Please help me understand being chronically overweight

I dont know what kind of rig you have, but if its not one designed to haul over 80,000 (such as a lowboy), theres probably no permit you can get to haul over 80,000. If you have a 53' dry box and a sleeper cab, 44,000- 45,000 is about all you can haul. Anything over that, Id tell them theyd have to take a pallet or two off. Of course you could haul about 50,000 with a dry bulk tanker.

 

I have a Columbia with a step deck. Full of fuel I gross 34,480-ish. Essentially means I cant really scale much over 45k unless I cut back enough fuel to scale 46k. One of the cons of having a step deck.

How ever,.. it is perfectly possible to permit 5 axles for up to 92k lbs. So in theory,.. if the money were right,.. I could take 55k - 57k loads. You can permit for weight as well as for size and dimensions. Often weight only permits are allowed to operate after dark and weekends. Unlike O/S permits in some states.

Hurst

 

There's alot of regulations here that may or may not allow you to run over 80k even without permits. It depends on what state you are talking about, what the commodity is, time of year, what roads you are running on, etc. This is far too complex of a question to answer without more specifics other than to say, "It depends"

Maine is one state that allows alot of weight with a 3 axle trailer. They also allow higher axle weights.

 

The short answer is no, you don't permit it. You make it legal. If you are that heavy empty, most shippers aren't going to like you much. Like some others have said, depends on your truck setup, what state you are in, and other variables. In general, if a load is deemed "readily reduceable" you are gonna have to reduce it. By taking some product off and leaving it at the shipper for the next truck to take. If getting permits for overweight loads was easy or possible, it would be much more common than it is. You'd hit the catscale, find out you are 84,000. And your dispatcher would say "sit tight, we'll get you some permits ordered." Instead, they always either want you to return to the shipper or they try to get you to avoid scale houses.

 

Shippers don't usually figure loads at 45k because they figure if they ship 48k at the same rate per mile as 45k, they get 3k of product shipped free. They usually don't care if you are tight on fuel or anything. Long as they get their freight moved, your issues aren't their problem.

 

65k loads are going to be within the states that allow a gross of 105,500 pounds such as WA, ID, MT, WY, ND and SD. If you have to cross a state that only allows 80k gross then you are out of luck.

The other thing is the type of load. If it is a divisible load (i.e. multiple pieces) you are SOL on getting any kind of permit. This is because part of the load is able to be moved to another truck.

Now you can get permitted for over 80k but it must be a non divisible load. Meaning it will be one piece.

The states that do allow the heavier weights also require you to have more axles. For instance, those 65k loads are being moved on 4 axle trucks with 4 axle trailers.

 

I can scale 49200 with 2006 volvo 780 and great dane 48ft steel trailer. 150 gallons of fuel.
Most loads to advertise 48k but actually end up weighing between 42-46k.

I highly recommend getting digital air weighing suspension gauges for truck and drives axles. It is the best 100.00 i spent on truck knowing before i throw tarps or straps if I'm overweight.

Also... if the load was quoted at a lighter weight and is heavier, you can call the broker back and negotiate for extra $ before ever leaving the shipper.

 

Not real sure how those loadboards work anymore, havent used them in years. If you find a load youre interested in, just call the contact and ask them what the weight is. Could be the total weight of the order they are shipping I guess?