Dump Question

How can a tractor have 42 or 40 or 46k rears legal if the bridge law says 34k on a tandem?

 

because they are used to haul freight over 80k

 

That much I get but how is that legal on the axles if it’s supposed to be 17k each?

 

well its not goin to be regular palletized dry van and reefer freight... you are only going to see guys running those weights pulling dozers and excavators and stuff like that. maybe the occasional flat or step, but has to be non divisible load... so think 1 piece of freight that cant be seperated, when you load it on your trailer it weighs more than 80k pounds.

 

Because the 46s will take more abuse, heavier components are needed in dump work

 

So essentially I’m saying if I’m pulling an end dump trailer and I literally have 40k on the rears weight wise, wouldn’t I get popped at the scale house if I had to stop through or got a DOT cop with a hard on and a mobile scale?

 

That’s the manufacturers maximum weight rating for the axle set. Has nothing to do with State or Federal weight laws. Highway weights being what they are big axles don’t really come into play until it comes time to buy an overweight permit, or you work off-highway.

 

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

40k on drives would not be legal for you

 

Because 34k isn’t always the max…