Bridge weight restrictions

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by RayBlaszak, Dec 9, 2018.

  1. RayBlaszak

    RayBlaszak Light Load Member

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    Hello fellow drivers,

    When a bridge has a weight restriction of say 29T I assume that means Gross Vehicle Weight and not 29T per axle group. Is my understanding correct? I only ask this because my company as well as others have terminals that require you to go over a 29T weight limit bridge that probably sees 100s of trucks an hour. Unfortunately, all the other roads are restricted to semis as in you pass the sign and the local cop is dying to give you a ticket. So my question is why would several trucking companies be allowed to build terminals with a weight restricted bridge (assuming we mean GVW)?
     
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  3. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    The terminal was probably there before the bridge was declared weight restricted. So they give them a pass. Would be my guess. If there is no other suitable route for trucks.
     
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like a trap. Somebody at those trucking companies better get on the stick. If it is really 29T gross, I wouldn't care for crossing it with 40 all day.
     
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  5. RayBlaszak

    RayBlaszak Light Load Member

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    It really is 29Ts. A truck probably crosses it every 30 seconds. Its kind of like the shippers who are surrounded by no truck routes. Makes no sense to me but I'm not the one making the rules
     
  6. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    29T is almost 60,000 pounds. I would not be too concerned If other trucks are already crossing it.
     
  7. SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

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    It depends on the length of the bridge. If it's long enough for your entire truck to fit on it the rating needs to exceed your gross weight. If it's only long enough for a set of tandems to fit on it, the rating only needs to exceed the weight of your heaviest axle group.
     
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  8. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    29T means 29x2000 =58000 gross weight give or take a smidge.

    We used to have a US 340 bridge west of Harpers Ferry, called the green shaker. Very high up. Weight restricted beyond belief in like 3 states. Yet lumber trucks hardwood flat bounce and shake across there many times a hour every day and night. Ive done my fair share of bouncing across there.

    It had a particular curve on one end. You would imagine very easily its leaning out a foot or so as you took it.

    Company sign on the brakeroom regarding that one bridge. "You drop it, your estate has bought it for generations." and will absolutely be billed a new one.
     
  9. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    A lot of the “lower” weight restrictions you see here and there that don’t otherwise specify were more directed to “straight trucks” and short dump trucks that can be much heavier inside of a short length, that can all fit on the bridge at once.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2018
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Yet another variation on weight rating will come from the Fire Department, usually the local one. I sued to have to cross a Boring Maryland Wooden bridge over the Chessie System that was 6 ton roughly. Turns out the little red and white plate on the corner says I can put 14 and 34000 tandems on there. So it worked out well that time. (Yes Virginia, there IS a Boring Maryland.)
     
  11. RayBlaszak

    RayBlaszak Light Load Member

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    The bridge is relatively short. My question is more or less when a bridge has a weight limit it is referring to GVW and not in fact the weight of each axle group? When you cross the bridge the whole span is roughly 8 feet so the whole truck is really never on it at once which is why I'm assuming it's okay for us to use.
     
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