Spread axle and tridem...

Only worry about FL if it's a 53'. I pull 10' spreads on 48' step and flatbed there without issue. We haul glass of various sizes, but with spreads, I never scale anything under 45,000 and I am always legal. Plus, spreads ride better.

 

Fed bridge is 43,500 for a tri.

A 10.4 2 axle spread is good for 40. 9.3 spread is good for 39. 8.2 spread is 38. Anything less is standard 34.

YOu guys on the eastern side seem to have the ability to weight super loads on standard axles though.

Some guys will say the western side can also. But I keep getting told NO. Need the axles. We were permitted for 60. Then it was 50. Regardless of what permit says, 43,500 is max.

 

I've been thinking that same thing. ^^^

1 extra axle only gains 3,500 pounds. But what's the weight of that axle being added. So in reality you're only gaining an additional 2,500 pounds of payload. Whatever the math comes to after the weight of the axle.

A second axle bumps you up to 52,500 on the 4 axles. You gain an extra 9,000 pounds.

But here's an even more idiotic thing.

The recent dump truck discussion. For a standard dump truck. 10 wheels. Is good for roughly 12 tons. Make it a Tri and you can add an extra 3 tons. 6,000 pounds extra. Make it a quad. That's another 2 tons. 4,000 pounds.
12, 15, and 17 tons.

That's roughly speaking. Depending on the weight of the truck.

The rules for a axle set are different on a dump truck then a 53 ft trailer. 2 sets of bridge laws.

Apparently on the eastern side. There's a 3rd bridge law. Which allows for much heavier loads.
Dump trucks on the east can haul super loads where as on the west. No can do without the extra axles.