A concern about getting caught overweight at a weigh station

No, I don't know every state but in my state the overweight ticket will go on your MVR and will not disappear for 55 years. So for 55 years after the ticket you will have to explain about your driving abstract that overweight ticket to every employer and why you were such a dumbarse to get it.

It also counts as a moving violation so in my state that ticket and a couple more can get your license suspended. After the license is suspended you have to retake the CDL classes again to get your CDL reinstated. Try to get a job then. Just a pet peeve of mine that companies and some drivers insist that a overweight ticket doesn't affect a driver. It no longer affects a companies CSA because big trucking lobbied to get that removed from them, but it still affects the driver.

You got something wrong there. That is a ticket or two. Let me explain. The DOT always considers the weight capacity of an axle to be the lowest of several factors. These are tire size, tire weight rating, axle weight rating.

As such for tires you probably have 285/80r22.5 on that Volvo. The federal bridge law allows up to 600lbs for per an inch on a steer axle: so converting to inches and multiplying by reg:

285mm/25.4 x 600lbs x 2 axles = 13,465 lbs so you are O.K. there.

However, you probably have "G" rated tires at 385/80r22.5. Those are only good for 6,175lbs each. So

6,175lbs x 2 tires = 12,350lbs and you would be over tire rating at 13,000 and due a ticket.

If your had "H" rated tires, they are good for 7,160 each. So :

7,160lbs x 2 tires = 14,320 and you are good at 13,000.

However, most fleet spec. Volvo 670 (and 760s) came with a meritor from axle rated at 12,500lbs. You can check that on your door sticker. If you are at 13,000lbs with an axle rated at 12,500 you are again due a ticket.

When you first mentioned 760 I though well those are known for being heavy. However, it appears you are driving a 670. My experience with the 670 has the front axle at around 11,000lbs when empty, and when loaded I can get 12,000 with the kingpin centered between the axles with plenty of room to move the fifth wheel to move front axle weight.

It could be just overloading the front of the trailer, but the sudden change indicates something different. You got to weight out each individual drive axle on level ground to figure out what is going on.

I am guessing like old iron said that you have a problem with the front drive axle air bags/suspension. You are getting more weight distributed to the rear most drive axle. Leveling valve, air line, air bag, suspension bushing can all be bad and cause such problems. My guess is leveling valve, but I have ran into all those other problems before too.

 

Those volvos often have airbags on the steer axle as well which can be problematic. That's not what's causing the weight issue but if they're out of adjustment (set too high or too low) it can cause some awful handling performance on those things.

 

btw...you should grease your fifth wheel slide locking pins....js

 

Caught overweight.......

 

How about running 1/2 fuel capacity? Move your 5th wheel all the way back. Get the shippers to distribute their loads more balanced. And 6,600lb capacity on steer tires gives 13,200 legal weight, even if your truck door panel says 12,000lbs.

No matter what, I wouldn't go past a scale until I figured this out. And, don't run illegal, it's just not smart. Best

 

@NoobiDriver scale those truckaxles yet?

 

@Toomanybikes what state do you live in?

 

Run light on fuel. Do all you can to balance the load. It took me 2 hr to axle out @ 79750 with 1/2 fuel. Something is out of balance.

 

You do know how much weight is moved by what pins and how far apart they are

 

I had to ride around in the back of a police car , to go to an atm machine so the Michigan state police would give me my license back