A method for providing a load compensation signal for the drive motor control loop of a traction elevator system which includes an elevator car, a counterweight, and a drive which includes a drive motor, brake, and traction drive sheave. The brake is mounted to provide an indication of the direction of unbalanced brake torque, with the method including the step of detecting unbalanced brake torque when the elevator car is stationary. A car load compensation signal is provided in response to the detecting step, with the compensation signal transferring the unbalanced torque from the brake to the drive motor, building up the motor current to provide motor torque sufficient to hold the car stationary while the brake torque is reduced to zero. The method then continues by using the motor current to provide car loading signals for use by the supervisory control portion of the elevator system.