Weight question, slightly over on the steers?

At this point it depends on the mood of the officer before you looking at your data. This is a fine line. If you want o be a dick they will be too. If you are very respectful, they can let you slide. If they are on the line for coffee money in the current state you are going the weight station, it is a coin toss of you probably will be fined or put OOS until you fix it. When in this position you have to monitor your fuel for weight management. Diesel fuel weighs over 7 pounds per gal depending on the ambient temperature you are driving through. Just FYI...

 

Steer axle is up to 20k in most states. Check your tire ratings to be legal. Most steers are 6250-6750 per tire (unless heavy duty). I’m usually 12800 with no problems at scale.

 

Wrong.

 

The only person absolutely 100% correct on this post.

 

Usually the APU or an extra sets of batteries for electric auxiliary power will give you a 600lb exemption. Check your permit book, there should be a paper stating the weight exemption and why, if you have one. If not call a DOT facility and ask. But typically if you are under 12,500lbs, you are legal.

 

Here's one from TK and I don’t think dot is giving these out but think it’s up to the Apu brand company


Date: June 5, 2013
To: All Authorized Thermo King Sales Dealers
Subject: TriPac® EVOLUTION Auxiliary Power Unit – Vehicle Weight Exemption
This document confirms that Thermo King Corporation’s Auxiliary Power Units known as Tri PacEVOLUTION has a published approximate system weight of 415 lbs. / 188 kg. This weight may vary from tractor to tractor depending on installation accessories. Below is the summary of a portion of the Energy Bill, which discusses the weight exemption issue.
On August 8, 2005 President George Bush signed the Energy Bill (Domenici-Barton Energy Policy). Section 756 of the Energy Bill made changes to Title 23, Section 127(a) that regulates the weight of vehicles to be used on interstate highways. This section provides a 400-pound Vehicle Weight Exemption for idle reduction technology.
Section 127(a) was amended to add item 12 which states the following:
`(12) HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), in order to promote reduction of fuel use and emissions because of engine idling, the maximum gross vehicle weight limit and the axle weight limit for any heavy-duty vehicle equipped with an idle reduction technology shall be increased by a quantity necessary to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction system.
`(B) MAXIMUM WEIGHT INCREASE- The weight increase under subparagraph (A) shall be not greater than 400 pounds.
`(C) PROOF- On request by a regulatory agency or law enforcement agency, the vehicle operator shall provide proof (through demonstration or certification) that--
`(i) the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times; and
`(ii) the 400-pound gross weight increase is not used for any purpose other than the use of idle reduction technology described in subparagraph (A).'.
Update:
On June 6, 2012 President Barack Obama signed the Federal Highway Bill. As part of the bill the following updates were made in reference to idle reduction technologies to include APU’s.
SEC. 1510. IDLE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY.
Section 127(a)(12) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘400’’ and inserting
‘‘550’’; and
(2) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ‘‘400-pound’’ and
inserting ‘‘550-pound’’.
As a result of these changes the new federal weight exemption has been increased from 400 pounds to 550 pounds for an APU.
Best Regards,
THERMO KING CORPORATION
Thermo King Corporation
World Headquarters
314 West 90th Street Minneapolis, MN 55420-3693
(952) 887-2200 (952) 887-2615 Fax
www.thermoking.com

 

That's the way it is supposed to be.

However, we do not teach our drivers about the exception because we do not want to rely on an inspecting officer's competence/integrity. The 'rub' is part C. I can force the apu to fire over on demand, provided I max the electrical draw - turn on the tea kettle, the lunch box cooker, and the headlights. Making opti-idle perform on demand is a horse of an entirely different color.

Back in 2014 or 2015 I did a training video with WI DOT. The officer is an [redacted]. He was an [redacted] when he came to talk to our CDL school, he was an [redacted] the first time he inspected me, he was an [redacted] during the video shoot, and he was an [redacated] the second time he inspected me. Dude is an [redacted]. Anywho, during the video shoot he shut down 'production' to chase down a truck who blew past the weigh station. He also gave me grief over the condition of the trailer tires. They were entirely legal (seriously who would show up for a DOT training video shoot with illegal equipment), but uglier than your best friend's girlfriend's friend. Had it been a normal inspection he would have given me a ticket. The only reason I didn't get one is I had a heavy weight and two welterweights from our company's safety department plus a retired state police captain standing there. Relying on the professionalism and integrity of an inspecting officer is akin to betting the Mets will sweep the playoffs.

 

Only 260 lb over unless you get a really strict POE officer its highly unlikely due to the fuel allowance, probably would be more inclined to fix it if traveling over any POE in Oregon.

 

Those only apply off the Interstate. On the Interstate, it's 20k nationwide.

Steers over 12k started long before 2010! LOL!

It started with the set-back axles in the late 80's. It's not unusual for a heavier condo to be over 12k bobtail. My 97 CH600 was that way, and so were most of the big bunk VNL Volvos.

Admittedly, a lot of fleets didn't seem to wise up to this fact until fairly recently, and in the last decade the common specs have gone heavier on the steer.

 

Waving your banner all over the place.

Sing it-

 

Do you have a 20K pound rated steer axle?

Mine is 13.2K.

And my tires are rated for about 12.2K at max inflation.

Seen more than a few dot reading the sidewalls of steer tires.