Reefer Spread Loading Question!

[Gears]

Load the front lighter than the rear if at all possible. But what do I know?

[donkeyshow72]

I think he was looking for a formula something like no more then 22k within the first 24 ft

[SteveSteveSteve]

I'm not a trucker, but looking for similar advice. 30 pallets weighing 42,500 lbs in a refrigerated 53' trailer. Each of the pallets weight between 1,200 and 1,800. Am I just trying to get half the weight in the first half of the trailer and half the weight in second half, or is there a lot more to it? In CA where you cant slide axels (what I heard, again not a trucker)

Secondly, if you're being loaded and the loader gives you the weights of the 30 pallets, would you tell him in what order you'd like the pallets loaded?

[ampm wayne]

I'm not a trucker, but looking for similar advice. 30 pallets weighing 42,500 lbs in a refrigerated 53' trailer. Each of the pallets weight between 1,200 and 1,800. Am I just trying to get half the weight in the first half of the trailer and half the weight in second half, or is there a lot more to it? In CA where you cant slide axels (what I heard, again not a trucker)

Secondly, if you're being loaded and the loader gives you the weights of the 30 pallets, would you tell him in what order you'd like the pallets loaded?

30 pallets is a lot of pallets. Your trailer will have to be wide enough to put them in side-ways. You will probably have to stack some of them. You will have to put some thought and work into a 30 pallet load.

Most places the fork lift driver will talk to you about how the load should be loaded.

Some places won`t let drivers on the dock. You are at the mercy of the loader at those places.

[SteveSteveSteve]

Thanks for the response. I'm asking because I am the forklift driver. Double stacking is out of the question, so the trailer needs to be wide enough to put two pallets sideways.

I'm finding it very difficult to balance 43,000+ loads past the 48' foot mark on a refrigerated 53' trailer evenly across the axels. Especially when the pallets differ slightly in wieght (500sih between heaviest and lightest).

I always encourage the driver to tell me how to load the trailer, but often times they won't.

Last load for example, the scale across the street said he was at 79,800 but 800 overweight in the rear.

Was hoping maybe some of you experienced truckers had pointers for me.

[Winchester Magnum]

Take the heaviest 28 skids and put them side by side, then put the last 2 light skids in which will extend past the 48' mark. It should work with most rigs since the load is only 42k. If the driver is over on his trailer tandems he comes back and you fork off a skid.

I see no other way to load this being its 30 non stackable skids and 42+

[Winchester Magnum]

Ive hauled most everything imaginable in a 48' spread axle reefer and they are essentialy idiot proof to load. The only concern is if you're going to be overgrossed. In fact, you can be overgrossed and still not be over weight on any axle group.

If they werent so hard on tires they would be the perfect trailer for newbs that drive for the megafleets.

[SteveSteveSteve]

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. Do you think the front would then become too heavy?

~12 of the pallets are significantly lighter (1200 vs up to 1800) and I've been loading 6 of those light pallets in the nose and 6 in the tail. I've been doing this to be sure the front isn't too heavy.

I guess what I really need to know is what constitutes the "front" and "rear". When a driver comes back from he scale and says the rear is 1k over and the front is 1k under. Are the first 26.5' feet of the trailer the front and the remaning 26.5' the rear?

If i knew what was considered front and what was rear, it'd come down to a pretty simple math equation.

I've searched online looking for answers and I've registered here because this is where I've seen the most answers and help.

EDIT: These loads are up to 44k cargo

[Winchester Magnum]

Idealy all 44k needs to fit in 48 feet to scale it. The last 5 feet are for light asswipe and tampon type loads that weigh 20 and change.

Tell your boss to pallatize those 30 skids into 28 skids and make everyones life easier. Seriously.

[Gears]

Spoken like a fellow former spread axle reefer puller