Big Loads - Post Photos Number 2

I'm in the dark, scra?

 

Specialized Carriers and Rigging association, they have a plan for permit harmonization.

SC&RA Launches Uniform Permit Transport 2021 OS/OW Permitted Weight Harmonization Initiative

 

That sounds like a good idea, am I missing something?

 

It is a good idea, but like all other changes it will negatively affect some.

 

It will make those big multi component trailers in far less demand.

 

Not necessarily.
Study the configurations, anything 9axles and bigger, all the backends are listed with at least one 13'7" minimum spacing.
So it's 2-2, 3-1, 3-2, etc.
Just because the drawing shows the axles close together, doesn't mean the listed axles spacing minimums are.
The SCRA plan does take into account Federal Bridge Spacing/Span Weight Limits.

 

Well from the standpoint that an 8 axle quad trailer would be able to carry 160,000 gross it would certainly eliminate the need for a west coast type trailer currently required to go to California and a few other states with many loads. The federal bridge formula says I’m allowed 34,000 on a tandem less than 8’ and 50,500 on a quad with between 13 and 14’ of spread and yet I can permit 50,000 on a tandem and 80,000 on a quad.

 

50,500 on a tandem is in your case OH, some others allow that high as well.
Federal Bridge Formula for OS/OW loads is 46,000lbs on tandem with minimum 13'7" of spread. A lot of states require 14', which is why 14' became the defacto "standard".
I don't know FBF for quads, they aren't and won't be allowed in Western Canada so I don't even look into it.

 

No 50,500 is on a quad according to the federal bridge formula, 34,000 on a tandem. I’ve never seen a federal standard for permits as far as I know it doesn’t exist it’s up to the states. I do know a majority of states now recognize 80,000 on quads with a few holdouts. I don’t know anything about Canada.

 

There is no federal standards that I know of. That is the whole point of what the sc&ra is trying to do. Each state is free to choose now. For example in MO a regular 1-3-3 7 axle can only get 132,000. But in VA that same setup can get 144,000. Most states allow 4’6” axle spacing there are a few that all 4’ and some require 5’. It’s a mish mash all over the board. Even on a normal 5 axle they allow different bridge spacing in different states