Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

What is the rationale for the Bridge Laws?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022.

Page 2 of 15
  1. Oct 15, 2022 #11
    expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    I cannot answer your question because I cannot tell from looking at the picture which tractor-trailer has a longer distance between the kingpin and the rear axle.
     
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    #11
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. Oct 15, 2022 #12
    Animosus

    Animosus Heavy Load Member

    712
    2,802
    Dec 7, 2015
    SE Wyoming
    0
    Yes, the trailer is the bridge between two points. Your drives and the trailer tandems.
     
    Animosus, Oct 15, 2022
    Animosus, Oct 15, 2022
    #12
    MartinFromBC, Another Canadian driver, drh72 and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Oct 15, 2022 #13
    expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    Well, logically, that is what I would have expected to. A longer wheelbase would put less strain on a bridge than a shorter wheelbase, for a given weight. But the bridge laws I've seen in company handouts at all the trucking companies I worked for say otherwise.


    What is KPRA? I've never heard or seen KPRA before I created this thread.
     
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    #13
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  5. Oct 15, 2022 #14
    God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,259
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    Assume they're the same.
     
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    #14
    Another Canadian driver and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
  7. Oct 15, 2022 #15
    rch10007

    rch10007 Medium Load Member

    560
    860
    May 26, 2007
    Madison, AL
    0
    Bridge laws are designed to assign responsibility to the driver when swift runs into them.
     
    rch10007, Oct 15, 2022
    rch10007, Oct 15, 2022
    #15
    Another Canadian driver and rockeee Thank this.
  8. Oct 15, 2022 #16
    God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,259
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    The distance between two axles in tandem or spread is also a bridge.
     
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    #16
    Another Canadian driver and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
  9. Oct 15, 2022 #17
    expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    I'm not saying that you're wrong. But I have never heard of that before in 8 years as a truck driver.
     
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    #17
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  10. Oct 15, 2022 #18
    expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    I cannot tell which one would be allowed to gross more weight from the pictures. Both tractor-trailers have eight axles, and the wheelbase is the same on each.
     
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    expedite_it, Oct 15, 2022
    #18
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  11. Oct 15, 2022 #19
    God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,259
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    There you go, man. You literally understand bridge law.

    Now that you know bridge law involves weight tearing things up, KPRA covers length tearing things up. If the KPRA is too long, you'll be hitting signs with the middle of your trailer. Shorter KPRA makes the trailer more nimble, at the expense of increasing tailswing.
     
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    #19
    gentleroger, Mattflat362, brian991219 and 6 others Thank this.
  12. Oct 15, 2022 #20
    God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,259
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    Your trailer has a tandem. Mine has a spread. You can put 34k on your tandem, but I can put 40k on my spread because the weight is spaced out farther.

    So in his pic, assuming KPRA is the same, look at his axle groups.
     
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    God prefers Diesels, Oct 15, 2022
    #20
    gentleroger, Mattflat362, Another Canadian driver and 1 other person Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

    • Page 2 of 15