41 Foot Mark: Where is it REALLY supposed to be?

As long as your not overweight on your rear tandems, always go 40 from kingpin to rear axle center and your covered in any state. If you need the extra foot for weight purposes then take it to 41. You can get away with 41 from kingpin to center of rear axle GROUP in most states if you need it but be prepared to show the officer the law because some of them don't know the difference between axle and axle group...

 

I was pulled into the parking lot at the Dunsmuir weigh station for being 42.5 feet kprh. When I fixed it the tandems were 1400 over. I opened the back doors and gave away a pallet of free lumber after calling 6 local phone numbers in a snow storm. I was over gross after fueling and that is what activated their eyeballs I think. Shipper said he was going to put 45k but it was much more, so I had no problem acting dumb at consignee.

 

Melton runs California spread 53ft trailers non adjustable. Not sure there kingpin setting but supposed to be 40ft from center rear axle I never measured it while there but never went to Cali while there either

 

Are you sure ? My math is a little different. 3 ft + 41= 44. So you have 9 ft from the back for a 53 ft trailer with pin at 36 inches. Not 10 like you are stating

 

I'm spoiled. Our trailers have "rulers" in 6 inch increments on the driver side toward the rear.

But on a related note, be sure you note whether a state is looking for the center of the two axles, or the center of the rear axle (as in California). Lot's of guys always assume the center of the tandems [for everything] and get in trouble in California . (They're "too long")