Step Deck operator need your advice

No spreads in Florida on >48' trailers.

I had a problem with my rear slide stepdeck a few years back on a IN to FL military truck load. Had to open the spread out to ramp load a 35000lb truck so not to overstress the trailer tail. The problem came when it was time to close it to a tandem in FL. The airbags would not lift up that much weight, so I couldn't clear the wheel wells and slide the rear axle. Ran down I-75 to Orlando, right across every scale(no prepass), and luckily they never pulled me around back to measure.

I like my current all aluminum 48' trailer much better. Fewer headaches, more payload(48k), less deadhead, same net revenue. Although I will admit the new all aluminum 48' stepdecks, like East BST step and Fontaine Revolution step, are enticing. Same strength ratings and same light weight as my flat but in a step.

 

I have never heard that for FL either. You sure its on ALL trailers over 48' that have any spread? Does not really explain anything like kingpin-rear axle distance or spread amount or anything.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr.../205382-florida-with-53-foot-spread-axle.html

 

I have ran FL many times and never had a problem. FortyCal lives there and runs his as well and will hopefully chime in

 

So the way I read that was 41' from the kingpin to the center of the axle group? A fixed spread would be considered a group correct? That is what I am confused about.

 

Digging out my 2012 Rand McNally Moter Carrier's Road Atlas turning to page A16 (or, the weight and size limits section). Drop down to the Florida line and move right to the semitrailer column. There is a highlighted box which reads "48' no bridge requirements; semitrailers from 48' to 53' cannot exceed 41' from kingpin to center of rear axle or rear group of axles..."

On a spread, you measure to rear axle, on a tridem or tandem, I suppose you measure to the center of the tandem or tridem group.

 

In general, an axle group have equalizers that allow weight sharing between axles. Like on tandems. However, you would need to find out how each particular state defines "axle group" or "group of axles" in their statutes.

I couldn't find the definition in FL statutes after doing a quick google search for it. Although, I did read over some other little known and scary restrictions for vehicles wider than 96" when on state and local routes. I don't want to get into that here though.

 

Sounds like if I was to ever run my own rig and have a step bigger then 48'(which I would) I would pay that 20 bucks to have an annual permit.

 

It's 41' to the center of the spread on a 49+ trailer. FL does not not differentiate between a spread or tandems for weights, it's 44,000. If your 53 spread rear axle is at the very back of the trailer, your center of the axle group will be about 43' from kingpin and not legal without a permit.

 

So what is the national spread distance to be able to be scaled as a spread? 8'2" or 10'?