Heads Up: Bridge Law Enforcement

Okay, let's see who can make sense of this:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...47T7Cw&usg=AFQjCNGlCxPxZ8LztVWd2UDsK4CHDfsyjA

 

Actually it's 44K in FL.

I've always include the bridge laws into your trip planning. It's right in the front of the Rand McNally. If there is a law, it will be enforced one time or another.

It's not. But since they don't know if you are loaded or emty, it applies to all. Pulling you over isn't free!

 

I use to get nailed on I 75 back in the 80's for that, after about 3 tickets I just rerouted down thru Ala. to get to Fla

What map? I dont own a map. Now I gotta buy a map to know the law?

With a 48' spread axle I dont worry about it.

 

Due to the speed of the rotation of the earth and were you are located on the horizontal plane or the vertical plane that dissects Y/Z and the X/Z Longitudial circumference .That's how they figure your gross axle and fine.

 

Nice thing about a tanker I carry a bridge permit..
When I pulled a refer it was a 48', just slide the rear axle to the end of the last pallet and you were usually good to go, and with a light load I would just slide them all the way to the rear for a better ride.
53 footers are a waste of money.

 

Good for empty aluminum cans

 

Again confusion concerning KPRA laws and the Bridge Law.

I believe you have a misunderstanding of Bridge Law and King Pin to Rear Axle laws. Drivers need to be aware of and understand both.

Basically the bridge law (Correct name is Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula) is in place to prevent damage to bridges (And in some instances roads and is) because of concentrated weight due to close axle spacing WHEN LOADED. In a nutshell it sets a MINIMUM axle spacing for the loaded weight. An empty tractor/trailer CANNOT ever be over on the bridge law. You can do the formula for a particular weight and axle weight or you can take the exception (two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry 34,000 pounds (15,000 kg) each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of these tandems is 36 feet or MORE). So the LARGER the axle spacing THE BETTER as far as the Bridge Law is concerned.

State King Pin to Rear Axle laws are designed to keep the king pin to rear axle distance short (As compared to the Bridge law keeping them closer as weight increases), and WEIGHT IS NOT a consideration. They are designed to limit off tracking in turns and curves.

Visualize a T/T (W/48' trailer) a perfect world 80,000 with 12,000 steers, 34,000 drives and 34,000 trailer with the fifth wheel slid all the way forward and trailer tandems all the way forward. He is going to get hammered by the "Bridge Law", because the axles are too close and the weight is concentrated.

Visualize the same T/T (W/48' trailer) empty. There is no bridge law problem as he has no weight to consider other than the T/T and it isn't enough to be considered under the Bridge Law.

Now visualize a T/T (W/53' trailer) a perfect world 80,000 with 12,000 steers, 34,000 drives and 34,000 trailer with trailer tandems all the way to the rear. His axle spacings are so large that he cannot have a Bridge Law problem, but his king pin to rear axle is so large that there is likely a problem with a state's King Pin to Rear Axle law.

Visualize the same T/T (W/53' trailer) empty with trailer tandems all the way to the rear. He still has a Kingpin to Rear Axle problem even though he is empty and again he cannot have a Bridge Law problem.

Bottom line. Federal Bridge Law is weight dependent

King Pin to Rear Axle laws are not weight dependent.

 

For *#=%'s sake!

I think Lilbit was trying to warn us that Florida is enforcing tandem settings. I posted those numbers. Then I posted a link to the bridge law chart.

WTH do we need to complicate things so much for? By your numbers, there's no way we can be legal, ever, in California.

I've been running from the tandem settings and keeping my axle weights at or below 12, 34, 34. Hasn't caused any trouble yet. Except when I was over axle in Idaho once. But I was over on the drive axles with tandems all the way forward. I did not get a bridge law ticket. I got an overweight/axle ticket.

 

It has to do with the federal bridge formula. According to the formula, you need 39' between the front drive axle and the rear trailer axle in order to have 68,000 (34K + 34K) on that set of 4 axles. However, there is an exception written into the law which allows 34K on each set of tandems as long as there is 36' between the 1st and 4th axle.

With a 39' end dump, I have 36' between the center of my front drive axle and the center of the rear trailer axle....so I fall under the exception. If the trailer were any shorter, I could not carry 34K on each set of tandems...so in order to gross 80,000 and meet the bridge law, I would either have to move enough weight to my steers (again, taking into consideration weight vs. axle spacing as it pertains to the bridge formula) or add a 6th axle.

If your dad was driving a short (28-35' length) dump trailer, weighing 12/34/34, he was overweight per the bridge law.


For more info: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/brdg_frm_wghts/bridge_formula_all.pdf

 

I'm more confused now than I ever was