GVW

OK I'm new at driving a truck. I have 6 months in now. I know what my maxes per axle on my truck. 12,000-13,000 Steers, 34,000 Drives and 34,000 for my trailer. If I have a tri-pack, am I allowed an extra 400 on my drives because if this. My max is 80,000 total weight. I can't go over that 80,000 right? My company today, tried telling me I can go over that 80,000. Yes I can go over if I have a permit. I asked them then why it doesn't say 84,000 for the GVW then? I went to WIDOT and it said nothing on having a tri-pack giving me an extra 400 lbs. towards my max weight. Please shed some light on this. Thanks.

Your APU exemption only applies to the drive axles. So you can be 34,400 pounds on the drives but not over 80k GROSS.

BUT! There are some states that do not honor the APU/EPU exemptions. North Carolina and Kentucky are two. There's a list of the states out there that someone will post I'm sure.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Some states allow the an APU exemption, not all do.

OOIDA - Weight Exemptions

You could (theoretically) go over on the gross weight, by what the exemption for that particular state allows.

But - if you go over on the max allowed weight for a particular axle/set (for max gross on tires, or axle), you are still, in theory, overweight.

Most stations will allow a little leeway for overweight (like a couple of hundred pounds), but if you're REALLY OVER on gross, or an axle set (like, buy 1,000) - you are likely still going to get cited.

Rick

OOIDA:

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

Who They Are

OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.

Their Mission

The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

There are three methods of exemption: - None - Legislative - Enforcement policy

And two exemptions: - 400 lbs - 550 lbs

Because the exemption is merely suggested by the FHWA and not mandated, the exemption is up to each state. In order to be one hundred percent certain, you will need to read each state's legislation or policy. However, it is safe to assume the following: - Any such granted exemption will apply to gross, axle and bridge weights to the lesser of the exemption or the maximum weights allowed by installed components (i.e., axles, tires, etc.)

So... - Yes, the exemption applies to steer axles - Yes, the exemption applies to gross weight, so you could be 80,400-80,550 lbs legally - No, you are not overweight (theoretically or otherwise) if you have a qualifying APU in a jurisdiction that grants an exemption for such a device.

As for the OP...

Wisconsin Statutes 348.15  Weight limitations on class “A" highways.

(f) 1. In this paragraph: a. “Heavy-duty vehicle" has the meaning given in 42 USC 16104 (a) (4). b. “Idle reduction technology" has the meaning given in 42 USC 16104 (a) (5). 2. Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (c) and (g), sub. (4), and ss. 348.17 and 349.16, and subject to subd. 3., in the case of a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with idle reduction technology, the gross weight of the vehicle, and the gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle or axle group of the vehicle, may exceed the applicable weight limitation specified in pars. (a) to (c) or (g) or posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1) by not more than 400 pounds or the weight of the idle reduction technology, whichever is less. 3. This paragraph applies only if the heavy-duty vehicle operator, upon request, proves, by written certification, the weight of the idle reduction technology and, by demonstration or certification, that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times.

http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/348/III/15

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Here is a map showing which states allow which exemption

Map of the State Recognition of the Auxiliary Power Weight Exemption

Thank you everyone on your posts. They really helped. Sorry it took some time for me to get back but we know how it is being on the road. Sometimes we don't have any time.

OK I'm new at driving a truck. I have 6 months in now. I know what my maxes per axle on my truck. 12,000-13,000 Steers, 34,000 Drives and 34,000 for my trailer. If I have a tri-pack, am I allowed an extra 400 on my drives because if this. My max is 80,000 total weight. I can't go over that 80,000 right? My company today, tried telling me I can go over that 80,000. Yes I can go over if I have a permit. I asked them then why it doesn't say 84,000 for the GVW then? I went to WIDOT and it said nothing on having a tri-pack giving me an extra 400 lbs. towards my max weight. Please shed some light on this. Thanks.

There are three methods of exemption: - None - Legislative - Enforcement policy

And two exemptions: - 400 lbs - 550 lbs

Because the exemption is merely suggested by the FHWA and not mandated, the exemption is up to each state. In order to be one hundred percent certain, you will need to read each state's legislation or policy. However, it is safe to assume the following: - Any such granted exemption will apply to gross, axle and bridge weights to the lesser of the exemption or the maximum weights allowed by installed components (i.e., axles, tires, etc.)

So... - Yes, the exemption applies to steer axles - Yes, the exemption applies to gross weight, so you could be 80,400-80,550 lbs legally - No, you are not overweight (theoretically or otherwise) if you have a qualifying APU in a jurisdiction that grants an exemption for such a device.

As for the OP...

Wisconsin Statutes 348.15  Weight limitations on class “A" highways.

(f) 1. In this paragraph: a. “Heavy-duty vehicle" has the meaning given in 42 USC 16104 (a) (4). b. “Idle reduction technology" has the meaning given in 42 USC 16104 (a) (5). 2. Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (c) and (g), sub. (4), and ss. 348.17 and 349.16, and subject to subd. 3., in the case of a heavy-duty vehicle equipped with idle reduction technology, the gross weight of the vehicle, and the gross weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle or axle group of the vehicle, may exceed the applicable weight limitation specified in pars. (a) to (c) or (g) or posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1) by not more than 400 pounds or the weight of the idle reduction technology, whichever is less. 3. This paragraph applies only if the heavy-duty vehicle operator, upon request, proves, by written certification, the weight of the idle reduction technology and, by demonstration or certification, that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times.

http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/348/III/15

Good Lord! Who would want to be a legislator after reading this? And I'm certain it's not the worst example by far! Pray for our congress critters.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Also, your weights fir your steers, are measured three ways. Tire limit, manufacturer limit, and then the government limit.

Tires - it will say on the tire the weight limit it can support without causing damage to the tire or worse.

On the door there is a chart that shows the manufacture limits for each axle.

Then the government limit is 20k per axle.

Your supposed to go with the one that is the least, do to not cause any issues; legal or performance based.

Like my steer tires support 11800-12200 I think. I'll have to check them again. So I don't want to slide my 5th wheel to put more weight on them. Even though the government will let me go up to 20k.

At Prime it sounds like it is similar to you. We measure the Drives at 34k as well. Same for tandems. Maybe this is an industry. That way we don't go over the 80k total.

Eric wrote:

Then the government limit is 20k per axle.

At the federal level, yes you are correct. However not all of the lower 48 states comply with federal guidance and have their own steer axle weight restrictions. To be legal in all of the lower 48 states, maintain 12k or less on the steer axle. Reference section A in the Rand McNally truckers atlas.