The final word on allowable axle weights.

He pulls tankers

 

So i'm wondering...

Why do so many on this thread not care what the law is?

The weight limit for EVERY STATE is in the rand mcnally motor carriers atlas.

Hell, i hardly ever scale a load, but thats because most of my very heavy loads aren't going through areas with a lot of scales....for example, i just hauled 44,000 lb of wood pellets 150 miles.

 

My co pays for and insists that every load is scaled either at the shipper or a TS. I do a T-Check or the TCH card so it's no skin off my back. I'm pulling a reefer so that extra weight is something I have to be aware of. One time I was over on my drives with a dry van, coming through Grand Junction CO. I saw the overage and parked, walking dejectedly to the scalehouse. The officer said, "I didn't call you in, you are free to go". I think I was only 140lb over on the drives, gross was ok.

 

So let me throw this out there for anyone that may be wondering...

on a spread axle your rated at 12,000 (steer), 34,000 (drive), and 20,000 / 20,000 on the trailer?

 

You will need a base plate for that weight. There used to be a minimum horsepower requirement also. And, you have seen the heavy front axles and big steer tires on the Michigan "trains" and 8-axle "sleds".

 

I think you're mistaken here grossly. It's a 160K if you're permitted and running a set of doubles. You should read the National Network that runs in every state because that's where the limits come from that you quoted plus it can keep you out of trouble if you need it. You can find the info on the FMCSA board.

 

Any trailer can be ordered as a spread. Many spread axle propane/ammonia tankers here. Also a few gasoline tankers, if it's a company trailer fine but anyone who orders a new trailer with a closed tandem must like headaches.

Correct except you don't have to have 12 on the steering to gross 80k unlike a tandem.

Doubles aren't required in Michigan to gross 164k, but a single trailer can't be over 50' long when over 80k.

 

According to the FMCSR pt 658 app.C doubles or a CMV with two or more carry-carrying units not included in descriptions in 1or 2 of app. C are the only type of trucks that can be used to go to 164K. So according to FMCSA they are. The other desrciption of a truck would be like the units we used that are truck and trailers. We had a tank on the power unit then a long draw bar then a four axle trailer. The truck was 85' and would be legal in Michigan.

 

I permit a 53' trl in MI over 80K. I permit a 81' trl over 80K.

 

Get a Motor Carriers Road Atlas. They have all the states max axle and gross weights. DO NOT FALL FOR THE OLE "THEY'LL LET YOU HAVE...." as i did and it cost me just for being 260 pounds over on the trailer but not over gross! He had that Big CB and being a nube those oh so many years ago I let that Big Radio guide me to a nice fine!

Follow the guide and you'll be ok. Now this has been addressed before in the forum but not all states follow that 12,000-34,000-80,000 limits! Some even let you go over those like in the NW! Untill you figure out how to scale and adjust do not fall for the CB or Forum BS that says oh they'll let you have 300, 600, 1000 over axle if not over gross! But it's your money so do as you wish but use your brain and the information PRINTED in a good published guide. The size of a CB does not an expert make or something in these forums!
There used to be a book I used when I did oversize called The Weights and Measures Guide but I can't find it on line and it was a long time ago when I had that ugly orange book! It had all the information I needed and it had the restricted routes and over pass information. It was better than any other publication at the time but the Rand has excellent info in the front that stays up to date but you need to check it every year and if there are changes get a new one as it's a lot cheaper buying a new atlas which is tax deductible over paying a fine which isn't tax deductible or topping out a trailer because a route or bridge changed!

Case in point. Augusta, GA. Olive Branch Road I believe the name was.Had a nice steel R/R over pass bridge. They put some really nice asphalt on the road and changed the signs and information at the state level. Yes a few local trucks got topped in the first few days after the retopping on the street before the signs got changed BUT because OTR and even local drivers don't check information on a regular basics, I know of several who drove on the road on a regular route that topped out their trailers because they didn't keep up to date and because they were fairly complacent and didn't read the signs before the horrible crunching and sudden stoppage woke them up!

Good information is a must and a good published publication is a lot better than word of mouth!

I could tell you the stories of CB information in NJ and NYC directing you a certain way only to put you on a road with a low overpass or a dead end so the CB operator and cohorts could rob you or hijack that load! Again good information!!