Bottom dumps

If it pays by the ton you’re losing 1.5 ton per load because of the extra axle. Not sure what the typical empty weight is for a single axle and a set of trailers, but roughly every 17 loads or so you’re giving up a load just by having another axle on the truck.

 

Is one really loosing 1.5 tons per run? It should be they are gaining about 5.5 tons of gross weight.
20K max on the axle on a single screw.
34k max on two axles (could even be 40k depending on state)
So 14k added, but subtract the axle weight if 3k lbs leaves 11k extra.

Or am I looking at it as that extra 11k will never get used anyway? All the bottom dumps up here in MI are two (or even three) axle tractors.

 

I’m assuming 80k gross in CA since he’s asking about a single axle vs tandem truck. I know I shouldn’t assume things but I did.

 

That's my point though. Can you assume 80k on a single axle? Don't know elsewhere, but here in MI it's..
34k tandems + 20k drive + let's call 13k for steers = 67k max gross weight.
If it's a spread axle dump giving 20k an axle we have...
40k dump axles + 20k drive + 13k steers = 73k max still. This way makes the question pertinent as a second axle on drives will only add 4k cargo, given a 3k weight of axle. Still, being paid by the ton 4k extra will add up.

 

The doubles in CA are 80k gross.

 

OP... Where are you located?
if you want to run double bottoms check out what the local guys pulling them are using for power.
In my neck of the woods it's 95% single axle tractors . Some of the light weight rigs can put on 26 or 27 tons. They need to carry that much because the rates are very poor.