conflicting axle weights

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by fuelfox4949, Jun 1, 2024.

  1. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

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    You can weigh individual or sets and add them to get the gross. However it won’t be as accurate as a full platform scale. But it will be fairly close.
     
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  3. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I rolled up on one of those scales pulling a loaded tanker. I was actually surprised that they had me weigh seeing as how the liquid in the tank went away from the scale platform.
     
  4. fuelfox4949

    fuelfox4949 Bobtail Member

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    so you can add the axle weights together to be close but not 100% accurate as a 1 piece scale or multi platform scale working in unison?
     
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  5. Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I don't know that I am the expert or that I have specifically weighed one way, then the other just to verify if its exact, but....... In my opinion, yes, weighing on various style scales is the same. Weighing single platform scales or multiple platform scales is close enough not to matter. (the exception is if one scale is not calibrated correctly, but that's not the question here.)

    I've weighed on various scales of various styles & I am happy with either.
    I can weigh on a single platform scale by weighing each axle as I pull up on the scale & add them together. I'll bet if they are both calibrated, it wont be a dimes worth of difference..... IF, you know how to add & calculate the numbers.
    Not kicking anyone around but its like sliding axles, some people just don't know how to calculate axle weights.
     
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  6. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

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    Yes
     
  7. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

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    It’s called split weighing. We have to do it all the time with large multi component trailers. A normal cat scale is only about 75’. When you are 90, 100, or 110 foot long split weigh is the only way that you can weigh.

    it’s pretty accurate as long as there isn’t a sharp decline or incline coming on or off the scale. The more level you can keep the whole setup the more accurate
     
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  8. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    This is a subject that has always made me chuckle a bit. NO state scale is 100% accurate. Even the vaunted CAT scales are not 100%. This is why tolerances are built into the system. Yes, I know that some weighmasters all over the US have been known to issue overweight tickets for a few pounds over. This is sad when it happens. I have rolled across scales hundreds of pounds over and got green lights. My best advice when it comes to weight is to do your best to avoid this situation. Exercise your right to refuse to haul an overweight load. I remember spotting a full trailer after going to a CAT scale and discovering I was almost 2K over on my trailer tandems with no way to fix it. The shipper refused to fix the load. As I said I spotted the trailer and gave the clerk the paperwork back. Got under an empty and was about to leave when that clerk came running out screaming let me fix it.
     
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  9. Ex-Trucker Alex

    Ex-Trucker Alex Road Train Member

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    BUT, only if:
    1) That steer axle (and tires) are rated to 20K; this usually requires a super-single tire and heavier brakes.
    2) Your rig is registered for that much weight
    3) You are legal in that state for that much weight, and have the over-weight permits for it

    And, as to the OP's first post, the Gross Weight is the LOADED weight of the entire rig. Add 'em all up, and if it's less than your GVWR, you're good to go.
     
  10. LTLTRUCKDRIVER

    LTLTRUCKDRIVER Light Load Member

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    I was 700 lbs. over on my drive axles when I left a chemical plant with loaded tanker, got pulled onto portable scales and was 33400 lbs. on my drives. Lost 1300 hundred pounds with 5-inch lift of portable scale.
     
  11. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    Watch that inside bridge on the #5 -#7 axles. :D
     
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