Formula for sliding tandems

I don't get to into pounds per hole. If I can see inside I set the midpoint between the back tandem and the mudflap under the last pallet unless to do so puts me past the Utah setting then I stop there. If I get a preloaded trl I set the Utah setting between the axles, then go find a CAT scale. I honestly have never had to move more then 1000 pounds. This by my experience has been 3 holes. I picked up a load in Effingham Il Saturday afternoon. I left the scales a bit under 34,000 on both the drives and the trl tandems. I am about 18 inches past the Utah setting and left Illinois violating the Il bridge law. I also can't put more then about 30 gallons of diesel at a time at fuel up either. That shipper put almost 46,000 pounds on me.

 

There are a couple of shippers that I deal with a lot that always list their loads as 43,000 pounds. Unfortunately, they never seem to include the weight of the 24 pallets under the load. No amount of axle or fifth wheel sliding even gets me close.

 

I would imagine that it is different on different types of trailers. On our trailers at my last job I had it down pat and knew where to put the tandems by the weight of the trailer. I am wondering what it will be like with reefer trailers...

 

I pull Reefers, honestly it's the same. The only difference I can see between a Reefer and a dry van is the added weight of the Reefer unit and the Reefer fuel and tank. Anything much over 45,500 pounds and you most likely won't get it legal with full fuel tanks.

 

My TE(road trainer) taught us this way, each hole is 250 lbs on our trailers

SO subtract the two weights (drives and tandems) divide that by 2 . This answer gives the total that will get shifted from one set to the other. Divide this number by 250. your answer there is the # of holes you need to move toward the heavest end.

formula

D - T or T-D = X

X/ 2 =Y (weight to be shifted either way)

Y / 250= # of holes you move

 

Axle weight - 34,000 = What you need to move....







American Trucker

 

THIS ^

The amount of weight transferred per hole will vary depending on all these and hole spacing.

A 40,000 lbs load is a 40,000 lbs load but if that freight is loaded towards the nose vs. evenly spaced all the way to your doors, the weight distribution is very different.

Slide, weigh, repeat. This is all you can do to ensure you have legal axle weights.

There is no "formula" just common sense will tell you to weigh your load EVERY time. I just had a 31,000 lbs load that was 2,000lbs over on tandems. I typically don't weigh anything unless 35,000 or over, this one just didn't feel right. Some drivers I hear talk about not weighing unless it's over 40k. I had the perfect example of why I weigh EVERY time.

 

Pardon my post. I was trained that more equalized weight is a better ride.

Your way is also correct. JUST /getting/being legal.

 

even then he's makeing you do allot more work then nessisary.

lets say your

11,000
29,000
34,000


just slide 2000lbs forward to your tandems if you can, if not oh well your still legal




American Trucker

 

250 lbs. Per hole.
Most Swift trailers are 4" hole spacing = 3 holes per ft.

Bridge laws - measure 9' from back of trailer to get your 41' mark.
I'm 6', so that's 1 1/2 arm spreads. Measure yours.
Or count the panels that are 4'.
Or use a tape measure.
Be weight legal vs. bridge legal if you must choose.