vehicle weights

Nope, 12k steer, 34k tandem (drive or trailer) 20k for a single non-steer axle.

Edit: lol, curt and relic beat me to it.

 

I found out, much to my relief once, that North Carolina will allow 38,000 on the trailer tandems, but you still must be under 80,000 gross. The scale master said they were going to love me in Virginia, but fortunately I was able to get it shifted and down under 34K.

 

yea but i remember specifically in CDL school it added up to 88,000 lbs cuz we debated about it for a while

i live in indiana maybe our law is different

 

A lot of steer axles are rated for 20,000 lbs...and a few western states will allow that much weight on them...but most other states require 12,500 or less (13,500 for "H" rated steer tires)

Example:
In my Maverick truck (steer axle rated for 12,000 lbs and a 10-2 spread axle trailer) I can scale out 86,000 lbs and not be over weight on any axle...but I'd still be "over gross" without an overweight permit.

 

Perhaps, but here in West Virginia I know they have to give you 10% so you could get away with 88,000lbs gross, but I dont know about axle.

 

If you have an APU many states have passed laws allowing an extra 600 pounds. But you should have a list of those states from your company. My steers are regularly over 12,000 and I've never been pulled in.

 

There are VERY few states that wpuld let you go 20,000 on the steers. And if they did you would have to have tires and a front end that was rated for it. Also you have to be licensed and have permits and what not to exceed 80,000lbs Each state is different. Sounds like your cdl school was not too clear with their explanations.

 

Your debate in school should have simply opened up the Rand McNally Motor Carriers road atlas...it specifically states:

Steers..12,000
Single axle...20,000
Tandem axle...34,000
Gross Vehicle Weight...80,000
with a qualifier on the gross: 800 lb/inch of tire, as measured between the flanges of the rim.

Most states will allow up to 12,500 on the steers, but this requires the drives and tandems to be reduced in order to achieve no more than 80,000 gross. (The 10% allowance issue, but keep in mind the officer does not have to allow the % difference if your attitude tells him/her to write a souvenire piece of paper for you...$$$$$)

 

Well, as I said I'm not sure about the axle, but I had a D.O.T. officer tell me they had to allow 10%. I have a triaxle that I have licensed for 74000, the officer told me I had the truck licensed to heavy. He said 77000 was the max, and they had to give 10% and I was just paying for 4000lbs that I didnt need.

 

My 2008 Rand McNally atlas says this:

United States*

Steering axle:......... 20,000 lb. **
Single drive axle:..... 20,000 lb.
Single trailer axle:... 20,000 lb.
Tandem drive axle:.. 34,000 lb.
Tandem trailer axle:. 34,000 lb.

....

*The US Federal weight limits apply only to the Interstate System, except when higher state weight limits are grandfathered. The single- and tandem-axle weights for IL, MN, and MO are lower than the Federal limits and only apply to non-Interstate and non-designated highways. For a single axle, nine states have grandfathered limits that are higher than the Federal limit; these states are CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, MA, NJ, NM and RI. For tandem axles, nine states--CO, CT, DC, FL, MA, NM, NC, RI, AND WY--have grandfathered limits higher than the Federal limit. For a single axle off the Interstate system, six states--LA, ME, NH, NY, SC, and VT--have a limit higher than 20,000 pounds. For tandem axles off the Interstate system, ten states--AL, AK, DE, GA, LA, ME, NH, NY, SC, and VT--have limits higher than 34,000 pounds

**States may limit the steering axle to the manufacturer's weight rating if less than 20,000 lb.

.......

Straight from a newer atlas. Haven't gotten my hands on an '09 yet.

I'm not going to quote the next page, which lists all the limits for State Highways.
Steering axles limits on state roads are a mish-mash of pound-weights, psi, and manufacturer ratings.

But the Federal limit for the steering axle is 20,000 lbs.

That said, do not smile kindly at the Mississippi state trooper who scales you on MS-5 or wherever and tell him you're legal for the interstate.

"This ain't the interstate, son."

Best answer: Buy a Rand McNally atlas and study pp. A14-A17, and KNOW THE RULES WHERE YOU'RE GOING. This is part of the job.

PS- 12k is always a safe ceiling for the steers, regardless. If you're in a pickle, though, understand that depending on your path of transit and destination, you could legally run well over 12k. I dealt with this many times hauling loaded reefer cans...especially when they threw the genset up on the top of the nose...*grumblerumblegrumble*