Cdn Vs. US driving regulation questions for a newbie

Hi all,

I'm new to long-haul, and will be driving primarily cross-border into the states.

I want to make sure I'm on the good side of the law with this. My question is with regards to gross vehicle weights. Here in canada we are allowed the following:

5500 kgs (12,100 lbs) on the steering axle
17000 kgs (37,400 lbs) on tandem axles.

This would bring the gross weight of a tractor and tandem axle trailer upto 39,500 kgs (86,900 lbs).

Now, from what I could find, this weight would be illegal in the states?

I just want to make sure I'm not overweight when I get loaded somewhere. From my understanding I'd have to make sure I'm not more than 12000 lbs on my steering axle, and 34000 lbs on each tandem? (gross of 80,000 lbs) when crossing into the US?

 

Thanks for the reply!

I'm going to be loaded less than gross for most loads except when I'm on this one run from BC into the states where they load me right to gross. Now I just need to make sure I'm loaded to US gross and not the Canadian limits.

Cheers!

 

Okay....so here's a situation for you. My trailer I'll be working with does have spread axles and I remember my boss mentioning spreading them to allow for more weight in the US.

So it would be legal to be loaded 12000 lbs on the steering axle, 34000 lbs on the drives, and 37400 lbs (17000 kgs) on the trailer tandem as I roll through BC and Alberta. While I'm driving through Saskatchewan before dipping into the states I spread my axles and that would make that 37400 lb tandem weight on the trailer legal in the US? (since it is under 40,000 lbs)?

Now, another question......if I spread my axle on the trailer, would it take weight off my drive axles since one of the rear axles would be moving forward?