Chips and logs

ive never hauled the trailers you are talking about but when i lived in MI i hauled a 6 axle tanker mine had the first and last axles were lift axles and they actually turn better than a regular tandem but you gotta watch your tail swing big time on those they will turn real tight and take car in next lane over

 

yeah you have brakes on all axles. when backing them they react alot faster than a regular tandem

 

The tag axles on the trailer (usually) steer during turns, so they aren't so bad - you need to raise the axles before backing because of that steering effect... or things will get ugly. That goes for trailer and truck tag axles.

Drove a chip truck in Idaho/Montana last summer... kinda fun, really. 105k gross weight with a daycab.. truck was stretched out.

 

Wood chips are very ABSORBANT , let a load sit in the rain ( poor tarps ) and you gain a LOT of weight.

 

Topheavy..... watch your speed carefully on curves and uneven roads and such. Give yourself some extra room on following distances and the like so you don't wind up having to do something sudden.

Woodchips.... weight distribution is critical, learn to load even front to back. Weight on chips can vary wildly on type of wood,age (fresh chips compared to ones that are from a yard pile), weather (like flatbed said, chips absorb moisture like a sponge) and a dozen other factors. Worst are Hog Fuel. These are old funky chips from the bottom of a yard pile or made from scrap wood,etc. These are mostly burned in the boilers at the mills. They're usually half rotten, full of water and very heavy.

Warning: get yerself some dust masks like painters use. Chips are very dusty and Hog Fuel contains all kinds of nasty spores like mold. F--- the macho types, you don't need to be breathing that crap in, trust me.

Logs..... weight again and even more moisture issues. Green (fresh cut) logs contain alot of water and are heavier. Likewise peeled logs or logs with bark on. Hardwoods are heavier than softwoods. You'll learn this stuff if you ask. Experienced loggers tend to forget the "new guy" doesn't know this.
Safety issues.... Never forget LOGS MOVE. None are perfectly round or perfectly straight and no matter how tight the bunch looks it's gonna shift and settle. Use every chain/cable/strap you got and check em often. Slack chains will bite ya, you don't want a loose log spearing a car or through the back of your cab.

Importrant.... always check your load for "deadheads" before chaining up. These are short logs, limbs or even stumps that get accidentally picked up by the loader. ALWAYS wear your hardhat whilst chaining down and safety glasses if ya got em. Remember, these logs have been laying/dragged across the ground and have picked up mud, rocks, loose limbs, etc.

Remember..... wood trucks take a beating. Your "walkaround" needs to be alot more intense and done alot more often than with a highway rig. Check tire sidewalls (between your duals and inside the tandems) for cuts and punctures. Keep a close eye on stuff like airlines and brakes. Lights are especially short-lived in the woods so learn to change em out and carry spares. DOT is gonna inspect your log truck alot more often.