Question on axel weights on trucks

This all depends on the state. The general rule if you are going coast to coast so you don't have to worry about it is this:

Total vehicle weight of 80,000 lbs. Thats you and your dog and the fuel. Everything!

Over a single axle, no more then 21,000 lbs. (steers)

Over Tandem's, no more then 34,000 lbs. (drives and trailer)

So you need to fall under two sets of rules. You cant be over so much total, and you cant have too much weight over any axle. On heavy loads, this can be and issue. There is times when we are overweight on just the drives, and if shifting the axles back and forth does not shift the weight enough, it may take reloading differently or taking product off. Its not a total amount added up, its two sets of rules. Hope that helps.

 

i thought it was 12,000 on your steer axle, 34,000 on your drives, and 34,000 on your trailer, which adds up to 80,000

 

You want to shoot for 12 on steers 34 and 34. On a spread ax we can run 40 on the trl 20 on each spread, but can't gross over 80 total.

 

yea i knew that but i did not want to get to complexed. just like in florida you can have 44,000 on your drives or your trailer as long as you dont go over 80,000. all kind of different rules in different states.

 

Yeah, would have to look in the atlas, but think you can run 20 on steers in TN

 

Like I said, its state by state, and yes, some states it is 12,000 on steers. I was tired that night. LOL

 

No you wouldn't, because the regular weight limit is 80k, 12 front, 34 drives, 34 tandems, so even if you gross out, you'll still be under the rated max for your drives, and right at the rated max for your steers.

If you are looking at a volvo, I would suggest that you get it with a 13.2k steers, because if you run your fifth wheel set over the front drive (if you are a freight hauler) you will run over 12k on your steers. The VNL I drove was always over 12k even with light loads, and the last FL columbia I drove (which had 12k steers) it would tend to bounce around a lot more. So, I had to run the fifth wheel back a few holes, and take the aerodynamic hit.