BRIDGE LAWS , Tandem holes HELP!!!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by OutboundGateChic, Jul 28, 2012.

  1. OutboundGateChic

    OutboundGateChic Bobtail Member

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    Jul 28, 2012
    Hampton, VA
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    DRIVERS....

    I need help, I'm learning a little from different drivers about tandems and which holes are what. Like some are 250, others are 500 yada yada...

    My job is to process the bill of laiding, verify your pick up number matches the load in your trailer and seal "your" truck or if I'm on the inbound give you information on where to drop your load or mty or give you your trailer number for your load and where it might be and that I need 2 scale tkts. Not know state by state bridge law and where your tandems can be so you won't get a tkt. :mhissyfit:


    However, we have been coming across A LOT OF DRIVERS, who don't understand BRIDGE LAW. I always tell them to adjust their tandems for California Bridge Law. I recently took a picture with my phone, of what tandem hole you should be in if your holes are 250 or 500 and it had several states listed. However of course today I must cross the bridge of what is NY bridge law. New York was not on my lil guide. :biggrin_25512: And of course I'm dealing with a "steering wheel holder" who doesn't go out side of Virginia and keeps telling me it can't weigh over 34,000lbs. I said I know I told you that when you came in to the inbound gate to make sure you don't drive to the outbound gate with an over weight scale tkt. He still did! I asked him how far back was his tandems, he said I don't know I can still slide them. I said okay, the trailer is going to New York, and you are in the 19th hole is that legal for New York. His response was I DON'T KNOW!!! :smt021 Needless to say put the trailer back in the door and left because he needed sleep.



    If you can break it down for me as if you were teaching a kindergarten class and maybe even some links so I can help these drivers out.


    THANKS!!!!
     
    Everett and scottied67 Thank this.
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  3. KMac

    KMac Road Train Member

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    As I inderstand it each trailer manifacturer is a little different so I don't know if you will be able to get a one size fits all answer.
     
  4. OutboundGateChic

    OutboundGateChic Bobtail Member

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    Jul 28, 2012
    Hampton, VA
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    It doesn't have to be a one size fits all... But a breakdown for the various tandem weights per hole. 250 according to my info California Bridge Law is the 14th hole. Some sort of link to help. Or how one figures how which hole is which length... IE the 41 ft mark yada yada...
     
  5. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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    tape measure time.......
     
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  6. OutboundGateChic

    OutboundGateChic Bobtail Member

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    Jul 28, 2012
    Hampton, VA
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    how many drivers carry tape measures... and is the a reference guide of sorts I could print out that you know of?
     
  7. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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    all drivers SHOULD carry a tape measure..........

    1 size will NOT fit all, measurements must be made.
     
  8. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    A tape should be in every drivers tool box. The king pin sets 3 feet back. The exterior side panels on the truck are 2 feet wide except for the last one. You can do the figuring by counting panels.

    Example, 50' king pin to tail. You need 46' from the nose so you know last axle needs to be 7' from back. That last panel is like 16" so it would be 2" right of the center of the third full panel. Or just drag your tape from the rear. It's a lot easier than trying to stretch the tape the whole length. The hole thing varies by manufacturer. There is no cut and dry system. One company you might get use to the same trailer if they have only one brand. Some companies will mark their trailers with a strip of tape vertically.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2012
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  9. OutboundGateChic

    OutboundGateChic Bobtail Member

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    Jul 28, 2012
    Hampton, VA
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    I can tell you for sure intermodal drivers do not and are absolutely clueless when it comes to where the tandems should be as most ocean boxes are flipped on to fixed chassis. Occassionally they will have sliders, and all the 53' foot rail boxes have sliders but these drivers have absolutely no clue what I'm talking about when I tell them they can or can't go past a certain pin hole.

    Thinks I'm gonna pass out, a driver actually knew where he needed to be, thank god! But this is a rarity in these parts...

    The normal response is I don't know what the bridge law is, literally makes me wanna scream it's not my job to know your job. However I'm at the point that it is my job to know so I can be able to better assist these drivers that are clueless.
     
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  10. ChromeDome

    ChromeDome Road Train Member

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    The bridge law lengths are all listed by state in the Rand McNally Atlas . This is in the front, and every driver that you see should already have one. This is the commercial one, not the car one. Not every state has bridge laws. And none of them are set by pin holes on the trailer. It is the distance between the kingpin on the trailer and the tandems. Depending on the state they have 2 different places this can be measured from. May be center of one wheel, or center of the set. Cannot remember for some reason which wheel, I need to wake up lol.
     
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  11. h11way

    h11way Light Load Member

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    In the front of your Rand Mcnally atlas is a bridge law chart. Some companies mark their trailers with the proper location for the different states.
     
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