Load placement

Are you pulling a 48 or a 53? Is it a spread or closed tandem? If its a 53 spread is it Cali legal? All this plays into how we can answer your questions as these variables make alot of difference on load placement.


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Any reply would first have to know if we're talking about a spread axle trailer or not. Assuming it is a spread, center load about 2-3% of trailer length from the center, towards the rear. If it's not a spread and we're talking about maxing out gross, then you have to do what you have to do, but again a lot depends on the type of tractor. Not being able to slide or not having a spread limits your options considerably and even weight distribution from center is the most critical thing to strive for but are trailer tandems set or can they slide becomes a factor.

You need to fill the truck up with fuel, load the truck heavy then set the tractor 5th wheel position to where you have 11,700#-12,000# on the steer and 34,000# on the drive, then don't move the 5th wheel again, then the rest becomes a matter of knowing what payload weight you can accept to remain under 80k, and centering the weight distribution.

 

Also remember that weight doesn't transfer through the neck as well as it does on a flat so if the piece your loading has w heavy end load it forward and you might want to load things farther ahead than you would on a flat for this reason also.


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An easy way to solve this, buy a set of those right weigh gauges and then you'll know where to position stuff on your trailer. You won't know what your steer is reading but just assume that as long as your drives aren't over 34k you should be fine. However, with the newer tractors they tend to run heavier up front with all the emission stuff so you can be over on the steers and not on the drives. We have a 2009 T600 that's like that with the 5th wheel all the way back.

 

Most all trailer manufactures place the midship light dead center of the trailer. I'd start there and go forward depending on what you are loading. As you've come to find out, if your not hauling 1 specific type of freight (pipe, coils, steel plates) then where you put the load will vary every time. If you are hauling heavy pieces often then I'd also suggest getting a set of scales. I just added some to my truck and trailer. Took me all of an hour to install BOTH and cost about $100 total. Haven't had to use them yet tho as I have a very light flatbed trailer and have yet to haul anything over 35,000#

 

I have to start by saying I am a little concerned by your surprise that you are "encountering way different freight than dry van." It sounds a little like you are in over your head. On the bright side, you came to a good place...the drivers on the forum are very knowledgeable and helpful. I would tend to agree with SHC's method, but disagree about the placement of the center light. I would say 50% of our trailers have center lights that are at the center of the trailer. We even have trailers where the light is further back on one side than the other. Measure to determine the center point of the trailer. Attempt to center the load at the center of the trailer. Load slightly ahead (6 inches to a foot) if you are trying to balance the weight between the drives and the spread. Load slightly behind if you have a spread axle and want to play it safe. We encourage our drivers to balance the load, to try to improve tire wear on the trailer. Many o/ops prefer to load the spread heavier. You have to decide what is best for you.

The air guages SHC talks about would also be very handy guides for load placement. Just make sure to hit a CAT scale if you are close on either end. Their tolerance is not exact enough to trust.

There are a huge number of variables that would affect load positioning. The bottom line is you figuring out how to load your equipment. Make sure to weigh any time you can can record that information.

One piece of advice I would offer is to watch out for items that have a heavy end or heavy side. A good example of this would be industrial machinery like a CNC machine. They are designed for function not transportation, and may have an end or side that is several thousand pounds heavier than the other. Usually, they are crane loaded and the crane operator should be able to give you a heads up. Also watch our for heavy equipment that carries all its weight on one end like a boom lift. Often the machine has to be placed far to one end or the other because of the length of the boom. This is a quick way to overload one end or the other. Those things can be tricky. Watch out for rollers that have water or sand in them for added weight. In the south, they often put water or other fluid in the tires of heavy equipment for cheap ballast. That can add additional weight that you are not expecting.

Good luck and keep asking questions.

 

Depends on the trailer. My CA 53' has center about 3-4' forward of the light. The light on my trailer is center of the deck, not center between kingpin and spreads. Putting 45,000 in coils at my center trailer light will get you a ticket. Even with a 48' trailer, center is usually 1-2' forward of the center light, depending on trailer overhang.

 

Best way to find center of a trl. is this.
Take a tape measure and go to your kingpin. Then run it to the center of you trl. axles.. split it in half. and there is your center point of weight dist.

PS. read what CPAPE has to say also. And SHC

 

To solve all your problems you could just only take loads under 35,000# ..... Just saying LOL