How far to slide tandems?

They should be scared - you're out there!

Yeah - advanced calculus... they call it basic arithmetic when there's numbers involved, or algebra. Like this is 8th grade stuff. Even Jethro Bodine could figure this out....

#h = (t-d)/2k

 

Jethro was proficient at 3rd grade cyphering

 

I've only been on the road a month found that each trailer hole is about 250lbs and each fifth wheel hole is about 500lbs. Im certain on the trailer i confirmed it with a scale. As far as the sliding mechanism. A good hammer 3lb sledge at least 2 large jaw vise grips for holding broken pins in place and a smaller set to hold the release bar in place. Found that works well for me. Good luck

 

Around the Ceemnet pond, or at the supper table with holders...but he got good enough with his cyphers to own a casino in Nevada...Carson City to be exact

 

That is the problem with the "driver mill schools", anybody learning to drive a big rig NEEDS to know these things.

Using the thought that the driver mill, three week course can teach enough to "get by" is like saying; Since a third grader completed the courses required to advance to the fourth grade, then he/she is knowledgeable enough to become President of the United States..well maybe not the best example in these days (sorry couldn't resist)...or knowledgeable enough to hold elected office..nope we already have over 400 of them in Washington D.C. bad example again!

You get my drift? Education shouldn't be complete if it is "just enough to get by", education should be complete. I know the students on my truck had a trainer/mentor who actually cared more about the student being competent and knowledgeable about the trade he/she was getting into. So I passed on as much knowledge as I possibly could, beyond "just enough to get by". It does matter that the newbies understand weight in respect to axle position, how to adjust the weight, and how to measure fuel weight to axle position, and how fuel weight to gross weight can effect the load...far too many variables to get into trouble, and cause injury or death to oneself or others.

As you can see from this thread, the information we use on a daily basis is rarely being passed on (in the school environment) so we on this forum (and many other forums like this) try to help out newbies and old farts like me alike by answering question, and asking questions to things we don't know or understand.

Being a van driver, (dry and refer) I never thought about what Ron-Mars just put in this thread. I would never have thought about how to place a long load for weight and turning, split axles still confuse me since I don't deal with them, but if taught, I would do and take whatever time and question everything I don't or didn't understand about the subject. And so should every newbie coming out of training or school. The sad part is the percentage of "trainers/mentors" is very low for the ones who want to teach a new driver what he needs to know vs what is enough to get by!

So I repose the question: How do you get/figure what percent of weight from fuel goes to steers and what goes to drives, and why does it matter?

 

You can't. Too many variables for one method of calculation. Tank position, size, length, shape.

This would be one for the scales. Empty tanks vs full tanks while bob tailing.

It only matters if you're really close on your weights.

 

There are no variables in fuguring YOUR trucks fuel weight % going to steers and drives. As I said, each truck is different, as you can only drive one truck at a time, the % always stays constant for that truck.

You have the final third of the question correct; IT ONLY MATTERS IF YOU ARE CLOSE ON YOUR gross or axle weight.

So how do you figure the % of weight of fuel going to the steers and the % of fuel weight going to the drives?

CLUE; the answer will allow you to figure how much fuel you can put on to stay (or be legal) when approaching (or crossing) a scale.

 

My biggest clue, is when the ticket spits out showing 34,500 on the drives. and I only have 11,900 on the steers.

Usually, thats a reload if the tandems won't take it off. I've been there too. No thanks to a few rocket scientist that load trailers for kicks.

 

We call it FOC calculations in Archery. But you would have to have the exact weight/amount of the fuel and the center point to calculate this.

FOC = Front of center.

Here's the formula...I found it.

(FOC L / TAL) * 100 = FOC %

Archery has progressed very far in the past 20 years. We actually have a gauge for measuring this now.

 

As this is true IF we know the EXACT weight/amount. However, we are driving trucks, dealing with "scientists" (as you put it..well I might add) who load these trucks, we as drivers need to know a quick, simple way to know how much weight is going to the steers, and how much is going to the drives. (% of weight forward and back).

We use averages, (not on your log please..don't want diesel bear jumping on me lol) to estimate weight of fuel forward and back. And you were right, it does require a scale to get your answer (the first time) after you have the answer it remains constant with that specific truck.