MI: Help me understand 6 axle weights.

A six axle configuration. One pusher, with greater-than 9' spacing between the pusher and any axle/group. Coworkers call that trailer the "Tandem-9"

It's my understanding that I'm allowed 18k on the pusher, 16k per axle on the drive tandem group, and 13k per axle on the trailer tandem group.

A "Regular" "federal" 5 axle configuration gets 17k per axle in a tandem group... You ADD an additional axle to that configuration, and get penalized on the per-axle weights on the tandem groups?!?!?

WTF Michigan. How is this a thing?

 

Three axle tractor and three axle trailer? yes, over 80k, 32000# on the drives and 18k per axle over 9ft spacing. Just talking about this with a friend last night. Its MI, goofy...

 

fyi...
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9625_56949---,00.html

Truck Driver's Guidebook
p.29

 

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/brdgcalc/calc_page.htm

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/brdg_frm_wghts/index.htm

The second link has pretty pictures for those who can count that high in axle groups. he he he.

Enjoy!

 

Don't you always get penalized per axle the more axles you add? A single axle is allowed 20k, a tandem is 34k or 17k per, so why would it be different for 3, 4, or so on?

 

Michigan probably has different rules. I think they're the only state that allows full axles from front to rear. You won't see that many axles once you cross over into Indiana.

Just like Oregon has matching axle weights with the rest of the country. But their bridge is lower then the rest of the country. And they don't allow over 12.3k on steers.

 

Even if I keep it under 80k gross, I still get "penalized" by Michigan to the tune of 2k lbs on the drives, and 8k lbs on the trailer tandems. That's 10k lbs of weight that the pusher has to carry, that could just be on the two tandem groups like "normal"

Half of my brain "gets it" and half of my brain refuses to accept Michigan's shenanigans. I mean, I understand their whole angle is more axles but lower per axle weight is supposed to spread the load more... But it sure is silly that 34k per tandem is ok with 5 axles, (17k/17k) but not if you add a sixth axle... (Which itself is allowed 18k) 8-/

 

I have worked really hard to learn and speak MI or better yet... do MI Math. There were times I banged my head on the charts of weights. I thought about moving up there near the detrioter getting issued a B train and learn by doing. It's all I know how to learn.

 

No, Oregon allows heavier steers if the tire width is appropriate:

http://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/docs/weight_limits.pdf

 

I'm just posting what the man told me when he was stealing $300 from me for being over bridge.