Over Weight When Fully Loaded

Trailer kingpin set too deep will do the same.

 

Trailer should load Drives and Tandems equally, or close.

Over on Drives means fifth wheel plate too low. Vans use 46-48”, but tankers need 52-56”.

There’s a series of measurements (about 15 as I recall) to tell the tank company engineer how to recommend plate risers (bolt on off; $500 or so pair).

A nose-low tanker beats crap out of driver & tractor. And the heavy end at the Drives makes maneuvers more “exciting “. The worst of tank-driving: 4700 in a 7500 at 9.69 lbs/gl on a short wheelbase tractor with Drives 1800-heavier than Tandems. Much easier where capacity and load are close.

Water always finds its level. More on Drives is good to a point (10% or so). Not so afterwards.

As to crossing highway scale, it’s no different than starting to slow two miles or more out (as you should). Having that load come forward and then crawl the wall in a curve is a habit to break.

Have to keep the monster still. I had the Erick OK scale tell me on the PA a few days ago they appreciate a dead still load. Wished everyone could do it. I was at 80,400. “Exit to Interstate”

Practice. (And get a haircut).

 

we used to look for 54" fifth wheel heights for tank work. Smooth and easy does it good, I had guys who took pride in gliding onto the scale in the PA TPK tool booth and get a toll ticket for a weight class lower than they were.