So, new driver here, and my trainer mentioned this once to me about how APU's give you some leeway in extra weight when weighing out a load. I didn't ask him to specify.
On my current load, I have the weight as good as I can get it I weighed it in the 4th hole, 10th hole and then to the 9th hole that gave me the following weights:
Steers 12100
Drives 34040
Tandem Axles 33680
Total Weight 79820
They loaded me to the brim. Now I weighed this on a full tank of gas. I'm assuming that 40 lbs should drop off the drives as the fuel level goes down, right?
I found this official government website in the APU exemption:
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/policy/rpt_congress/truck_sw_laws/app_a.htm#mo
On that site it seems some states have A 400 Lb APU exemption, but it doesn't specify if that's for the steers, drives or tandem axles?
It seems other states, it's basically up to the DOT officers discretion?
Listen fellas, I have a load going 850 miles through AR, AL, MS and GA - am I going to be ok on my steer weight and will the DOT get me for being 40 lbs over on my drives?
Any of you guys drove over the scales being over 12,000 on your steers? Being 100 lbs over?
APU exemption for Steers?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by GhentSaintPeters, Aug 21, 2019.
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You are perfect right now, hammer down. I found long ago, if you are going to be a little over they are not as particular on the steer as other axles. A lot of states give you 13 or 13500 on the steers anyway. my truck runs over 13 bobtail and I have bnever had anyone hassle me.
bzinger, lovesthedrive and FlaSwampRat Thank this. -
I regularly drove over scales with my steers at 12160. No problem. (I had too much stuff with me)
Amount you're talking. That could be error or the wind. Seriously.FlaSwampRat Thanks this. -
The APU exemption just applies to the total weight, so you could be up to 80,400 but still must be not more than allowed on each axle. That said most states allow 20,000 on steers or whatever your particular steers are rated for. There should be something on the door jam that says what your steers are rated at. Many steers these days are rated more than 12,000. Either way you will be fine. You will lose fuel weight off the steers and drives so that weight will be down likely before you get to a scale.
FlaSwampRat Thanks this. -
God that looks like a perfect scale ticket to me... Roll on driver. I dont sweat over weight on an axle by 500 pounds or less, long as I'm not over gross.
bzinger and FlaSwampRat Thank this. -
“this on a full tank of gas.“ ???
I think gas weighs less then diesel fuel anyway. So in weight critical situations fill up with gas instead.....bzinger, FlaSwampRat and Cattleman84 Thank this. -
Perfectly balanced. Don't touch anything and go.
I like to have my 5th wheel set as close as possible to the front. I marked the position and get a 12300/34000 lbs balance between steers and drives with full tanks. Never got bothered on that. My steers are rated for 12000.
I try to keep the trailer at or below 34000, since there is no change of eeight while running down the road.FlaSwampRat Thanks this. -
Oh the old 12k steer lie. 34 on the drives, 34 on the trailer, that means the steers can only be 12k right? Steer weight is determined by rating for your purposes
blairandgretchen, FlaSwampRat and KB3MMX Thank this. -
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best little book to have
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