Question for DB or any LEO on here.

As soon as FMCSA writes a regulation to cover your POV your assumption
will be correct. Be careful what you think or say, they may be listening.

 

That must be a PA thing with the tolls because in Ma,NY,NH and ME you only get charged for the axels on the ground at the time going through the toll. Alot of us run lift axels to save on toll when empty and have never bin charged for it. As far as the origanl question, in my experience i have never bin cited or put out of service when the axel is up and they have found an issue with it as long as it was not needed at the time of inspection.

 

I had a lift axle on a flatbed I use to pull on occasion. And I never paid the toll for the raised axle. In PA, OH, IL, NY.
Did not pull it very many other tolls lol. So those are the ones I remember.
The plate on the road counted the axles as you approach the toll. Also some check weight, for tolls that have weight class based tolls.

 

Soooo,

the driver that went by today with his trailer axel chained up in the air-because both

wheels, tires, and the hub assembly was gone on one side-

was legal ??

 

Yep. If he was loaded, that would affect how much weight he was allowed to carry. Wouldn't get the 34k on the tandem, because now it was a single axle that was in contact with the road. As long as that axle was not in contact with the road and not in use.

 

Thanks. 20 or so more questions I'll be able to afford that cheap arse coffee at the truck stop.

 

No sir D.B., you want to retire ? Rake it in ? Afford gallons of coffee ? Then do this:

Teach classes about violations, tell us everything you learned. Fly all over the country inspecting fleets. Print books about subjects. Do the lecture circuit but for DOT.

Carve your niche bud.......here's the blade.

 

Not a bad idea, we'll have to see.

 

I don't know where you pay your tolls, but on the Illinois toll system you only pay for the axles in use(touching the ground)!