Big Loads - Post Photos Number 2

If I have to pull banners off I will do so at the first safe place. Like a rest area or a scale. Generally I put way more flags on then are required. Never been questioned for it.

 

I just finished going through this entire thread. Yeah I've got a little time on my hands after all I am a door swinger.

You guys are impressive & the amount of knowledge here is incredible.

I have a newbie question for you guys. I haven't pulled open deck in about 12 years & I'm going to get back into it with the end goal to pull OSOW in some capacity.

I was thinking of starting with a step & pull regular open deck freight & throw in a little OSOW as I gain experience.

Now let's get to my question. I was thinking of getting a 53ft combo triaxle step. I know I probably won't need the 3rd axle in the beginning but I prefer not to buy another trailer for awhile. So if you guys were in my situation would you buy a used step & run it until you were hauling a lot of freight needing the 3rd axle & at that point buy another trailer or get the trailer you'll eventually need right from the get go?

 

Depends on the freight you'll be hauling to start with, and your TARE weight full tanks of your tractor. That third axle will add weight you might not want chasing legal heavy loads.

I was 34,500 half tanks with a combo flat tandem.

The other thing is the area you're running may not realize the benefits of running a tri vs an open spread. You can scale 40K on a spread some tris don't get you much more in some states.

 

Yeah, that's what was on my mind, the extra weight not being used. The more i think about it the more I'm leaning towards a tandem step. I'll probably be pulling OSOD more than OW so the extra axle is probably not gong to be beneficial at first. I've got some time, I'm not making the switch until spring.

As far as area, I prefer to stay between I-35 & I-75 the majority of the time. I do go outside of those boundaries but that's my main area to run.

 

My preferred trailer with a 4 axle truck is a stretch 55ton 3 axle Fontaine with a 4th axle as a flip or booster mount. Of course this trailer has the longer neck and empty weight is close to 55k. It seemed to handle so much of what I like to haul. (My present gig has pulling so many different types of trailers...,)

 

Seen a big 4100 shovel bucket getting hauled up the road today. Only counted 4 chains on it. My spidey-sense tells me they're about 10-12 chains short on that load.

 

Maybe he wasn't gonna far?

 

How does the cost for permits regarding weight work?
Does the cost progress per 1,000 lbs? Lets say I'm at 81,000 vs. 90,000 lbs. Does it make a big difference?

I guess what I'm saying is, if I take a load where I'm only a couple of thousand over legal, would it be a considerable cost? Thanks.

 

Depends by state

Some charge a banded weight fee like Texas regardless of mileage

Some charge Ton/Mile fees like TN or NM

Some are flat fees like IA

Some are per thousand over a 80000 like OK

So you need to figure where you are going and then go to the state websites to determine how they charge.

 

Not heavy nor huge, but pays good. East Texas to Northwest Oklahoma.

Then it's off to North Dakota for the first of back to back OD loads going to Andrews, TX.