Sliding Tandems

If you have a light load you can keep the tandems all the way in the back but with moderate to heavy loads you simply will have to get out and check since one mishap and you will be left with a ticket and some points.

 

Yeah he's serious. Relax or don't reply
I been out here 9 years, I'm a rookie or I'm experienced, depends on who's judging.
Me? I think I'm awesome.
Last week, I actually fueled and pulled forward (awesome)
And on my way back to the truck, a CRST driver asked me if I'd help him with his weights. He showed me his CAT scale ticket, I looked at his axle placement and told him he was good to go.
And if he ever had a question to ask someone.

 

Actually did try to help.

 

Don't forget about the bridge law,
That's the law I break the most, heck, working for this legal company, I'll dodge so many scales for the stupid tandem distance rule.....

 

12000 on the steer axle is not the limit. Actual weight limit for any single axle in 20000. With that said, it depends what the tires and axle are rated at. A lot of new drivers get freaked out if the steer axle is over 12000. On heavy loads I'll typically have 12000-12300 on the steers, especially now that winter is coming. I want more weight on the steer axle for traction in slippery roads.

And in regards to how to slide your tandems without getting out so much, practice makes perfect. The more you do it the better you can get it where you want it. If you're planning on sliding them forward quite a bit, I like to slide them all the way forward, then slide them back from there. You can count 1, 2, 3... If you want to time it.

 

34000
340 per hole
80000
800 per hole

1st numbers your gross weight.
2nd number is the weight moved per hole on the tandem slider.

Because who the hell knows what it looks like in that preloaded trailer...

Take the last two numbers off your total gross. Shift weight in direction as needed.
Real easy right!?

....or drive a tanker or flatbed. XD

 

This is a trick my trainer taught me. Say I want to slide 3 holes forward. I look at the appropriate distance that 3 holes measure... Say it's 24". I take my tire mallet/thumper. I chose a spot on the driver side step to use as a reference, like a bolt or hole. I then place the thumper on the ground 24" from that spot. I then get in and move the bolt in line with the thumper..then get out and walk back to check. .... I can almost get it right where I need it that way.

 

First step is to find out what route and states you must pass through with the load.. Next, set the tandems at the LOWEST/Shortest legal length. This is where having a Trucker's atlas comes in. You will have to either know what the length is by using your company's information, OR you must measure the distance yourself. These lengths are defined by the states, Some are measured from the kingpin on the trailer to different places on the tandem axles. Some are from the kingpin to the CENTER of the axle group.. Some are kingpin to the center of one of the axles itself. You must read and be sure of the minimum settings!!

Set the axles or KNOW the settings before loading the trailer!! When you get the trailer loaded, set the legal axle position and GO WEIGH THE LOAD! IF the trailer tandems are too heavy.. there is NOTHING you really can do! The load must be reworked moving weight (freight) forward or the load cannot be hauled! You have to have the trailer tandems set correctly for the spacing required by the states AND it must be legal weights for that state (34,000 is the norm).

 

What you want is called a Tandem Axle Stop. Google it.