Optimal wheelbase for Intermodal?

The OTR and Intermodal are different animals in more ways than one!

 

I second everything @RERM just said.

 

The truck in my avatar is what I run intermodal with, '15 Mack CXU, 445 hp MP8, 3.55 gears, 12 spd automatic, 48" low rise sleeper, 220" WB (I think, will have to double check), sliding 5th wheel. Run 20', 40', 45', 53' in a 5 state area. For the most part, any 20' over 36,000 lbs we run on a tri-axle chassis (with a couple of exceptions). My only issue, because of emissions equipment, I'm a little weight restricted compared to our daycabs, my bobtail weight w/chains is just under 19,000. With a 20' can on a 20' slider chassis I'm between 28,500 and 29,500. But with those heavy Pacer 53' boxes, I'm over 36,000 empty, and sometimes have a hard time scaling even 43,000 lbs in one.

All we run are Mack daycabs and 2 Mack sleepers, super reliable, I'd say a more durable version of a Volvo, and often priced very low on the used market.

 

Just put a pillow over the steering wheel. Instant sleeper.