would I get a ticket?

"Slick" you dont need a letter...just read the regs...ice on the trailer can add hundreds of pounds also....theres always a little give on the weight...but if I get a scolding I will let you know..

Be Safe Out There

Captain Dave

 

Why do you keep calling your rear axles tandems when they are clearly a spread? 600 pounds over on a spread and under gross, I'd probably run that.

 

Sorry to break the news to you... They check axles too. I've had a few times the enforcement officer actually get under a truck and look at the axle rating. Most of what I drive has 18k axles and they don't like the idea of having 15k on the steers and not knowing what the axle rating.

 

The goal of this exercise was for Mr Chewy to learn how to to get his axle weights dead even, not just legal. For the most part, with a spread axle and 80000 lbs GVW, you shouldnt have any problems. Shouldn't. But Mr Chewy is having a problem. So I would like for him to know how to load a trailer, and get the weights correct on the first try. Like I said, 80k and a spread, not critical. But approach 93000 on the same setup, and you have to be precise.

Some guys run into trouble with the trailer lights. Most loaders automatically think that the yellow marker light in the middle is center. On a flat, it usually is. But on a step, or a 53 footer, it's not. A tandem has a different center than a spread. Steps have a shallower kingpin setting than a flat. But all of them have that yellow light in the middle of the length of the trailer. That doesn't always mean that's the center to load...especially when you are nearing the weight limits of that trailer. So I think that It would benefit Mr Chewy to know how to load ANY open deck trailer.

 

Yes, it's a benefit. But he's a newbie. And we all took some time to learn it. and YEAH. Gots to learn your math different ways. As there are different flat and spread configurations for both 48 and 53.

Been a couple years since I pulled a 53. Wished I knew about your math when I did. Shippers HATE 53 tandem setups. Like cali and tennessee for instance.

 

You're about 22 years late with that breaking news. Still doesnt change the fact that there isnt a 12k steer axle rule.

 

You'll end up with csa points too.

 

Our 53's are the same as 48's with 5 feet on the rear for light stuff. I just go back 24' and call that center, then load equal amounts both ways from the center. You should find out what your drive gauge reads for around 32,000 lbs on the drives, then you can make a good guess how much is on the trailer....79,000 -32,000 =47,000....-11,000 or so on the steers =36,000 on the trailer. A spread is built so there's not more than 1,000 pounds difference between the axles.....in this example 18,500 & 17,500 max difference.

How long would it take to move 600 lbs of stone? I'm thinking not very long. Tote 80 lbs 8 times. 8-10 bundles of roofing shingles.....doesn't sound that tough to do if you're really worried about it.