Need advice- load is overweight

Years ago, I hauled a load of scrap engine blocks from a junkyard, 4 to a pallet, banded together. It started out with 4 cylinders, a v-6 or 2, then about mid-trailer, the big blocks( V-8's) came out. We didn't even get to the back of the wagon, I said, " You know, I better go over to the feed mill (1/2 mile away) and check this out". Steer ok, Drives, ok, when I put the trailer axles on, the guy comes running out, "GET OFF, GET OFF, my scale only goes up to 50K, and it's pegged". Oh dear, I went back, and the guy took a few off, but I was screwed. That was another slow ride around the scale, to the rail yards in Chicago. Some poor sap in Waco, Tx. had a nice day, I'll bet.

 

A couple times I was heavy.One was in Illinois as I cross the scale,5000 over on the back.I showed him my scale ticket and to him that was as good as law.He just told me to get it legal and didn't fine me..Another one was in Mississippi he didn't fine me either.That was my fault for not weighing the load.[QUOTE="semi" retired;4093838]Years ago, I hauled a load of scrap engine blocks from a junkyard, 4 to a pallet, banded together. It started out with 4 cylinders, a v-6 or 2, then about mid-trailer, the big blocks( V-8's) came out. We didn't even get to the back of the wagon, I said, " You know, I better go over to the feed mill (1/2 mile away) and check this out". Steer ok, Drives, ok, when I put the trailer axles on, the guy comes running out, "GET OFF, GET OFF, my scale only goes up to 50K, and it's pegged". Oh dear, I went back, and the guy took a few off, but I was screwed. That was another slow ride around the scale, to the rail yards in Chicago. Some poor sap in Waco, Tx. had a nice day, I'll bet.[/QUOTE]

 

How did the shipper load it wrong? If you are able to get the weights legal...which she did...the. It's loaded correctly. Just because it's not ideal dosent make it wrong.

 

Another time, when I pulled the dump trailer, I loaded a load of those iron ore pellets,(that stain your tires and shoes). The guy in the loader asked how much I wanted, and never hauling them before, I figured like gravel( I know, I was green) and said, give me 4 buckets, and I'll see what I got. When he dumped the 1st bucket in(and this guy must have known better) I could tell, hmmm, this looks heavy.Well, he put 4 buckets in, and when I got in the truck(R model Mack), when I let out the clutch, something was wrong, I couldn't even shift it.Again, got on the scale, guy comes running out, GET OFF, GET OFF, my scale only goes to 100K, and it's pegged. Went back down to the pile, when I tried to dump it off, the ram barely could handle it. 2 buckets put me at 78K gross.

 

Just a FYI,the St. Croix,Mn. scale on WB 94 does check to see what your steer tires are rated for....

I had a permit load for 100,000 lbs and 12,500 permitted on the steers.

14,000 lb rated front axle...

My tires were only rated for 12,350 lbs.....

Got put out of service for being over by 150 lbs....First time for everything,I guess.

Of course it was training day and no way he was going to budge with a bunch of baby faced recruits watching.. lol

 

Hi IH, that is a nasty scale, always open. I'd always go up I90 to Hy.61, and take my chances with the Winona scale. Usually closed at 6:59, open at 7:00 am.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4093930]Hi IH, that is a nasty scale, always open. I'd always go up I90 to Hy.61, and take my chances with the Winona scale. Usually closed at 6:59, open at 7:00 am.[/QUOTE]

I always request that route,but Mn. always routes me over the scale...

 

Actually the shipper didn't load wrong.But it does happen occasionally.The op did blame the shipper though so that's why at the time I made that post I was thinken the load needed to be reworked.

 

I cannot remember the last overweight ticket I got and the few I did get in 20yrs I could count on one hand. At the company I worked I bet 75% of loads were large rolls of paper, some nearly as tall as the inside of trailier, 40,000-45,000 freight weight. Paper is tricky because it's seldom loaded starting at the nose of the trailier, they'd put the 1st roll 5'-8' before front wall of trailer so not to put too much weight on drives.
Some tips from me. 1-Even if two loads are the same weight or even exact same product they will NOT have the same weight distribution on your axles.
2-When I checked in at shipper I'd ask politely if they knew what the load weight was.
3-You should watch them loading heavy loads If they'll allow you on the dock, so you have an idea how the load is distributed in the trailier. And if you're on the dock watching stay out of the way!! Stay near the wall, preferrably where the forklift loader can see you and dont move around so he doesnt have to wonder where you are, and stay alert, keep your eyes open, accidents can still happen.
4-ALWAYS scale heavy loads (over 40,00, maybe even 35,000 on some loads) ASAP, (so you can go back to shipper for a reload if needed) even if you have to go the wrong way a few miles. You dont need a CAT scale, feed mills, moving companys and most papermills have scales you can use (for a price). I've even used a closed feed mill. If you can see the scale readout from outside You put the steer axle on the scale, get out, look in the window and write the weight down, same for each axle. The price of a scale ticket is well worth not having to worry your overweight going into a state scale.
How much does CAT charge for weight now anyway? I came off the road in 09 and I think it was $7.50 then.
5-Dont worry too much about your mistake, I'm pretty sure most of us have been thru this. Its just part of the trucking learning curve.
One of my overweight tickets was for a 37,000 lb preloaded trailier. It didnt have much freight but most of it was very heavy and loaded in 3 rows in the nose of the trailier with 75% of the trailier empty. I thought it was too heavy on the drives but it was a cold rainy night and I was tired so I took a chance...FAIL!!
After many years driving you might be able to get an idea how your axle weights are by how it rides going down the road, but your still taking a chance by not knowing for sure your axle weights.
Happy trails y'all. Speed safely.

 

missjhawk. you have forum freaks,i mean friends,that are curious as to what happened. what happened? what did you figure out? what did your company do or not do? I am hoping that you just started driving,having decided to go for it but then i am calloused and crusty and can't wait on the few that make decisions for me but mine is a different situation.

surely you are rolling and contemplating the next load.