Double Trailers; Heavier Trailer before Lighter Trailer 23 CFR

It is written in 23 Code of Federal Regulations, regarding double trailers;

"In the event that the gross weight of the trailers vary by more than 20 percent, they shall be coupled according to their gross weights with the heavier trailer forward."

This is a policy in several states, such as Alaska, Ohio, Oklahoma. It is a question of great debate lately. My common sense tells me this is because of the 'crack of the whip' effect, or Rearward Amplification.

I just wanted to get some experienced drivers advice on pulling double trailers with the first trailer closest to the power unit being lighter than the rearmost trailer. Don't ask me why I'm asking--that is too complicated. Just tell me, why you think this is a bad idea.

Show me some examples of horrific accidents that have happened because of this, while you're at it.

 

California is more regulated than Ohio. I am trying to find a reciprocal statute however. I know this law is applicable to Ohio. Did they tell you, this is because of the crack the whip effect? And do you know if it was their actual policy, or just "common knowledge?"

 

Was this like, a truck and trailer?

Just to give you guys a hint of what I'm up against at this time. I had to have a battle of the wits with dispatch, for refusing to operate an empty truck but loaded trailer down a major freeway, in the rain. Like what you are asserting, I was afraid that the heaviest unit would continue pushing forward, increasing the risk of a jack-knife. To compensate, I'd have slowed down to like 25 MPH in a 65MPH zone. Realistically, people would be driving 80 MPH at least--I've even seen people drive this freeway over 100MPH. It's a major freeway in one of the largest major metro areas in the USA.

The rear compartments were empty of liquid. But they were full of vapor, which is volatile and explosive. Let's say I'm cruising down the freeway at 25MPH with flashers on. Some idiot rear ends me doing 80MPH. The discrepancy of 55MPH in a rear-end scenario, causes the driver to drive right into my empty compartments. This would probably lead to an explosion of a catastrophic nature. This would cause the other 2000 gallons to catch fire too. Frankly, this would have probably killed me and been on national news.

The first compartment was fully loaded with 2000 gallons. This is about 12330 pounds on the front axle only, while the rest of the vehicle was completely empty. Now, some states have a regulation that state, the rear trailer cannot be more than 20% heavier than the front trailer. We also cannot have more than 20,000 pounds on any one axle. By my calculations, the empty truck and trailer combo weigh about 20,000 pounds. Loaded in this manner, it is about 32,000 pounds--an increase of over 65% of the entire truck's empty weight--and all of that weight is in one compartment, on the front axle only, in the rear trailer. Somebody please tell me why this is a horrible idea, outside of our own common sense.

Think about it. That 2000 gallons of fuel itself, probably weighed 12330 pounds. The fuel itself, is probably heavier than the entire weight of the front power unit truck and tanker, when empty. It doesn't get any scarier than that.

 

Thanks Dustin. It also looks like it might be a bit more unstable than a typical fuel tanker truck/trailer setup, because you have a 5th wheel on that first tank, am I correct? So it's another pivot point.