Overall weight?

Eh in the eyes of the law he's good on his axles. But I'd rather see that distributed more evenly. Slide the tandems back about 3-5 holes and he'd be better off. Better distribution. Probably ride a little better, and in wet or slick conditions less chance of a jack knife.

 

Not this argument again

 

You must have had your first experience on a single platform scale where you were required to get one weight, pull forward, and get another weight and do some arithmetic. Depending on how the approach and exit is to the single platform there are a number of ways you can "axle out". If the platform is elevated with significant drops off of the scale platform, it's difficult to get accurate axle weights, but typically, put you steers just inside the front edge of the scale (as close as you can get while keeping them entirely on the scale but without any trailer weight on the scale), get your weight, then pull forward JUST ENOUGH to get your steers off of the platform and both your tractor and trailer tandems on the scale, get your weight, then pull forward JUST FAR ENOUGH to get your drives off of the scale, get your weight and do some math.

Just realize on short [elevated] scale platforms where weight and gravity along with elevations changes you move forward and shift weight around, up hill and down hill, weight can be skewed significantly so don't move any more than you have to to get the desired weight

BTW, the scale master at the state scales won't be looking at your "overall tractor weight", he will be looking at your steers weight AND your drives weight, separately to see they are under 12,000 and 34, 000, respectively.

 

Yup,I prefer to have more weight on drive axle then the trailer.They taught me in cdl school that it's better to carry the weight rather then pull it.

 

Most if not all the trucks in my companies fleet have steer axles over 12,000 empty, and usually 12,500-12,800 when grossed out. How can we get by with this? Never EVER been hassled by DOT over this.

Is there some kind of exception to the rule if you are using certain tires or wheels?

 

Colorado and Wyoming allow 36K on drives or tandems, even on the interstate

 

Some arguments just never go out of style.

 

Most if not all the trucks in my companies fleet have steer axles over 12,000 empty, and usually 12,500-12,800 when grossed out. How can we get by with this?

I will bet you a weeks pay your steer axele does not weigh 12000, empty/with out a load.