976 amendment is that those vehicles that are unable to attain speeds of 50 miles per hour in 2 miles need not base their determination on the 60 miles per hour figure. These vehicles may compute their GAWR's at a reduced speed. Nonetheless, they are still permitted to list at the bottom of the certification plate higher GAWR's for further reduced speeds.; Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel