Avoiding tickets

How do you do it? YOU take it very seriously, and realize the implications if you don't.

You don't push speed limits (much), keep your log book pretty, scale your loads and do your pre- and post-trips correctly, noting problems and getting them repaired ASAP.

Things like knowing the bridge law for each state dictates where you run your trailer tandems. Scaling your loads prevents costly tickets and wasting your time.

Those last two are totally preventable sitautions, but folks find themselves getting whacked for them every day. That's simply stupid.

Simple advice, don't be stupid, your brain is your best weapon.

If you DO get stopped for an inspection, don't argue, don't have an attitude, and have all your paperwork and permits handy. Some people act like they don't know what an officer needs to see - it's the same everywhere! your license, medical card, log book, permit book (IFTA, registration and insurance) and bills of lading, if they need them.

Having to scrounge around and waste 20 minutes trying to find any one of those is guaranteed to get you cited.

 

When you pick up a heavier load (over 35000, usually), you scale it to make sure that the trucks and trailer meets the 12k front and 34k truck tandems and trailer tandems. You usually end up moving the trailer tandems by unlocking them, moving the truck, and relocking them... in order to get a good weight balance. If you drive without a good balance, not only is it dangerous, making the truck handle weird... it can also be very costly in the form of fines and CSA points. Read up on CSA... btw.

Most states have a standard for measuring how far back or forward you can run your trailer wheels - those measurements differ a little by state, as far as HOW they're measured... for example, if you roll into CA with the center of your rear tires (on your trailer) 41 or 42 ft from the trailer's kingpin, you're going to get ticketed. If you move it to correct and can't scale at that point, you get shut down until someone comes out, partially unloads you, and enables you to scale legally.

Ok, my fingers hurt.

 

Scaling loads means checking the weight of the load, and making sure that your not over on your axle groups, this is for adjustable tandems. Some trailers have fixed spreads. You can't adjust these. Instead the load would have to be reworked.

 

Scale your loads means to weigh them so you can adjust your trailer and make sure you are not overweight.
It's more than gross weight. It's making sure you don't have too much weight on any one axle.

Adjusting tandems goes hand in hand with scaling your load.
On 53' trailers, your rear two axles are called tandems. These will slide forward and backwards to adjust weight on the tandems as well as the drive axles (the back two axles on the tractor), and even the steer axle.
It works on the teeter totter principal. If you move your tandems forward, it takes weight off the drive axles and transfers the weight to the tandems. Just the opposite for taking weight off the tandems and moving it to the drives. If you increase weight on the drives, it causes weight to come off the steer axle (to a point).

Some states (like California) have restrictions on how far your tandems can be from your king pin. This is called the bridge law. So you must make sure you don't exceed that distance with your load scaled properly.

these are all basic skills you learn right up front. Not hard. Just requires attention to detail. If you pay attention, you will not worry about tickets for weight.

 

It is real easy here is the way you do it ......... ready ?? got a pen ? Ok here ya go ......All you have to do is follow the rules!!!! There ya go the secret to a long and happy life in trucking .

Now the fact that your companies rules might not get along well with the federal and state rules is the trick you will have to learn on your own !!!

Good luck

 

Only stupid question is the unasked question! This forum is a wealth of information.

 

Let's be real. Even if you follow the laws ever once in awhile something goes south on you. With a little luck and baby Jesus you can come out unscathed. learn from your mistakes and ask questions. Observe other seasoned drivers. PS-A clean truck is more likely to get a green light at the scales than a dirty one.