Gross combination mass (GCM)

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GlossaryUpdated 10 July 2026

Gross combination mass is the maximum combined weight of a vehicle plus everything it tows, including the trailers and their loads, as rated by the manufacturer.

GCM is the limit that catches tow-heavy fleets: a ute can be under its GVM and still be illegal because the ute plus loaded trailer exceeds its GCM.

Exceeding rated mass is a safety issue, an insurance issue and a Chain of Responsibility issue, so fleets that tow should know both numbers for every combination they run.

Last updated 10 July 2026General information, not tax or legal advice.

Related terms

Keep reading.

Neighbouring terms from the fleet glossary.

Gross vehicle massGross vehicle mass is the maximum a vehicle is allowed to weigh fully loaded, set by the manufacturer, and it is the number that decides whether a vehicle is legally light or heavy in Australia.GVM
Mass managementMass management is the discipline of keeping heavy vehicles within their legal mass limits and being able to prove it, from general mass limits up to accredited concessional and higher mass schemes.

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