what is unladen weight

Unladen weight, also known as tare weight, refers to the weight of an empty vehicle or container. It is the total mass of any motor vehicle when it is not loaded with goods, passengers, fuel, or other items. By subtracting the unladen weight from the gross weight (laden weight), one can determine the weight of the goods carried or contained (the net weight) . Unladen weight is often published on the sides of railway cars and transport vehicles to facilitate the computation of the load carried. It is also used in body composition assessment when doing underwater weighing. Unladen weight is accounted for in computing the cost of the goods carried for purposes of taxation or for tolls related to barge, rail, road, or other traffic, especially where the toll will vary with the value of the goods carried.