Need Help Please, I Have A Question.
Topic 27963 | Page 1
You would need to go back to the shipper and have them rework the load.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
So would i have to make sure the tandem pin is in the correct tandem hole for the state im in and make sure my weight distribution is good as well to be legal?? Or is it ok if im just legal on my weight distribution and not in the correct tandem hole? Or is it ok if im in the correct tandem hole for the state and the weight distribution doesn't matter?
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
You need to be legal both for weight and maximum length for each state.
California is 40’ from the kingpin, so the shortest length. When weighing after getting loaded, if you know you’ll be going through there, set the trailer tandems accordingly prior to getting on the scales. If you are overweight at that point, the trailer needs to return to the shipper to either be reloaded or have some weight removed as needed.
12,000 on the steers, 34,000 on drives/tandems maximum weight in most states.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Hello to all my fellow truckers. Im new behind the wheel, with about 9months experience. Since i have started trucking, i have been pulling all 48’ trailers. Now i have switched companies and will be pulling 53’ vans. I have been doing my research and trying to figure out about the bridge law. I understand that some states have laws where the distance between the kingpin and tandems can be so far apart, like CA, IN, IL, and etc... What is confusing or what im not comprehending is what if im legal on my gvw weight and axel weight distribution, but im not in the right hole on my tandems. For example, if im in CA and i know they have it where you cannot and no more the 40’ space between kingpin and center of rear tandem axel. Lets say the load im under requires me to move 42’ to get my weight distribution legal, 12k on steers, 34k on drives, and 34k on tandems. Would I be legal if im more than 40’ between kingpin and tandem but legal on weight or would it be considered a dot violation?? If im illegal how would i fix the issue? Lets say i cannot move any holes or then my weight distribution would be illegal. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Thanks again and stay safe.
It is my experience that if you cannot be both weight legal and bridge legal at the same time they will give you a choice on which ticket you want. Hint, weight ticket was $100 whereas bridge limit was $300....lol.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
As stated, you need to be both... and most customers will require you to get a CAT scale ticket to prove your weights.
So for example... you pick up in NJ but are going to CA. Even though your weight/tandem.holes would be legal in all states but CA.... you need to be at CA's legal hole. you would then put it in the legal hole for CA, scale the CAT scale... then put it in the legal hole/weight for NJ and drive back to shipper to have it reworked. That sucks cause they will work you in most times.
In almost 5 years i have had 3 reworks. it doesnt happen often. Most shippers know how to lpad their product. Our trailers have lines inside which shows not to load past a certain point for CA loads.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
CAT Scale:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
Thanks again for all the help, it really helped me out and now I understand. Hope you all stay safe out here and keep on trucking.
Anthony, generally you'll make sure you're legal for the most restrictive state you'll be passing through. Some states will figure length from the center of the rear axle and others specify the center of the rear axle GROUP (so between the tandem axles). After a while, you'll learn what you can do in various states that you tend to run in without having to look up every state's requirements. Learn how to read that chart in your atlas. It's quite confusing until you get used to it.
Maryland is brutal, as are some other states and theyll absolutely pull out the tape measure, so don't play around with weights. The fines can be quite expensive.
As has been said, do not haul anything you can't make legal. My company's policy is to scale every load. Its your license on the the line. The cost of a CAT scale is cheap insurance. My company pays for scaling.. we use our fuel card to pay for it and it doesn't come out of our pocket.
Oh and just because you aren't going by a scale house, doesn't mean you can't get pulled over for a random roadside inspection where they bring out some portable scales. Better safe than sorry.
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
CAT Scale:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
Find the laws for every state in the front of your Rand McNally Road Atlas. Get a new one every year.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Hello to all my fellow truckers. Im new behind the wheel, with about 9months experience. Since i have started trucking, i have been pulling all 48’ trailers. Now i have switched companies and will be pulling 53’ vans. I have been doing my research and trying to figure out about the bridge law. I understand that some states have laws where the distance between the kingpin and tandems can be so far apart, like CA, IN, IL, and etc... What is confusing or what im not comprehending is what if im legal on my gvw weight and axel weight distribution, but im not in the right hole on my tandems. For example, if im in CA and i know they have it where you cannot and no more the 40’ space between kingpin and center of rear tandem axel. Lets say the load im under requires me to move 42’ to get my weight distribution legal, 12k on steers, 34k on drives, and 34k on tandems. Would I be legal if im more than 40’ between kingpin and tandem but legal on weight or would it be considered a dot violation?? If im illegal how would i fix the issue? Lets say i cannot move any holes or then my weight distribution would be illegal. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Thanks again and stay safe.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.