Does payload matter any more

Over here we can run 46t gross(not that it matters too much). I drive a 06 MAN tga with a short Schmitz tipper tare is 14.9t so 31.1t payload. A chap that runs out of the same quarry runs a 16 actros with a long Schmitz and his gross is 19t so only a 27t payload. 4t less of a payload could be 80e less a load on some of the long runs we do.