What exactly is the steer axle weight limit?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by 1nonly, Apr 26, 2010.

  1. richsotr

    richsotr Bobtail Member

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    Feb 5, 2012
    Cocoa Beach, FL
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    There's alot of confusion on this issue, alot of it is guys saying the law is 12k etc, yet you read the book and federal bridge law is 20K on a single axle. Your friendly local LEO can ticket you if you are over the axle rating for the equipment you drive or the tire weight rating you are equiped with. Typical tractor is not gonna be rated for 20K steering axle weight. Next up is your LEO is not a trucker but he knows typically a tractor is rated for say 12.5 and you show up at 13.5k on the steer..problem. Also running close to gross weight you are very close to 34k on the drives and 34 on the tandems so that only leaves 12k for the steers before you are over the 80k gross.

    I'm no expert just a trucker like the rest of you and this is how I've come to see it.
     
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  3. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Tennessee
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    Right. Ignore the 20K because you won't have the axles to do it.

    Then don't confuse the 12,000 rule of thumb with actual law. I can't believe how lazy some of these instructors are. Some can get by with 12,500 because they won't go on the few 12,000lb roads.

    Then there's the ones with the 14,300 tires that can get away with a little more.

    Know you tires and where you are going. I bet half the drivers out there don't even know what their tires are rated for.
     
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  4. pbrstreetgang

    pbrstreetgang Light Load Member

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    Sep 7, 2007
    California
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    Yeah my sticker was ripped out of the glovebox so i called the FL dealer and they said i was only rated for 12,000 anyway (axle) ....so 12 it is. Which makes it a pain in the ### for me when i go to calif and they load me too nose heavy. If i could slide the 5th wheel forward a little i could be on my merry way without having to go back to the shipper and run out of hours....
     
  5. pbrstreetgang

    pbrstreetgang Light Load Member

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    Sep 7, 2007
    California
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    I guess i can buy a VW bug and drive here. How ridiculous!!
     
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  6. Giggles the Original

    Giggles the Original Road Train Member

    are you sorry you asked??? lol....yeah it also does depend on what weight your tires are rated for....but it is best to stick to 12,000 unless you start doing OD /heavy haul
     
  7. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    Someone resurrected an old thread. I don't even have that truck anymore, and haven't in a long time. With every other truck I've had, I have no trouble getting below 12,000. It was just an issue with that one truck. I ended up with the fifth wheel all the way back in the last slot.
     
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  8. Giggles the Original

    Giggles the Original Road Train Member

    ha ha i am bad about not looking at the dates ....
     
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  9. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Owensboro , KY
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    That's o.k. . We have plenty of newbies that benefit from the updates . :yes2557:
     
    Giggles the Original and J Man Thank this.
  10. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    There is obviously a lot of confusion on this, given the amount of responses.
     
  11. jorlee

    jorlee Light Load Member

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    Feb 17, 2007
    ND
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    You've got some splaining to do here. What aren't you telling us here? Where's the rest of the story? (Paul Harvey)
     
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