loading a 48 spread

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by 379exhd, Aug 16, 2014.

  1. 379exhd

    379exhd Road Train Member

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    Going to pull a chicken wagon for a while I guess. Never loaded one and never really pulled freight can somebody tell me with 18 19 20 21 and 22 skids how to load out the trailer? I figured itd be single double single through the nose but I ain't got a clue when it comes to freight and last thing I want to do is end up having loads reworked all the time don't have a suspension gauge in the tractor last driver said as long as the trailer read 80psi or less it was legal on the spread.
     
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  3. TwinStickPeterbilt

    TwinStickPeterbilt Heavy Load Member

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    Best I can tell you is double up over the drives and if there's any question but it on the ###. If ya need anything you know where I'm at.
     
  4. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Spreads generally are allowed 20k per axle on the spread. So load scale and run, no worries.
     
  5. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    so you would run with 25 on the drives, and 40 on the trailer???? no worries.

    not a good idea come winter time.
     
  6. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    You'll find most places "know" how they should typically be loaded and will load their normal way and this is usually fine. Most places won't even bother asking how you want it loaded. They load 53's usually the same way they load 48's and with your front spread axle being further forward to pick up additional weight, this is fine and normally if you feel good about your gross, you're probably going to scale fine.

    You'll be hauling produce or meat?
     
  7. Davidlee

    Davidlee Medium Load Member

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    I am certain you will need one or possibly two single pallets at the nose of the trailer to avoid being over weight on your drives.
     
  8. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    Lots of variables--and since you havent really dealt w/freight(pallets)kinda of hard to generalize--but lemme see if I can give you a general idea--
    First off--get away from the idea of 40k on the rear--because of 2 axles--you arent going to load like that--what you do have to keep in mind is you can ONLY have 20k on a single axle--that is where(if you have less than 22 pallets(11lines of 2--22 floor spaces)you need to stretch the load out to the BACK DOORS--or you may be under 40K on your spread---BUT your front trialer axle--will almost certainly be over 20...
    Note you can load MORE than 22--standard thought--if freight overhang on pallet allows--22 straight in--24 chimnyblocked(pinwheeled)one straight then one sideways--26 floor spaces both pallets sideways
    But you need to think in terms of what adds up to 22(and please nobody start the math of 48'vs 40x48' pallets--it NEVER works that way--unless the palletts MT)since anything less than 22--is WHERE you will be dealing with singling out pallets--and for this explanation--I am going to assume that every pallet is uniform--which is not always the case--but works for a broad understanding...
    21pallets=1 single--ALWAYS in nose-
    20plts-single in nose--then double then another single then double all the way back-
    19-same as 20--only when you get to the last three--put in a single then finish with a double--
    18--is where you typically will vary from a standard tandem trailer-
    single-double-single single-then double till last three-then single double---
    so you should be slightly lighter in the nose--AGAIN because you need to distribute the weight as evenly as possible--in rear--too many drivers pullin a spread reefer make the mistake of really lightening up the nose and end up 23-24k on that front axle--and too light on the rear axle--and yup your busted..and remember--with out going thru a complicated procedure at a commercial scale--YOU are ONLY going to get a trailer axle weight----which DOES NOT tell you what EACH axles weighs...
    One more piece of advice--try to get ahold of a couple of CHEP pallets--and IF the freight really doesnt exceed the paramaters of the pallet--then stand both cheps--against your bulkhead--then load behind them--this will usually move the rear pallets close enough to the back axle to help dist the weigh better...
    Obviously this is ETREMELY rudimentary and general--hope I made it a little easier to understand to start--I would be happy to get more specific IF you had a specific load etc in mind..
    BTW--I pulled a 48'spread for almost 30years..and one other thing I can tell you--is 99%of the guys that pull a spread icebox--have been around the block--and if you act decently etc(Im sure you know what I mean)most if not all would be happy to help you figure out how to load where you are...
    Good Luck---enjoy the ride...
     
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  9. 379exhd

    379exhd Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the input I appreciate it. Pulled a 53 box for 2 weeks but that's about the only thing I know about freight. From what I understand it'll be mostly frozen going south and then either bulk potatoes or produce coming back. Thank you for the input olhand I'll end up getting a sharpie after scaling a few loads and drawing a diagram in the nose of the trailer on how I want it loaded. According to who I'm leasing to he wants me on the dock whenever possible course to pulp the skids going on and also to watch for damage done while loading and unloading.

    It'll be a change pulling a reefer little nervous but I wouldn't think it could be to bad. It'll get me home more often and money is steady no more chasing a check or waiting 14 days from the day the bills are recieved. I appreciate the help guys thank you and be safe out there.
     
  10. I blew a fuse

    I blew a fuse Light Load Member

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    it depends on what the product is your loading. you can get 24 pallets on a 48' spread that is an 8' spread. if it a reefer spread. it simple to do. the rules are pretty simple to follow. onions/potatoes requires 4 singles thru out the load and no more the 18 pallets can be loaded. apples it is 2 singles in the nose and no more then 21 pallets. cali produce. double the first 12 strait on and then turn the last 12 side ways, fruit such as oranges follow the rule of onions and potatoes. the only time fruit doesn't follow the rule is when it is being loaded with cali produce. in this case, fruit will always be on the tail. the idea is. to always have 38k to 39,500 on the trailer. if you have to get out and move the fifth wheel. then it's loaded wrong. there is only one right way to load a spread axle trailer. for the most part. you will do a lot of learning about product and how to load the product right the first time. shipper do not like it when you come back needing the loading order changed. the other thing you need to remember. is heavier product that loads first. will have to be pulled back to prevent the drives or steers from being over weight. it will take you about a year to learn how to do this part of the job with a spread axle. the funnest part is when you get your self stuck in a normal close tandem situation. just use what I tell you in this post. and you will be fine. I have 5 years running a chicken truck pulling a 48 spread reefer with the 8 foot spread.
     
  11. rogueunh

    rogueunh Road Train Member

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    I've found most people aren't aware you can load 25 pallets (40x48) on a 48 foot.

    I generally agree with olhand about the best way to load differing number of pallets. However the weight of the pallets may alter that.
     
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