Explanation about weight needed

What I think you're looking at in those advertisements is axle rating. It COULD haul 14,400 and 46,000, provided it was legal.

 

Michigan legal weight is 164,000 gross, That truck is complete overkill for hauling general freight

 

And just to clarify the 80000 lb gross weight number is the weight of the truck and the trailer and the load oh, that is the maximum the truck to trailer and the load all together can weigh.

My Freightliner has 40,000 lb rears and 12,000 lb front axle. My empty weight is around 33 thousand pounds for just the truck and the trailer without any cargo.

Now I'm sure you know that you can slide your fifth wheel or slide your tandems to change how the weight is distributed.

But a truck like mine that is set up with 40000 lb rear axles in a 12000 pound front axle is plenty for you to be able to get the correct axle weights with a full load of 80,000 pounds.

Also bear in mind that if you buy a truck that has heavier axles like 46000 lb rears, as you get into them to work on them they will cost you significantly more then the 40,000 lb axles. Everything is bigger and heavier and more expensive.

 

The front and rear axle weights listed in the sale are what the axles are "RATED" at, not their actual weights.
The truck itself weights 19000 to 210000 pounds. The trailer you pull with the truck will then weight from 8000 to 14000 pounds, depending on what kind of trailer you are pulling.
That would give you a combination weight of 34,000 pounds, meaning you could carry a load weighing up to 46000 pounds. This would give you a maximum weight of 80000 pounds. don't confuse the "rating" with actual weight.
Hope this helps.

 

run it over a scale, that truck is probably closer to 22,000 empty not 16k.

 

On a side note.

Regardless of what Ukrainian region you're from, I'm sad that CB's aren't popular anymore, because "The Ghost of Kyiv" would be the most ###### CB handle ever.

 

Most reefer and dry van trucks in the US have steer axle maximum weight when loaded is 12,000 pounds. The drive tandem axles maximum weight is 34,000 pounds when loaded and trailer tandem axles maximum weight when loaded is also 34,000 pounds or lbs for a total loaded weight of 80,000 pounds or lbs.

 

W9 typically weighs at least 18k, more likely 19k or more. Often closer to 20k. Reefers are notorious for getting overloaded. Anything close to 45k can be a problem with many of the big fancy Trucks. Volvo’s are heavy too. Sometimes older Reefers are heavier than when new, because they’re insulation is full of water. Tandem axle group ratings are typically 34k. Single axle ratings are 20k. That’s why a spread axle Trailer is desirable. Basically eliminates the need to slide axles to make it Legal. You can Load it a bit lighter in the nose, to make sure it’s not too heavy on the drives. Trailers axles being spread out and rated as single axles at 20k So if the loads heavier on the tail, it’s still legal. As long as the gross is still at 80k or less. I think Florida allows 38k on a tandem groups during certain months, due to produce season. No real benefit of getting a higher rated steer axle. Technically if it were rated at 20k, and you had tires rated at 10k each, the steer could be loaded up to 20k. That’s not realistic, since it’s impossible to get the weight up there. I think most steer tires are rated about 6700lbs. each. Making 13.200 Legal on steers, If the steer axle is also rated at 13,200. It’s common to have a little extra on steers. Here’s a goofy Load I had last week. It was a mixed weight palletized Load. I was full on fuel. Note the total is over gross. I wasn’t bothered at scales. Though I’m sure my steer was still a bit heavy. Trailer too, but not enough to get harassed for. Empty wt. full of fuel@ 35k Load weighed 44700. Bottom line, when it’s a little overweight, put it on the steers if possible. That’s what I try to do anyways. Only real choice I had. The other consideration, is the bridge law. The Trailer axle can only be slid back so far. This Load had 22 pallets. It was Loaded with a single pallet in the nose, followed by 4 pallets side by side, then a single pallet, followed by doubles back, Leaving 4’ of empty trailer at the back. Axles slid as far back as Legally possible while not violating the bridge law.