Can you go over 12k pounds on steer tires?

Depending on where you are there are some states that limit overall length on state highways, but they’re getting few and far between. Even in California if you stay on the main roads you don’t have to worry about their 65ft limit unless you’re out on the coast.

 

Maryland goes by the tire rating, I run 16 ply on my steers and can legally have 13,200 in Maryland. You would have to check with each state.

 

This why Volvos really like those high dollar Michelin 16 plys. With a big bull bar I was always around 13+ on my 780 and 860. Even with lighter loads and the trailer tandems slid forward.

I'm now in a Mack with no bull bar (on purpose) and a 12k axle. I plan to upgrade tires when it's time but for now I'll just be careful and hope the APU exception helps me if ever needed. I don't think it will though if I'm over spec for the axle/tires.

 

Our trucks are rated 13200 on the steer axle. Im always over 12k with no issues. OK likes to pull me in though, weigh n roll. It depends on what your steer axle is rated for and what your tires are rated for.

 

Why would a lighter gross weight change what is legal for any axle?

 

use to be my empty weight. Never had any issues — tires were rated for it and I had a 20k weighted rating for my steer axle.

 

Did nearly every load require permits and escorts?

 

Mega carriers train drivers not to go over 12k on steers because the axle is often barely rated over 12k and the tires aren't either.

Roehl spec's trucks as light and cheap as possible which is also why they struggle to get trucks each year.

In theory if you have a split axel trailer or multiple axles you can gross over 40k which might be what hes referring to with the 61k quote.

 

Every state allows at least 20K on a single axle as long as the equipment is rated for it. Tires, wheels, axle, and springs.

The maximum legal capacity of your truck's steer axle will be on a sticker located somewhere in the driver's door opening or on the edge of the door.

If you have a mega fleet truck built within the last 10+ years you very likely have a steer axle rated for 13,200 as that has become the standard with modern set back axle trucks.

You still can't exceed 80,000lbs gross but being able to run a bit higher on the steers makes it a little easy to keep your other tandems legal since you don't have to run them right up to 34K to max out your weight.

My truck is about 16,000lbs on the steers bobtail but I have a 20,000lb front end with tires rated for 22,800 total. I never get the bypass lane even empty unless they have somebody already on the scale who's about to have a bad day.

 

That is not gross weight, it is the weight of the load. Gross is the entire vehicle combination.
There has to be some standard terminology if there is to be understanding. Right?