Trailer tandem slider holes

Most trailers (or at least the ones I pull) have markings on the side of the trailer.

 

Plenty of trailers can slide up to get what looks like maybe 37' kpra. Think about it, if the trailers were only ca legal in your first or 2nd hole for cali what would happen for those loads pushing the gross weight limit. You'd have to load it perfect all the time to hit 34k just perfect on your trailer and we all know that doesn't happen. Only state I can think of give you grief for being up too far is MD, max 35% rear overhang. Michigan was the other, however they abolished their trailer wheelbase laws totally a few years ago.

I agree with drivers should know the laws for the states they travel. Knowledge can only help you. If a driver hauls a load from Buffalo, NY to New haven, CT and the shipper has it loaded he has 36k at 43' kingpin to center of rear axle. The load is 30 pallets weighing 43,000, with a gross weight coming in at 79,500.
What does a driver do?

 

My trailer doesn’t have that sliding axle ability.

 

Well, the law would say the shipper needs to take 2 off.

I dont know anything about that part of the country as far as where the scales are and how often the cops pull out portables.

 

Another if its on the internet it must be true tale.... Was this gleaned from the experts in the Fakebook trucker groups?

 

Yes, the laws vary on the measuring point but you can do the math to make it constant to center of axle group or center of the rear axle.

I tell my guys that if the center of the rear axle is in front of the 43 foot mark, they're good on KPRA for all states except California. If they need to run further back for weight issues, then look up the states you're traveling through and see if you can run further back. However with our freight, almost every load balances out with the tandems in front of 43.

 

Totally legal.
CT and NY are both maximum 43' kingpin to center of rear axle and also allow 36,000 on tandems, both on interstate and state routes. So good to go.

 

On the trailer I'm hooked to right now, hole 18 puts the center of the rear axle at the 43 foot mark.

Hole counts only work if the equipment is standard. We used to only run Wabashs and everything was the same regardless of the trailers date of manufacture. Then in 2010 we bought some great Danes and some Hyundais. In 2011 we bought some more of each with different specs. In 2012 we bought 3 types GD, 2 types of Hyundai, one type of Vanguard, and 2 types Wabash trailers. So in 3 years we have more than 5 different slider set ups - "standard", "standard set back", pins together and set forward, pins together and set back, far spread, far spread set back - and that's before we start talking about where the front stop bar is set.

 

I dont know why and neither does the repair shop but my 2020 Western Star 5700's ABS will NOT talk to a Hyundai trailer. I have an ABS fault light on when Im hooked to one. The tractor passes without it, and have no issues with any other make of trailer. The trailer passes without being hooked to my tractor, and as far as I know passes with any other make of tractor. But together.... No joy.

 

On most trailers I've pulled, the California (40') hole is hole #6.