FAR 52.247-10—Net Weight-General Freight.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.247-10, Net Weight-General Freight, is a transportation clause used when the government is buying transportation or transportation-related services and the shipment weight is not known at the time of shipment. It applies to freight other than household goods or office furniture, and it is specifically used when the contractor is responsible for determining the shipment’s net weight. The clause explains how to calculate net weight by subtracting the vehicle’s tare weight from its gross weight, and it requires both weights to be taken by a certified weighmaster on a certified scale with the vehicle weighed empty and loaded, each time with a full tank of fuel. It also requires the contractor to attach the original empty and loaded weight certificates to the invoice. In practice, this clause is meant to create a reliable, auditable method for pricing and paying transportation charges when the shipment weight cannot be known in advance, while reducing disputes, overbilling, and documentation problems.
Key Rules
Applies Only in Specific Cases
This clause is used in solicitations and contracts for transportation or transportation-related services when the shipment weight is unknown at the time of shipment. It is limited to freight other than household goods or office furniture and is used only when the contractor must determine the net weight.
Net Weight Must Be Calculated Precisely
The net weight is the gross weight of the loaded vehicle minus the tare weight of the empty vehicle. The clause requires a specific method, so the contractor cannot use estimates or informal calculations.
Certified Weighing Required
Both the empty vehicle and the loaded vehicle must be weighed by a certified weighmaster on a certified scale. This requirement is intended to ensure the weight figures are reliable and independently verifiable.
Full Fuel Tank Required for Both Weighings
The vehicle must be weighed empty and loaded with a full tank of fuel in both cases. This standardizes the weighing condition so the tare and gross weights are comparable.
Original Weight Certificates Must Be Submitted
The contractor must attach the original copies of the empty and loaded weight certificates to the invoice for services. This documentation is part of the payment support and helps the government verify the billed weight.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Include this clause only when the acquisition fits the prescription in FAR 47.207-4(a)(2), meaning the shipment weight is unknown at shipment and the contractor will determine net weight for covered freight.
Contractor
Determine the shipment’s net weight using the required tare-minus-gross method, ensure both weighings are performed by a certified weighmaster on a certified scale with a full tank of fuel, and submit the original empty and loaded weight certificates with the invoice.
Weighmaster / Scale Operator
Provide certified weight determinations for both the empty and loaded vehicle in a manner that supports the required certificates and the contractor’s billing documentation.
Agency / Payment Office
Review the invoice and attached original weight certificates to confirm the billed net weight is properly supported before payment.
Practical Implications
This clause matters most for billing accuracy: payment depends on documented net weight, so missing or incomplete weight certificates can delay or block payment.
Contractors should plan for certified weighing at both stages of the shipment; if they do not arrange this in advance, they may end up with unusable documentation.
The full-tank requirement is easy to overlook but important, because inconsistent fuel levels can distort tare and gross weight comparisons and create disputes.
Original certificates are required, so copies alone may not satisfy the clause unless the contracting activity accepts them for some separate administrative reason.
Contracting officers should use this clause only when the solicitation and contract conditions match the prescription; using it in the wrong context can create unnecessary administrative burden or payment problems.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 47.207-4 (a)(2) , insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts for transportation or for transportation-related services when the weight of shipments of freight other than household goods or office furniture is not known at the time of shipment and the contractor is responsible for determining the net weight of the shipments: Net Weight-General Freight (Apr 1984) (a) The net weight of the shipment shall be determined by deducting the tare weight of the vehicle (determined by having the empty vehicle with a full tank of fuel weighed by a certified weighmaster on a certified scale) from the gross weight of the vehicle (determined by having the loaded vehicle with a full tank of fuel weighed by a certified weighmaster on a certified scale). (b) The Contractor shall attach the original copies of the empty and loaded weight certificates to the invoice for services. (End of clause)