Does DOT allow for fuel weight

How much are you over? Will be hard to convince them it's simply fuel. 500 pounds over I wouldn't worry. Do you have APU? There's allowance for that 500 pounds I believe. Plus you'll burn some fuel off before the scale.

 

The total gross allowed without permits is 80,000 lbs. Many states allow 400 lbs extra if you have an APU. If you weigh 80,500, without an APU, you probably will get a ticket. Most scales will not let an over gross slide, and you are probably over on axle too.

 

Personally I wouldn't worry just roll. 12,380 on steer and 80,220 I'd roll.

 

How far to the first scale?

 

Many people think you are only allowed 12,000 on the steer axle. In fact you are allowed the lowest of these 3 things; 20,000 lbs, single axle, or the maximum rating for the front axle (often between 12,500 and 13,500) and the tire rating, usually 6,700 lbs. I have never had a DOT officer check the stickers on the door jamb to see what the axle rating is, so they usually consider 12,500 legal, which means you need to burn off only 220 lbs of fuel. 8 lbs a gallon is about 28 gallons and at 7 mpg about 200 miles. our probably will not get hassled for less than 50 lbs over gross.

 

Bottom line id run it