New trailer GVWR

I would like to know the answer as well.

All I have ever heard was the legal rate is the derated weight, but DOT only looks at tire rating, and not the data plate on the trailer to determine if you are overweight or not.

For example, if you are trying to stay under CDL, derate the trailer with 2-7000 lb axles to 12,000 to stay under 26,000 gvwr, the DOT will accept that, but you can still put 14,000 on the axles for scale weight.

DOT only looks at tire rating and registered weight to determine what your gvwr is, not the data plates.

I don't know the facts about that, only people talking about it.

 

All depends on how smart the law dog is inspecting you..

25999 GVWR means just that. Is it safe to load 32k on a tandem rated for it. Sure. But you gotta pay to play if you want to do it legally..

Had one in new York state check the BOL weight against my sticker once. All it takes is a wee bit of arithmetic, & your OOS..

 

It sucks no doubt, but you'll be happy later you are not constantly looking over your shoulder when heavy. You may get away with it?, but I sure won't. I seem to get caught anytime I deliberately try to get away something. On honest mistakes, I've been cut some slack, not much, but I must have the deer in headlights look about me that let's them know it was an honest mistake. LoL.

I had to give away $5160 in FET on my new stepdeck. No fun..

I also had one measure the trailer spread once in Mt. Airy NC. I'm sure you'll have at least 48" axle spread so you'll be fine, but the minimum is 40" or its still considered a single & only good for 20k lb.

What I've found is each officer has one special little thing they like to target. Be it weight, logs, axle spread, tire ratings, break away battery, they each seem to hone in on one thing, at least in my experience so far..

 

Oh yeah, 72" should ride a little nicer too from what I hear. You'll probably never have the axle spread examined, very easy to visually tell 6' is way more than the 40" minimum..

Oh wow, have you been off the road for 25 years?

I'm thinking the most annoying part for you will be ELD's, unless you're going to be running in one of the exempt categories.

That is one, among a few other reasons why I chose to start running an older tractor. After a couple years in the semi, I figured why am I still pulling a gooseneck, limiting myself to less freight. Lots of full 48' loads that are still light weight..

 

The poster that says the DOT man only looks at the axle and tire ratings has been lucky at best. Every time I have been pulled over they look at the sticker in the truck door and the sticker on the trailer. I had my trailer derated to allow me to run under 26000. 11,400 for the truck and 14,500 for the trailer.

Second I would not remove the sticker from the trailer. Without it he does not that you have 16, 000 axles and put you OOS for the lack of information. Also I believe removing a VIN from a vehicle will result in a trip to jail. How else does he tie the info and trailer back to you? Are you dragging a stolen trailer?