Would you run with this weight like this?

It's on the Arkansas side as you're heading south into Memphis. He didn't say the scale was in Tennessee. Just that he went through Memphis.

 

Oops lol. Yeah don't listen to me. I always come down on the 555 from AR to 55 in Memphis to the US78 on the other side into MS. Scales on either side of Memphis. Figured one of them was on the TN side but never paid attention that close. Just checked and one's in AR and the other's in MS. Haha

 

Arkansas and Mississippi DGAFF about Tennessee KPRA laws.

 

Inform your company. Sometimes they will agree to take the hit in favor of on time delivery.

I picked up a dropped loaded trailer another driver brought in but was out of hours to deliver. He never scaled the load even though the shipper has certified scales and the Loves was only 5 miles from the shipper and company pays for CAT scales. Still this driver dropped the trailer at over 1500 pounds too heavy for the California 40 foot deal (California bound load).

I told the company and they swore up and down I can stretch out past 40 and if I get busted they will pay all fines/reworks whatever.

 

The scales computers measure your axle distance as you roll up. I don't know if its before the scale with a laser light or at the actual scale but at least in florida they have the tech to do it. Every time i pull an od load when i park and walk my permit in, they have a printed sheet ready for me showing all my axle spacings and load dimensions that they then compare the permit to.

As far as being 800 lbs overt on the trailer. It's been a while since i had to deal with that in Tennessee but it used to be 2 cents per pound. That's 16 bucks. A lot cheaper than the axle length ticket.

If it was my truck is run it and risk the 16 dollar ticket. If it was a company truck is call them and ask what they wanted me to do.

 

There is a shipper we have in northern VA that ships a lot into Texas. They have a penchant for loading trucks heavy on the rear. I've run numerous loads from there across TN and out to Dallas with the tandems "way back" to keep the axle weight in line. Never had any issues. But I have an angel that looks over me and keeps me out of trouble, I guess. Our trailers have foot markings on the side. I don't guess I've ever "counted holes".

 

Good idea but ---- in a lot of states the ticket will stay on the drivers record, it is not a choice. In some states a overweight ticked it a moving violation. So if you choose to run overweight, it may still be your bullet even if you get your company to pay for it.

 

I always run my 48’ slider all the way to the back. I pulled in the Manchester scale one night and got the red light to come around back. DOT man and a trainee came jogging toward the back, tape measure in hand, practically masturbating at all the fine money they were gonna get. I never said a word... just smiled.

They strung the tape out, “Well ####, this is a forty eight footer, ain’t it.”

Lol

 

Technicalities would suggest you run legal. What would the company do if you informed them the load isn't? The burden is always, always on the driver to make it right or don't pull it. The exception is to knowingly pull it over weight or overlength. The points from a written violation are not worth the time and money saved by avoiding State DOT regulations. Although you got lucky this time, next time tell the shipper in advance to load it like a 48 foot trailer or you will come back and have it reworked.