Dual or Tri-axle Stepdeck trailers. Which is better??

The only advantage of a triple over a spread is the ability to permit more weight for the axle group. we run spreads, triples and quads. In MT (depending on the spacing) the non permitted limits are 34k tandem, 40k spread, 42.5k triple and 52k quad.

 

Re freight rates, I wonder if the Agents/Brokers are loosing money. Aren't they taking up to 50% of the load anyway??

Three axles would give me the ability to carry weight without permitting it (given below example 42.5K weight restriction on a 3 axle trailer) Anyway. Next thing is to start looking at RGN or Double Drop trailers. Trying to find the most versatile trailer. I also know RGN and Double Drop are for different freight then flat/step deck, but, it's something to look into. .

 

I'm missing something. Can you explain how to scale more with a 3 axle in the lower 47?

 

Woops. I ment you can scale more weight permitted with a 3 axle trailer than 2. Sorry.

Come on.. The extra Axle blinds the Weigh master, confusing him or her allowing you to sneak past them with more weight as they go, Huh??? What was that??? Lol...

 

Thank you for that correction.

 

I think you can put 45,000 on a tri axle vs. 40,000 on a spread. You still can't go over 80,000 but it helps in certain situations. That's the way it is in Ohio but I though that was the federal bridge formula.

 

Depends on the state you are running in. Wy you can go 117k I believe. WA, ND and ID you can gross 105k. MT is like 130k.

Now the tri axle will help in those situations where the load is heavy at one end but light at the other and too long to center on the trailer.

 

I thought maybe you were intra state in MI or something. I didn't realize that WY, WA, ND, ID, MT also allowed you to gross up without a permit. Thanks to Cnsper for that info.

I don't run those states but in ON for example you can haul big weight "without a permit". I write that in quotes because while it's true you don't need a permit, they do charge you more for your plates so it amounts to the same as buying an annual/blanket permit anyway.

 

You might gain 5,000 on paper but when you deduct the weight of the third axle from the 5,000........

 

Yes that I agree with it wouldn't gain you much but sometimes 1000 pounds is a big difference.