53' Step Deck. Tridem or Tandem

It's the same thing with a step, 2000 pounds for and extra axle is 2000 less available payload.

 

So. No triaxle then. What now? Big spreads? Or possibly even a triple spread where there are three axles 10 feet apart similar to the NATO tank trailers?

 

They would probably wonder why you're running so light.

I don't know about "then", but a current U.S.-Interstate-legal combination could be loaded much heavier in Canada. Nominally, to be safe, such a combination can be loaded to 87,081 lbs (39,500 kg--pg. 11 http://www.comt.ca/english/programs/trucking/MOU 2014.pdf). Plus up to 496 lbs (225 kg) to tractor and gross if equipped with a functioning APU. If a person digs a little, though, the same combination could be another 3,000-6,000 lbs heavier (Ontario specific - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/050413#BK40).

A "normal" U.S.-Interstate-legal combination can safely operate across Canada as follows:
5,500 kg (12,125 lbs) Steer
17,000 kg (37,478 lbs) Drives
17,000 kg (37,478 lbs) Trailer

 

ARGH.

Now Im going to have to dust off the old trip books and wonder if FFE loaded me to Canadian values before kissing me off across the peace bridge.

 

The only advantage a tri axle has is it allows you to permit more weight

 

Unless the OP plans to specialize in heavy haul specifically,.. the tri axle would not be a good trailer for general freight. General freight you want the lightest most reliable combination in order to be able to legal scale what they want to load you with. The more you can legally scale,.. the more versatile you become. He doesnt want to be sitting somewhere because there is nothing he can legally haul. He wants the wheels to be in motion, making money.

Yes he could probably make more money per load with the tri axle if he had steady freight for it. I dont think thats the case,.. he is just like me. Trying to make a living out here. So that means following the spot market. Dealing with brokers and loadboards.

Step deck is heavy enough with just 2 axles. As I posted previously,.. the all aluminum 48ft tri-axle I pulled was barely 200lbs lighter than my 2 axle 53ft step. 80k gross is still 80k gross no matter how many axles are underneath your trailer.

Hurst

 

In 3/4 of the U.S a triaxle is going to hurt you running general freight. That extra 2-3000# heavier trailer leaves you 2-3,000# less cargo capacity no matter how you slice it.

The other 1/4 of the country it isn't going to help a whole lot either with general freight. The Pacific NW your gonna find the over 48,000# general freight, stick and brick
loads are for a Maxi., or a Train.
Same with Ut, Mt,WY.

Unless it's for a specific haul, in a specific area it's gonna hurt more than help on general freight.

For a single piece overweight it'll give you the ability to haul more than a guy probably ought to be putting on a step deck.

 

NO a regular tandem truck with a regular 10' 2" spread like you see 10,000 of every day.