Does DOT allow for fuel weight

I've done as high as 12325 on a steer and have never been bothered.

 

Most States allow a certain tolerance, around 400 pounds in my day I think today's trucks that do have a APU to show have a exemption to defend against overgross because of that extra weight and fuel feeding and running a APU. (Which is very nice of the States if you ask me...)

80,000 is my magic number. That includes everything. Especially fuel. If I loaded say in ... Nashville and know that Knoxville Scales are closed but Roanoke VA scales are open and have half tanks at 80,000 I'll wait until beyond Roanoke before fueling up. I would weigh to find out how many gallons I would want to put on to get past Stephens City on 81 in VA before "Escaping" into Maryland and deal with the 70 scales. If the fuel situation is too close for Maryland as well, I'll simply run the woods, cross over at harpers ferry and run some of the back state routes into the hills and not use 70 at all. It's not about bypassing (it is but it's not... when you don't use a route in particular for specific reasons such as the famous New Market Scales)

Sometimes if you are very careful with your fueling and how much you take on.. it's what? 8 pounds to a gallon of Desiel fuel? Or is it 10 pounds? Or 6? I cannot remember, I usually went with 10 pounds a gallon to give myself some room versus 4 miles to gallon for worse case scenario fuel mileage. 40 gallons makes for 400 pounds and around 160 miles to work with. Plenty when working around scales at just under 80,000 Trucker Math. I'll simply pay cash for the fuel and write it off. That way there is not much in the way of formal fuel tickets waiting to bite me in the logs or routing. It's a free country, I don't need to be buying 400 gallons if 40 is plenty to solve a 80,000 pound problem for the day versus 3 scalehouses.

Anyway long story short. Buy just enough fuel to solve the weight problem against your 80,000 when working around or through scales. Fortunately most of the USA is relatively scale free so it's not too common of a problem.

Im actually happy you take the time to ask about the tolerance for 80,000 pounds in scalehouses. The one thing I did use quite a bit was a Ravens 10 foot spread axle trailer which allows 20K per axle thus 40K total back there on the rear set of axles plus whatever is on the tractor as long the drives were under 34K and that the steer tires had a weight capacity of 6000 or greater each. I think there were a couple of 10,000 steer tires but cannot remember that far back. Steer weights is not usually enforced too much by the States as long your Gross is under 80,000. You did not state what type of trailer you were hauling. I used my Ravens experience as a example of a exemption that I find very useful. It rode very well with 40K back there. Fuel up front was less of a problem on that little midroof volvo back then.

If you don't have a APU truck, I suggest talking to your Driver Manager and ask for one, not necessarily for the luxury, but the ability to gain one more tool to use against the scalehouses via the 400 pound exemption tolerance for that if you need to.

Good luck.

 

No, My last truck I pretty much stayed at 12,300. Never had an issue with getting red lighted.

 

You seem to have a ton of anxiety about being called into the scales. They won't bite lol.

 

Leaving aside a mountain of Uncle Earl Versus DOT man jokes, you will find Scale Houses to be a barrel of fun. Just spending a few moments inside one as a different driver pleads his case in front of the DOT officer is either a education to file away for future use or a short break entertainment from the stress of actually being there and actually being cited for something.

I see them as financial liabilites. Only if I overlooked something before I get inside them scalehouses in the first place. And in some of those older scalehouses I would imagine they are more than happy to see me down the road and not have to deal with me today.

Of all the scales in the USA, Dumfries is the one south of DC in a so called rest area off 95 that has my name on it. I pretty much eliminated Dumfries from my life by using either 15 or 301. Usually 15. It's a wonderful scenic road, a nice quiet run through the woods and over the river.

 

This depends on the officer in charge, sometimes 500 isn't a big deal but then you get the guy/gal who is by the book and will write you a nice card with a nice round number so you can make a donation to their state!

 

I'd roll right around the scales.

 

omg are you still worried about 12,000+ ?

how much are you steers normally? might have to move your 5th wheel back one notch....

 

How is this so difficult?
There are 2 charts in the front of your big atlas. Don't have one? Buy one.
One has a list of what is allowed state by state on interstate routes.
On the next page same list says what is allowed state by state on all state roads.
Now, the lower of your axle rating and tire rating or road weight limit is how much you can weigh.