Wilber: Your aviation background has no doubt provided you with various zero fuel weights, max taxi weights, max takeoff weights and max landing weights. All of these, if specified by the type certificates, are absolutes and must not be exceeded. My sticker in the door jam specifies the GVWR and is qualified by the wording "should never exceed". This use of the word should is a recommendation, not a legal requirement. This only serves the manufacturer to ensure the vehicle remains within a wide safe range for all road conditions, weather and even driver experience, but does not imply a legal or structural requirement.