50lbs overweight on the trailer axles.....

Well now you know 50lbs even 100 over the DOT won't bother you.I think you're allowed up to 500 lbs over at scales.

 

On interstates/national network, the steer axle weight can be the lowest of:

20,000 lb
the combined tire rating
the axle rating

Usually you'll be good for 12,350 but some trucks are good for over 13,000 and others, like mine, truly are limited to 12,000 lb due to a cheaply spec'd steer axle. Check the door plaque for the axle rating (and the tire sidewalls for the maximum load).

Also keep in mind that 1 gallon of diesel weighs ~7 lbs so at 7mpg, you lose 1 lb per mile. That 1lb is spread between your steers and your drive axles and how it is split depends on the location of the tanks (mine is 2/3 on the steer and 1/3 on the drives).

None of that helps if you're over on the trailer and can't slide the tandems back any farther, but they are things you should know going forward.

 

He HAS your back, or he WANTS you back?

Either way, funny posting from the o/p, if real, and I think its a post mortum April Fools Day joke.

But if real, then shame on you for thinking such a thought on a mere 50 lbs over.

Someone should have told you to go to the restroom, and "clean out your colon", right there is all of about 50 lbs! (for some driver's nowadays)

 

let it go and move on , weve all including myself done and said dumb things .
its too bad we are in an age where the gov and these schools have these kids scared to death and brainwashed .

 

Don't know who you drive for, but if you have an APU, you also get a 400lb allowance on your drives that you can use.

 

@ GenericUserName


Sorry for the April fools jab, but you gotta admit the timing was good!

Them coop scales are almost always off a 100 lbs or more, so they will normally give you a few 100. If anything you might have to explain why you cant adjust your load. Not worth it for them to write a ticket, they got bigger fish to fry.
About 300lbs over on the trlr is where I start getting nervous. You can't remove or add weight off the trlr axles by sliding the 5th wheel!

My main worry in your situation would be maintaining a good relationship with the boss and dispatcher. The better you get along with them the better they are going to treat you!
We have all been greenhorns and put up with the "old guys", so dont take nothing personal its just how we learn! Be safe out there.

 

man if your only 50 lbs over, put it on the drives and run....fuel weighs apx...8lbs per gallon so therefore if your truck gets 6mpg lets say means you run about 40 miles and you will be fine.....

50lbs i wouldn't sneeze at, but 100 plus or more.....well depending on how far the next scale is can i burn off enough fuel, and if not well looks like they be reworking it...

 

Don't be so sure of that ... got a ticket in VA for 20 over on one axle. Still have a copy hanging in a frame. Overweight fine was one cent per pound so 20 cents. then $70 in scale fee, civil penalty, administration fee, court fee, processing fee, etc.