Spread Axle Question For Flatbed

the ideal setup IMO would be 48 ft with the 122inch spread and dump valves on each axle.It sure makes getting into and out of tight spots much easier when you can dump either axle. Also don't be stupid like all the mavericks and TMC gutys and belly load your own trailer all the time and no figure eight turns. I should really get some flack over this.

 

For regular flat I guess I could agree.

But depending on what your hauling, 53' step has a considerable advantage when it comes to hauling partials and mixed loads. 10' upper and 43' lower allows a load of 40' pipe or a container and still leaves plenty room on upper deck. Also,. unless they are small cars etc, you wont get 3 vehicles on a 48'. I managed to squeeze 3 cargo vans with utility bodies on mine. Paid very good.

This would never fit on a 48'.


Also,.. with the way rates are in certain areas,.. you almost need partials in order to remain profitable. I dont like having to do it, but if I'm stuck with a load at $1.90 and I can find a partial paying a similar rate, I can hustle a little harder and not worry about fuel consumption as much.

Here is an example:


I picked up the coil first. I knew the pipe I was getting was 20'. I set it up to leave room. I netted $4100 on this run. I know guys will get on me for the over hang in the back. I knew the risk, but the money was too good for an easy load like this. Even if I got fined, I still would have profited.

I was recently turned on to the idea of 50' and 51' trailers in order to save some weight. I'm on the fence and still researching the idea for my purposes. I think it could be doable. Just hate the idea of missing out on a well paying load.

Hurst

 

Rand McNally road Atlas has all the states with king pin to axle limits. Basically any state with a California king pin law 'can' write you up if your axles are spread.

I almost never close my axles. I only close them if I need to make a sharp turn around to avoid dragging my tires. Florida is the only place I've ever been hassled. I didnt even know Florida had such a law. Guess I should read more. LOL

Florida (My home state) is the only place I've ever been hassled.
http://www.fdotmaint.com/Axle Spacings & Weights Enforcement.pdf

My wife did my annual permit,.. but I think this is the link she used in Florida.
http://www.fdotmaint.com/

Edit:

I'd measure and check,.. but I thought I read somewhere that 50' and 51' trailers were set up to be 48 state compliant.

Hurst

 

What overhang

 

I looked in the atlas we have at the office for these limits, and it didn't have all the info for all the states. I was trying to figure out if one of our 51', 3 axle livestock trailers could go through New England without lifting the rear axle. Anyone know where I could get this info for next time? I searched the forum for a thread on the subject, but came up with threads on just about everything, except what I was looking for.

OP, sorry for the thread hi-jack.

I never looked into it too hard, but I always thought an 8 or 9 foot spread might work well. My understanding was that you could run 38,000 lbs on an 8, and 39,000 on a 9, and I don't think I ever loaded near the full 40,000 on my 10'. I liked the idea of closing up the spread as much as was practical, because seeing at my tires rolling over sideways when turning that 10' spread just made me see $$$ being left on the asphalt. That's why I went waayyy out of my way to try not to turn any sharper than I had to.

 

Page A16 in the 2009 Rand McNally MC atlas. Also on page A16 in the 2003 edition. Those are the only 2 I have handy here in the office. 2006 is in my pickup, and 2012 is in the Mack. I'm due for a new one now that the 2015's are hitting the shelves...

You're looking at the semi trailer length limit column on the far right side of the page. If it says 53' and no other mention of restrictions, you're good. If it says 48' with a notation about longer trailers being allowed on certain roads or under specific conditions (such as kingpin-to-rear-axle spacing), then get out the tape measure and check your axle spacing. For example, Vermont allows 53', but no more than 43' between the kingpin and rearmost axle...so you'd probably have to lift that back axle to be legal.

 

I know the general rule is 43' to the back axle, but some jurisdictions were, and maybe still are, 41' to the center of your spread. That's the same thing on a 4' spread tandem, but it's a 6' difference on a 12' tridem.

 

Florida is 41'.

With another safety blitz coming,.. I imagine they will be looking to get paid by a few of us with these trailers.
I dont like it anyore then the next guy,.. I just chalk it up to doing business.

Hurst

 

I know CT is a bugger for spreads as well. Only state I remember having an issue with in the NE really. Luckily, the company I worked for that we ran stepdeck up to the NE all had sliding spreads so you could move that rear axle forward... at least, if you remembered to do it while you were empty you could.

 

Mine slides,.. but you need to do it empty. It raises the air bags all the way up. Locks the brake on the rear axle. Pull plug to release the pins and put it where you want it. But once loaded,.. it is how it is. I dont know what damage could be done to the air bags if they tried to raise like that with a load. Never tried it. Dont want to find out.

Hurst