Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Farmerbob1, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Well, I have started another week or so of home time.

    Going to have the fixed position fifth wheel mounts changed to an adjustable position fifth wheel.

    This is something I have wanted since the day I bought the truck. I am tired of rolling into CA with a quarter tank of fuel because I am 250 lbs over 12k on steers with full tanks.

    I should also be able to provide real financials to compare my 2018 company earnings to my 2019 o/o earnings.
     
    dwells40 and Wasted Thyme Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. F4T6UY

    F4T6UY Medium Load Member

    567
    1,807
    Oct 24, 2017
    Very South Texas
    0
    It’s my understanding that as long as you stay on interstate, the steer axle remains federal, but when you get on state roads, that’s when the different state laws for steer axle weight come into play.

    You can find the info in the Atlas.

    When I had the Cummins, I was always a little over 12k on the steers going into Cali, but our axles are rated at 14k, and it was always a direct route to a location right off I-10. With the Paccar, I’m rarely over 12k.
     
  4. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    20,544
    13,279
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    What does the label on your door say your steer is rated for?

    I roll into cali weighing 12.8 all the time.

    Not to be rude but your wasting money for a dumb reason. Your 5th wheel is in the perfect position. No reason to be messing with it.
     
  5. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

    7,490
    16,271
    Apr 12, 2016
    Chicagoland
    0
    I have it somewhere in the center. I forgot on which notch. I changed it once on a LTL load that was close to 80K lbs and had to offset the weight more towards the steering axle...it was close to 12 500 after sliding, that's how I drove it. I did not have to adjust it ever since, but often I exceed 12 000 and go through scales without problems. Where does it say that steering axle cannot exceed 12 000 anyway? Maybe that's because in many states the drives and trailer can't go over 34 000 so by math the steering needs to be at 12 000? But that's just when the trailer and drives are loaded at the maximum.
    I think, my factory's specs say 12 600 max on the steer. If I am close to it, I check what I see in the Atlas too. I would not spend money on it either, simply because you almost never use it. Unless it is time to replace the whole 5th wheel.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2020
    Farmerbob1, snowwy and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  6. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,333
    56,237
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    I was always told, put it on the steer, if needed. Should be good up to the tire ratings. I was surprised recently when I checked my front axle rating. I think it was only 12k. I wouldn’t spend the money on the fifth wheel either. If you can shift it to the drives, should have a little leeway, if you have an APU. Otherwise, 250lbs. Equals about 31 gallons, or 240 miles, at 8 mpg. Plan accordingly.
     
    Farmerbob1 and snowwy Thank this.
  7. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    There are two reasons why I want an adjustable position 5th wheel. First, California's steer weight law, per every DOT document I have seen, and second because either Landstar or Schneider Select (or both) require adjustable position 5th wheels to lease trucks to them.

    EDIT my steer tires are rated for 6175 each, so 12350 is as high as I can go, regardless. I have been a bit over that a few times.
     
    Rideandrepair and 062 Thank this.
  8. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

    3,685
    5,791
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    California has a flat 12k steer limit. Oregon & Washington state also have slightly different rules, based on tire width. I have standard 10" width steers which calculate to 12k lbs on the steer axle.

    In the end, I just want to be sure I don't give some overzealous scalehouse operator having a bad day any reason to cause me grief.
     
    Rideandrepair and TallJoe Thank this.
  9. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    11,841
    48,541
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    I ran to CA at least once, sometimes twice, a week for two years with my FLD. I had 16 ply steers and was always 12,400 when loaded and never once got hassled. Even when they finally decided they should write me a KPRA ticket for the 52ft spread axle I was pulling they didn’t say or do anything about the weight on my steer. Same with OR and WA, there are enough guys running up there pushing 13k on the steer that they usually aren’t concerned. The T800 I drove I had to be 13k on the steer to bridge out at 101,500 in OR because of their lighter 7 axle bridge.

    If you carry 4-500 extra on your steer it just makes everything else easier when you’re loading right at 80k. I’ve also had better luck getting miles out of 16 ply steers on a setback axle truck anyway.
     
  10. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    20,544
    13,279
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    Oregon is the only state that might hassle you over 12,400

    Cali won't even blink.

    My last job went there twice a week.
     
    Farmerbob1 Thanks this.
  11. Opendeckin

    Opendeckin Medium Load Member

    452
    1,261
    May 20, 2018
    0
    You spend way more time and money trying to avoid tickets than the tickets cost.

    All the days you've lost over being less than 500lbs overweight is mind boggling to me. I've rolled through scales 2k overweight without them saying anything.

    My worst overweight ticket at 8k over gross in Mississippi cost less than half what this fifth wheel is going to cost you not including labor,downtime and hotel costs.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2020
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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