bridge laws

That sounds right but the bottom line is that we learn best from mistakes we have to pay for (Unfortunately).

 

You bet. I don't recall what the fine was other than alot. And he told me about it the whole run.

 

I don't think so, to me, I see that at 80,000 pounds, the bridge is 51 feet from the steer to the rear axle of the trailer, like this:

http://www.hendrickson-intl.com/literature/bridgelaws/bridge2.asp

I would love to be "wrong" on this.......set me straight, please.

 

Wish I could but you are correct. We are actually saying the same thing, just saying it different. Sorry for the confusion.

 

I have had a weight problem where in order to get the trailer weight compliant I had to move the tandems all the way back, a clear axle position violation.

It was then that the Bridge Law came into effect with me, had to do some studying before heading out. Was I in violation, yes, was I cited? No.

It was then that I found that in my case 51 feet from steer to center of rear axle was just about at the same point as 41 feet from the pin to center of the group.

I was really hoping that 51 feet from Steer to Rear most trailer axle was wrong and hoping that I was going to learn something new again.

Now, I just take it back and tell them to reload it. Ever try telling a shipper that the weight is "ok", but I can't take it because of a Bridge Formula, they always say something like thats not my problem, then the conversation really takes a turn downhill.

I don't mind being a little over, law enforcement doesn't seem to mind either BUT if your at gross, over axle length and have an attitude, your dead and should be.

 

Hauled reefer for many years,

no such thing as reworking the load..........



Just deliver the dam thing !!!!

 

You have the 53' trailer previously mentioned? It's stretched all the way out? 80,000? Axles ok? Why would there be a Bridge Law problem? I'm missing something here.

 

First: It isn't "trailer weight"...one could assume you mean either "Gross Freight Weight" (which will tell you if the vehicle can carry the total Gross of tractor+trailer+freight) and be at or less than the permitted Gross Capacity (gen. 80k)

Or do you mean, "Tandem Weight"...which under normal conditions (most common trailers are the 34k legal on tandems)?

In figuring the "Bridge Law Formula"...you use "two consecutive axles" (or groups of axles)...in this case you would be measuring center of king pin to (depending on State) center of either "forward tandem axle", "rear tandem axle", or center of "tandem set". [check the information pages in your Atlas for the determining factor by State]
http://www.hendrickson-intl.com/literature/bridgelaws/

Depends on the State in combination with the Federal Bridge Law configuration.

Clear as mud......but that's what I do best!

 

Understand the KPRA state vs the Fed Bridge law, but my question is that with a 53 footer stretched out all the way and maxed out gross weight I can't see how he can have a bridge law problem. A KPRA yes.

 

As I recall, with a 53 foot trailer, Tandem Axles at the 41 foot mark King Pin to Center of the axle group is about equal to 51 feet from Steer to Center of real most axle.

With the tandems all the way back, distance has to be 60 + feet as I recall from Steer to Rear most trailer/tandem axle.

As for weight, I am figuring 12k/34k/34k=80K on the steer/drives/tandems.

In the instance mentioned before, I was heavy on tandems, had to move them back far enough to get under 34K. Thus the tandems exceeded the bridge 51 foot limit and 41 foot limit King Pin to Center of the tandem group.

Thanks for making me think about this again, it refreshes the mind.