Scaling by axle at the shipper. Where do you line up your axles on the scale?

That's true, if the scale is properly set up and calibrated. That's not always the case at a shipper's scale. I've seen my indicated tractor weight change by 500 pounds as I roll across the scale.

 

Not to hi-jack post but have a question on axle weights and scaling.
I am in school now and was told if you did not go over gross weight (80k) and getting your drives & tandems at 34k without going over you put more on the steers.
ie: 13k steer/33.5k drives/33.5 tandems
From a DOT stand point if pulled in to a scale house what would happen?
I think when over on any axle you get a fine?
Thanks
Dave ----

 

A lot of different viewpoints on steer axle weight allowance and al lot depends on the state. But most states do not have a "12k" steer limit but rather a formula based on steer tire width/rating and/or weight rating, whichever is less. As long as gross is OK and nothing else is over 200 .. 300 .. 500? lbs over on drives or trailer (depends on their mood) ... up to 13k on steer will rarely get you called into a scale house. But most fleet trucks today can be tweaked to be at the 12/34 setting (full fuel) (+/- 2%) by tweaking the 5th wheel position. THEN LEAVE IT ALONE! and only worry with trailer position from then on.

It aggravates me to see guys who will always be trying to scale a load by moving the 5th wheel AND the trailer. Once you find the 5th wheel sweet spot where you're at 34k on the drives and 12k on the steer and full of fuel, there is NEVER a need to move the 5th wheel again (although I'm sure some misguided individual will try and tell me I'm wrong)

 

If you do that steer 13000/ drives 33.5/ trailer 33.5 - you will get big fat ticket!!!
It must be 12/34/34.
Also it depends state law.
Let say you are in California and you Gross weight 80 000 totall, what happens?
First of all from center of your drive to center of your trailer axles must be 41' ...offcourse your trailer tandem gets overweight...so what you gonna do? You have to slide your fifth wheel and bring your steer to 12K as possible and you have to bring your drives to 34K as possible...then you are ok untill you get out of California but soon you out, you have to fix your tandem weights!!! Otherways next state will slaam you with overweight ticket!

Also it depends on officer too, sometimes they wount blame you if you have up to 200 pound over!

Anyway allways fix your axle weights.

And good luck...

 

As far as steer axle weights go...

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title23-vol1/pdf/CFR-2008-title23-vol1-sec658-17.pdf

So if you're on the interstate, as long as your equipment is rated for it, you can have up to 20k on the steers. Off the interstate, refer to page A16 in your Rand McNally atlas, and if you don't have one of them, go buy one. Now.

 

Do some of you realize how many trucks today run routinely with more then 13k on the steers? And I'm not talking about trucks spec'd for heavy haul. EVERY car hauler is well over 13-14k, and most fleet Freightliners are well over 12k steers, and they rarely get hassled about steer weight (as long as the other weights are good). Can you get ticketed? Yes, in a few states, perhaps. Will you get ticketed? probably not.

But my point is if there is any way to get to a 12/34 equilibrium on the tractor, do so, and you'll sleep better.

 

Bobtail, full fuel, I'm 12,200 on steers. Fully loaded trailer, I'm 12,200 on steers. Front axle rating is 12,500. Never been hassled.