53' Spread

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by RNGTransport, Aug 14, 2007.

  1. RNGTransport

    RNGTransport Light Load Member

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    Jul 13, 2007
    Allendale, MI
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    MY dad has a 53' reefer with a 11' spread that does not slide. Was just wondering in what states is it legal. He got it to run apples in Michigan but now he is looking to run other areas and was wondering if he is going to run into any issues with the trailer not being legal in some states. California I know for a fact wont allow it so I just need some others that might pull him off the road for pulling it.
     
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  3. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    As far as I know, Cali would be the only real problem. I'm sure other states have laws on the books about spreads, but I can't think of any off hand.
     
  4. RNGTransport

    RNGTransport Light Load Member

    134
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    Jul 13, 2007
    Allendale, MI
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    Yea im from cali and I know for a fact that its a load of bull manure, he was just out there on vacation and he stopped in at a weigh station and asked the officer on duty that question, if he could pull his 53' spread on california highways. Well needless to say that the officer told my dad that he needed to tell him if the trailer was in california or not and that if it was he was going to be ticketed and needed to contact a flatbed company with oversized/overwieght permits to haul it to the state line. My dad said thanks and walked out of the building the officer came out and told him to tell him were the trailer was at, with an attitude at this point. My dad told him it was a home and the he got into his rental and started driving away. Well the officer got in his cruiser and pulled him over about 3 miles from the station because he was "speeding", he was doing 2 over the limit, Office took 1 look at his licence handed it back to him and let him go, no warning no ticket no mention of him speeding just wanted to check his home address.
     
  5. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    I'm sure glad we don't haul chickens from California or Canada.:biggrin_25521:

    Maybe someone knows this, is a Canadian spread legal to pull in California?
    We have about ten trailers that were Canadian spreads converted to 10'3'' to haul chickens, mostly in IA. We can gross out at 86K legally in Iowa as long as the cargo breathes and has heartbeats(12k Front, 34K drives, 40k on the trailer as long as it is a 10 foot spread).
     
  6. Tip

    Tip Tipster

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    Mar 18, 2006
    ON STRIKE
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    You can find that info in a Rand McNally motor carrier's road atlas.

    My guess is it's illegal in a few states, meaning you should sell it and get a normal wagon. You never know when you'll have to go to California on a run to avoid either a long dead-head or a long wait.

    I don't suppose you can post a picture of this thing? I may have to go on the net and find some pics, as I've never seen a 53 set up this way. Sounds like a strange animal indeed.

    Yeah, trade it in for a Utility or Great Dane.
     
  7. Eskimo6804

    Eskimo6804 Heavy Load Member

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    Northeast Alabama
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    It depends on where the rear axle and center of the spread are located in regards to the trailer itself. The "legality" of this trailer will be based on the bridge law. If the axles are set way forward to where a 48 spread would be located, it would be perfectly legal. So, in my opinion, that is where you should start. Measure the length as it pertains to the bridge law and then look at the different lengths for each state to determine if it is legal.
     
  8. Eskimo6804

    Eskimo6804 Heavy Load Member

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    Northeast Alabama
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    I forgot to mention, pay attention when driving down the interstate. you will see quite a few 53' step deck trailers running around with spreads under them. They look really funny having the last 5 feet or so of the trailer hanging over beyound the rear axle but, if it works...
     
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