how to spec a truck to haul heavy loads

Heavy. do you mean overweight or just close to 80,000?

 

I run super-b train in Canada. 140,000 lbs we run 46,000 lbs rear ends 3.91 or 4.11 gears, 18 speed trans. At least 500 hp, mine is a Detroit DD16 600 hp.
If you are just hauling containers up to 80,000 lbs, anything at all will work.

 

Good heavens, this site cracks me up sometimes, . When I saw the title, I figured , heavy haul, like mombo dozers, and stadiums and such, but to haul rail cans?? May I suggest this? I seriously considered one of these when I pulled containers.
https://d330p0bveuoux1.cloudfront.net/i/784/669/784669_6002_159_0001.jpg
Bottom line, no less than 500 hp, and get an suspension air gauge and don't pull those stupid overloaded cans!!!
I had a guy once tell me while loading a container, I said, "gee. looks kind of heavy", the guy says, "well, it's just going on the rail". I said, "yeah, but I have to get it TO the rail,,idiot".

 

Yeah, good luck with that. Just make sure you can stop the dang thing. Unless you had your own chassis,( which is the only way I'd ever go, trust me, I pulled that rr junk for 5 years) you wouldn't catch me pulling that kind of weight on tube tires, and one working brake ( if you're lucky) Like I say, the power isn't the main thing, it's how it gets to the back wheels. With that kind of weight, and speed isn't going to be a concern, at least it shouldn't be with those loads, 10 speed is fine with today's motors, but I'd go with lower gearing, 3:90's maybe, you'll be frying clutches with 3:40's, I'd think.