driving w/ tandams all the way back, '53

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Numb, Feb 4, 2012.

  1. DrtyDiesel

    DrtyDiesel Road Train Member

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    So today I had a perfect example.

    Only way to legalize my load was to drive with the tandems all the way to the rear. I was in Iowa, going through Missouri into Oklahoma and all three states allow you to run your tandems that far back.

    Ethan
     
  2. flightwatch

    flightwatch Road Train Member

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    I agree, but disagree. A company can't perform the maintenance on a trailer unless it's brought back to the yard by a driver. Instead, a lot of companies rely on their drivers to keep up the maintenance on trailers just like they do on their trucks. Unfortunately, a lot of the drivers out there have the "it's not my problem" attitude and leave the issue for the next driver. At my former company, I picked up a trailer with the brakes so far out of adjustment, they weren't even touching the drums when applied; Another one had the tandem pins springs missing...you could move them in, but they wouldn't pop back into place; The best one had 2 flat tires, none of the marker lights worked and the reefer tank was empty.

    The bottom line is that companies could quell this wonderful form of laziness and incompetence by punishing the previous driver that pulled the trailer.
     
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  3. warhoop

    warhoop Light Load Member

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    I've hauled lots of scrap paper all over Or. & Wa. with the tandems allllll the way back and been through every scale you can name and not one of them could have cared less as long as I was legal on all groups and on the gross.
     
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  4. LVRoadDog

    LVRoadDog Bobtail Member

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    Don't know about anyone else but I prefer my tandems as far up as I can legally get them makes cornering easier. I left a shipper once and headed about a mile and a half to the truck stop to scale and forgot to slide tandems after loading because of this shipper requirement of them being all the way back for loading. Believe me when I say I realized on the first right turn that I forgot to move them back forward. Cornering was a b**ch.
     
  5. DrtyDiesel

    DrtyDiesel Road Train Member

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    It makes turning crazy lol. Your truck rides better on the highway if your loaded heavy and their all the way back. I'm in flatbed now, we have 48' spread axle flats. No tandem sliding, I love it now haha

    Ethan
     
  6. tracyq144

    tracyq144 Heavy Load Member

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    I think I can top that. ;) I picked up an MT once that that had a bare rim, no rubber whatsoever! Must have been dark when the previous driver dropped it, huh?
     
  7. Everett

    Everett Crusty Shorts, What???

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    no tracyq, that was a direct result from a jb hunt driver passing a swift driver then as got back into his lane , the tire went flying off , it was not made for that high speed pass ,so it flew off , so he just drop the trailer off and got anthor trailer lmao
     
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  8. ChristenburyM

    ChristenburyM Bobtail Member

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    Florida does enforce bridge length, it is a $650 fine!
     
  9. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    I prefer to set the axles to where the 40' mark is between the tandems.
     
  10. Everett

    Everett Crusty Shorts, What???

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    the only time i don't move a tandem , if there all the way back, is one, it's on a junky trailer and it rusted the sliding rail's rusted clear thru the rail's and they loaded heavy with paper roll's those 3 feet round by 6 feet high one's, yes then if i'm close too the yard, i drop it in the yard or make the shop move the tandem's, it not my job too too jack up the trailer and come a long the tandem's forward, most time i get my book out and see what state i'll end up at, and set for that state, but being carefull as i go thru each state , i never have liked or having the tandem's all the way back, more cause for accident that way.