Scaling, 5th wheel and trailer axles

You don't need to weigh loads that are light enough (assuming you trust the weight on the BOL to be accurate). Scale your truck empty, so you know what your empty axle weights are. Mine are around 11,500. That way I know I don't need to scale a load that weighs 22,000 pounds, because the legal maximum is 34,000. So even if the weight was so unevenly distributed that every single pound went onto one set of axles (which isn't even possible), those axles would still be under 34,000 so I'd be okay.

 

Either would work but if you still have that same load on I would take advantage of how close you are and move the 5th forward until you are under 34 on the drives loading up your front axle so that you can get it as close to 12 as you can so you can gross 80.

Where your fifth is now you will never be able to get to 80k because your front is under 12k with your drives overloaded.

 

Just get a Canadian spread axle drive and spread axle trailer, then you could be 12k on the front and 20k on every other axle, just not over 80k gross

 

The tandems, one or even two holes would have been fine

 

Perfect load to get your truck balanced. Take advantage of it and play around with it until you got it.
Stick with the 12000 and 34000 for the moment until you get more confident and have time to figure out the exemptions. If you're not sure don't hesitate to ask. A fellow driver in the truckstop? If he appears trustworthy then go ahead and get an opinion. But it'll still be you in charge.

 

The problem with telling new driver "these are the weights and if you go over you will get a ticket, which you stated, new drivers don't learn the way they can truly do things, poor training needs to stop! When a new driver ask question about weight, give then the hole truth! They will be better off in the long run

 

Sliding your 5th wheel only divides weight between your steer axle, and your drive axles. Sliding your trailer tandem divides weight between your drive axles, and your trailer axles. Ideally, once your drive axles weigh 34,000 lbs you'd want to do two things. Take a note of the gauge on your dash, as while your drive axles are at 34k, the gauge is now telling you the maximum you can have on those axles. Next, check your steer axle weight while your drives are at 34k. It'd be handy for you to max those out too, so if while your drives are at 34k, your steers are reading 10k, you should slide your 5th wheel forward a notch and try to distribute more weight to your steers, but not to surpass 12k, and I'd aim for 11,500 just to be safe.

 

You can go over 12k on steers. Why do so many want to stick to that old bull about you cant go over 12k. Look at your tire rating that tells you how much you can do. Mine for instance is 12940 but i keep it at 12600 as if i slide my 5th any farther forward I may hit my sat dish between the cab and the trl. once you get the 5th in a good place leave it alone. Never go over 80 total. never go over 34 on tandem axels. Split axels can hold 20k each. Dont over think it. as for the load you were under all you needed was a hole forward and that would have made you legal.