Tandem Setting Question

I never liked the tandems all the way forward, empty or not. Theres a fancy scale in Florida (i75 I think) that measures your distance with their weigh in motion scales. Can measure tandems and overhangs in back and sides

 

the only state I've ever had a problem with bridge law was the anal retentive state of CA.... made me move it 1 hole.....

I don't do CA anymore so I don't care

when mt I set it at 4ht-5th hole and when I'm loaded I set it for the load..... has worked for me for 11 years

 

Indiana likes 40 feet too. My tractor has a suspension gauge, first I look at that and set it close to 34,000 pounds then go scale the load. Generally like to set the tractor and trailer close to the same weight if I can, all depends on how they load it. Seen loads like 22,000 on drives and 33,000 on trailer and vice-versa.

 

Too lazy to reset the tandems, or just plain forgot to do it? Either way, it sure could be costly for him.

 

I'm running local/regional now from nj to mainly NE I have my tandems at the rear and keep them there but I also miss almost all of the weigh stations as I like being as early as possible.

 

Funny you should mention that. I've had quite a few of those lately.



Top ticket was at 41'. Bottom ticket was stretched all the way to the rear. BOL said 42,241. How hard is it really to load one correctly? Must also be listed as unskilled labor lol

My load home this week came in at 24,400 / 31,800. They sure do ride like #### loaded that way.

I've got a gauge too and usually it's dead on setting it at 60lbs +/- 5 on the drives. Didn't take the gauge to know those loads we're screwed up lol

 

Running Mty I prefer tandems rolled forward. BOL reads 36K or less, I roll tandems forward. Heavier weights the tandems roll backwards to the closest legal rear axle weight.
(Running New England...i.e. Pitts, Bos, Buf, & Cleveland with delivers inside City Limits I prefer no issues with Turns...and their are many streets that are made by simple math calculations...driving down a narrow street then making a turn to drive underneath a trestle.)

 

Usually the dock forklift guys toke up on dope then go out and load the trailers. "oh wow look there's still 8 feet of space before the doors, let's put 8 more pallets on."

 

This is how rookies run thier tandems. It is unsafe. If you can't make turns with your tandems at 41' you have no business driving a truck.

OP - what you should be doing is checking the furthest spot back you can run for every state your trip goes through then set your tandems there. Scale the load if needed. All these wanna be truckers with thier tandems slid all the way forward are accidents waiting to happen. They hit things with the overhang and drag thier bumpers on hills.