Sliding Tandems

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by et1231, Jun 17, 2007.

  1. et1231

    et1231 Bobtail Member

    12
    2
    Jun 15, 2007
    0
    Can someone refresh me on sliding tandems, any tricks on getting scaled perfectly. And on the bridge laws, do I have to stop in every state and adjust them to that states law? Thanks for your help
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. bluegrassbandmom

    bluegrassbandmom Light Load Member

    95
    17
    Nov 15, 2006
    plainfield, indiana
    0
    as for any tricks for scaling perfectly I don't know of any but my experience is this, know all of the states u will be running through like if u are in tennessee and going to fla (just an example here can't remember each states settings) if tenn, and ga. are legal at the "c" setting and I do know that fla. is legal at the "A" setting, (HMM!, or is it "B"?) anyway slide tandems to the A setting and u are good for the other states, that is provided u can legalize the load at the A setting. I have had to have a load reloaded 3 times before I could legalize, it was too heavy on steers, real lite on drives and overly heavy on trlr axles.
    Me personally, I like to slide my tandems way up in the "A" area, makes backing a breeze that way.:biggrin_25525:
     
  4. rockee

    rockee Road Train Member

    1,393
    673
    Apr 17, 2007
    Pacific Northwest
    0
    Yea no big tricks but I usually figure about 300 per hole, other people figure more I guess. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the bridge law is a multistate thing and if you dont go "too short" while real heavy you should be fine. You should get a copy or Rand McNally's motor carrier atlas, lots of good info in there
     
  5. Truckerjo

    Truckerjo Road Train Member

    2,314
    341
    Sep 5, 2006
    Indiana
    0
    No you do not need to stop and adjust for every state, you need to set your tandems to the state that has the shortest axle distance. This will allow you to travel threw all states legal.

    In front of the Rand Mcnally there is a guide to help you find axle distance laws (bridge laws).

    far as holes and weight goes,
    4" holes = 200lbs per hole
    6" holes = 400lbs per hole
    5th wheel hole = 450 lbs per hole.

    Some links
    http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/state_info/index.htm

    http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/brdgcalc/calc_page.htm

    http://www.imstransport.com/docs/Federal_Bridge_Laws.pdf



    Tricks? old trl its nice to have a 8-10lbs hand sledge to knock the pins in.

    far as scaling, that comes with time and knowledge. I can pretty much look at the load and guess what hole it should go in..
     
  6. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    45,826
    200,194
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    It depends on the load, sort of. That will come with experience. As for the Bridge Formula that's Federal, so it will be the same for every state. However, steering axles will vary. Some states allow only 12k, some allow as much as 20. Some states go by tire rating, others go by tire size. Check your Truckers' Atlas.
     
  7. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    9,922
    3,713
    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
    0
    If you can get it California legal...you're good in all states.

    I generally set to 41' regardless. So long as I am legal. It's a common set-up, close to most required bridge laws. I got used to it, and can hit a hole at that length easily. Move the tandems a couple of feet...it throws me off ;)

    I calculate at 1% (total load weight) per hole on the trailer (we use wide spacing) Less if it is narrow spacing. And 250 lb per hole on the 5th wheel.

    While "State" laws vary. It is up to them whether they enforce Federal....even though they are supposed to. I've pulled loads where I was stretched out all the way....from Virginia to Arizona, without any problems. I do not like riding this way though.

    Keep in mind... Maryland has started enforcing the 13 foot "overhang" law. Watch sliding up too short, for those of you who can.
     
  8. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    45,826
    200,194
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    Is that what that amounts to on a 53', 13 feet? As I read it, your overhang can't be more than 35% of your total wheelbase. I wonder if that's possible on a 48', because since I drive a single axle daycab, I sometimes have to slide the trailer axles up pretty far to make it legal.
     
  9. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    9,922
    3,713
    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
    0
    You are correct, that's on a 53' trailer.

    It's actually difficult to do with "all" 53 foot trailers as many are putting the stops at a point to prevent it. But, there are quite a few trailers that will slide that far.

    I haven't heard the 35% rule. I was only told...13 ft max overhang. So I guess someone done the math for us. Our new trailers will not slide up that short...so we have little to worry about.

    But based on the math equation...it doesn't come out to 13 at 35%. My total wheel base is over 65 ft, steer to rear. If slide all the way back.

    Can't help you with the 48 ft deal/math...sorry
     
  10. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    45,826
    200,194
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    Oops. I may have goofed there. When I said "wheelbase" it may be from your front drive axle to your rear trailer axle. The equation may pencil out that way.
     
  11. class441

    class441 Light Load Member

    50
    1
    Jun 24, 2007
    0
    A good tip if not mentioned in different words...Every load you have to scale remember where you got it, what was in it, how it was loaded if you can view the inside, where you tandems were at when it scaled out. This helps at a few places like Ozarka/Nestle/Ice Mountain. For some reason, with the equipment I have or what I was always heavy on the rear trl so got in the habit of moving them back a few notches. Sometimes just taking my chances thinking it will be the same but it is always good to scale especially when it doesn't feel the same (you will know after a while pickup at the same place going the same route out of there, all of a sudden you are sluggish, you just know it wasn't loaded the same of you have too much fuel this time, etc).

    Getting it right first pass at the scale saves time so just for that it is good to make a mental note or even jot down something. There will be a time you might say "oh crap there's a weigh station and I didn't have any place to scale" and they wont buy that when you scale over.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.