Minibus Weights Explained

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and Carrying Capacity are two areas that our customers often ask us about. We have recognised that there is a massive misconception that the Ford Transit 17 Seater minibus is the best on the market for carrying capacity.

The approximate payload of the Ford Transit 17 Seater is only 1,491kgs for 16 passengers and the driver. It is therefore very easy to see the operator of a 17 Seat Transit Minibus thinking that they can load it with 16 teenagers / adults, a driver and sports equipment and not thinking about the GVW whilst potentially operating it illegally.



The approximate payload of our Peugeot Boxer 17 Seater CanDrive Maxi Minibus on the other hand is 1,600kg for 16 passengers and the driver. This equates to a significant difference from the Payload of the Ford Transit.

We have provided more information below however if you would like to chat to our sales team please call 01782 444289 and they will be happy to help you with any GVW and Carrying Capacity questions that you may have.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – This is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the Minibus, fuel, driver, passengers and cargo.

Kerb Weight / Unladen Weight (ULW) - is the total weight of the Minibus while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.

Payload – This is the GVW minus the ULW, which gives you a figure of how much weight you can carry in terms of people, fuel and luggage.

Minibus Weights



- CanDrive Light 15 seat Minibus - GVW 3500kgs, ULW 2250kgs*, Payload 1250kgs*

- CanDrive Flexi 17 Seat Minibus - GVW 3850kgs, ULW 2500kgs*, Payload 1350kgs*

- CanDrive Maxi 17 Seat Minibus– GVW 4250kgs, ULW 2650kgs*, Payload 1600kgs*

* Please note the above ULW & Payload weights are approximate and may vary slightly from bus to bus, each bus supplied is weighed individually and labelled with its ULW



- Transit 12 Seat Minibus – GVW 3500kgs, ULW 2652kgs, Payload 848kgs

- Transit 15 Seat Minibus – GVW 4100kgs, ULW 2749kgs, Payload 1351kgs

- Transit 17 Seat Minibus – GVW 4600kgs, ULW 3109kgs, Payload 1491kgs

If you would like to chat to our sales team please call 01782 444289 and they will be happy to help you with any GVW and Carrying Capacity questions that you may have.

Visit our website for more information about our range of CanDrive Minibuses

November 30, 2017