payload
PAY-lohd
/ˈpeɪloʊd/
The revenue-producing carrying capacity of a vehicle, or the total weight of cargo/materials carried.
Distinguishes the actual cargo weight being moved from the empty tare weight of the machine itself.
The story behind the word. Coined in the early 20th century in aviation and transport to distinguish cargo that generates revenue ('pays') from non-revenue cargo like fuel, crew, or structural frame weight.
Word relationships
- cargo capacity: 'Cargo capacity' is general, while 'payload' is the exact mechanical rating or revenue material weight.
- load: 'Load' can mean any weight placed on a structure, whereas 'payload' specifically refers to carried weight producing work.
- tare weight: 'Tare weight' is the unladen weight of the empty vehicle alone.
Commonly confused with
- gross weight: Gross weight includes both the vehicle's empty weight plus its payload combined.
Collocations
- maximum payload
- payload capacity
- payload weight
- payload efficiency
Example sentences
- "Exceeding the recommended payload limit of the haul truck can cause premature hydraulic suspension failure." Transport Economics
- "Operators weighed each bucket load carefully to ensure maximum efficiency without exceeding payload restrictions." Mining Operations
Memory hook
The load that pays the bills: PAY-LOAD is the valuable cargo carried. PAY-LOAD = cargo that generates pay.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the weight of the vehicle itself.
Fun facts
- In space exploration, the spacecraft cargo (like a satellite) is called the payload, making up under 5% of total launch weight!
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