Axle spacing

No apology necessary.

I know sometimes I come across like I'm challenging another member's post but I'm just trying to make my post more clear.

 

Let me fill you in a little on spacings- speaking from experience. Some states will never ever give you a second look. Others will nit pick your permit and truck until they create something to write you up for and trust me OHIO is the absolute worst. The pic below is a diagram of one of our typical 8 axle RGN setups. We make these for every truck and trailer combo and each tractor carries a copy with him for the states where you get your own permit at the scales. Adding to the example, you can see on our page, we have "Truck length" Ohio wants the actual truck length on the permit. This is bumper to frame rail, not overall- that is another box. Just the tractor length. So it is wise to pull tape on everything and keep it accurate. I had to buy 2 additional permits at an OH scale one day and I was about to take a road trip and recoup some funds if you know what I mean. What you cant see on the top of this page too is the tractor and trailer full vin numbers, license plate numbers, model year, make and unit ID's. Everything you would need to order a permit all on one page. Handy, our load sheet has the dimensions specific to that machine on the trailer at the time the drive loads and calls in with his actual weight and dims. Always always measure every machine after its on the trailer and your suspension is aired up. Also, some states like Nevada give you the max weight you can have based on what your spacing are. They do not ask you what weight you want, you give them your spacings and they will tell you how much you can scale. Hope this sheds some light on some things for you, if you have anymore questions feel free to PM me, I dispatch about 14 heavy haul trucks and get permits daily.

 

I would like to add, some states- ahem.. Ohio and others are starting to get picky about what is listed on the permit as equipment being hauled. If you have an excavator, with a bucket, make sure you list "Excavator with bucket". Or dozer with ripper and blade ect... We had a driver get pulled over going through town out to one of the pipeline yards, they thought for sure he was running without a permit so after the inspection where everything passed he got a ticket because we didn't list the ripper which was attached to the dozer on the permit. Its getting ridiculous.

 

I love reading threads.

 

Was this in Ohio?

 

So Bar
I'm a little confused, was Ohio declaring that the dozer with the ripper was considered a "divisible load" verse "non-divisible"? Because I've been pulled around back for the typical inspection with both types of loads in Ohio and they never said anything about the equipment. Now I have looked at a few manufactures brochures for dozers and excavators to get accurate diminsions for bidding purposes and those devices are considered part of the machine. So under the "non-divisible" load definition it would take longer then "8 man hours" to disassemble those devices in question. So if your driver got a ticket for that I would haul those DOT Bears into court!

 

In Ohio the 8 hour rule doesn't apply if it renders the machine unable to do it's intended purpose.

 

Well if a blade was disconnected from a dozer it would render the machine unusable for its intended purpose....right?

 

Here is the complete unadulterated Ohio state law from there website Lawriter - OAC

5577.02 to 5577.05 of the Revised Code, because to do so would:

(1) Compromise the intended use of the vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended;

(2) Destroy the value of the load or vehicle, i.e., make it unusable for its intended purpose; or

(3) Require more than eight workhours to dismantle using appropriate equipment.

The applicant for nondivisible load permit has the burden of proof as to the number of workhours required to dismantle the load.

For the purposes of this rule, three or fewer steel or aluminum coils, transported by a vehicle, are deemed nondivisible loads.

 

Yep same with an excavator bucket.