Multiple Stop Load

By the way, MD's 41' is to the center of the rear axle group as opposed to like California's 40' to the center of the rear axle, meaning it's quite a bit more than 1 foot greater than California's. Thus, the center holes (9 - 12) are probably fine.

To be honest the only time I worry about kingpin laws are California, and I really try not to drive with my tandems all the way to the rear in states that have some length restriction.

I think G-town was conflating bridge law with kingpin restrictions.

No Matt, look at the charts I sent Chickie at the beginning of the thread. MD is tough and so is NJ.

So my plan is to put the tandems in hole 9 or 10 and roll with it. With only 24-25k on the trailer I think I should be good on all my axles. Is it even possible to be overweight with that light of a load?

I have to pass one weigh station in MD and one in PA in order to get to my next stop so I want to be extra careful and make sure I have all my ducks in a row.

By the way, MD's 41' is to the center of the rear axle group as opposed to like California's 40' to the center of the rear axle, meaning it's quite a bit more than 1 foot greater than California's. Thus, the center holes (9 - 12) are probably fine.

To be honest the only time I worry about kingpin laws are California, and I really try not to drive with my tandems all the way to the rear in states that have some length restriction.

I think G-town was conflating bridge law with kingpin restrictions.

No Matt, look at the charts I sent Chickie at the beginning of the thread. MD is tough and so is NJ.

I looked at the chart, those are for max distance between kingpin and rear axle or center of trailer axles. I do notice yours says rear axle for MD, googling turns up both and my info from Prime has center of axles. My rand McNally motor atlas has info to contact MD and doesn't list it, I don't care enough to do that.

Interestingly, MD also has a law that your overhang can't be more than 35% (rear axle to rear of trailer). I don't know about your trailers, but I can't slide my tandems up far enough to break that law. 39 feet from kingpin is about the furthest up we can set our trailer tandems.

Trust me, you don't want to roll into Cali using that chart as a minimum for kingpin to rear trailer axle distance.

So my plan is to put the tandems in hole 9 or 10 and roll with it. With only 24-25k on the trailer I think I should be good on all my axles. Is it even possible to be overweight with that light of a load?

I have to pass one weigh station in MD and one in PA in order to get to my next stop so I want to be extra careful and make sure I have all my ducks in a row.

9 hole will be fine since MD uses diagram 1 for the 41' setting. Considering you off loaded 12k in Jessup, you will not be overweight on your drives. From 7 hole to 9 hole is approximately 600 lbs. You'll be fine.

Realize that multi-stop runs are at times challenging for even a seasoned veteran driver. If you can handle this think how much further you advanced with your experience.

Good luck.

In response to some of the questions about kingpin law, particularly Maryland, this was copied verbatim from their DOT website:

53' trailers allowed only on Interstate routes in National Network and on Maryland State Highway Designated Routes. Trailers in excess of 48' require no more than 41' spacing from kingpin to center of rear tandem and can have no more than 35% of that distance as overhang measured from the center of the rear tandem to the end of the trailer.

It's a min/max thing in many north eastern states, and rather difficult to find the written law.

That said 35% of 41' is 14'.4" allowable overhang from the center of the rear tandem (not the rear axle) to the end of the trailer. PA and NJ have similar overhang restrictions but not as strictly enforced. I have witnessed a Maryland DOT officer take a tape measure to more than one truck at one of the ambush stations and they will ticket any infraction. Matt and others please understand, I am not confusing this with bridge law, I know the difference. Like it or not it's a bit of a money grab, but something to be aware of.

Chickie...I am glad you adjusted your tandems accordingly.

Well we put the tandems in the 9th hole and ran with it. I got a little nervous when I had to cross the scale in PA but it was good! Whew...

We are at our second drop now. We had to watch them unload and this is the most horrible pallet wrapping job I have ever seen!! Barely 2 times around.

I had a close call yesterday when I had to slam on the brakes. Some jerk waited until the various last second to merge in a construction zone and cut right in front of me with NO room to spare. I laid on the air horn and slammed on the brakes, just barely stopping in time.

As a result of the crappy wrapping job, half the boxes on the pallets are now on the floor. The whole stacks are leaning to the side.

My last drop is in Assonet Mass. Which means we have to cross the GW bridge again. Unless I can figure out how to route myself across the Tappen Zee instead. The way I'm planning on doing it, we will be crossing the bridge around 3-4 am so it shouldn't be too horrible.

That is if they ever finish unloading me...

Well we put the tandems in the 9th hole and ran with it. I got a little nervous when I had to cross the scale in PA but it was good! Whew...

We are at our second drop now. We had to watch them unload and this is the most horrible pallet wrapping job I have ever seen!! Barely 2 times around.

I had a close call yesterday when I had to slam on the brakes. Some jerk waited until the various last second to merge in a construction zone and cut right in front of me with NO room to spare. I laid on the air horn and slammed on the brakes, just barely stopping in time.

As a result of the crappy wrapping job, half the boxes on the pallets are now on the floor. The whole stacks are leaning to the side.

My last drop is in Assonet Mass. Which means we have to cross the GW bridge again. Unless I can figure out how to route myself across the Tappen Zee instead. The way I'm planning on doing it, we will be crossing the bridge around 3-4 am so it shouldn't be too horrible.

That is if they ever finish unloading me...

Good for you Chickie...you are standing on "second base" with "home plate" in your crosshairs. I think you'll make it.

Well we put the tandems in the 9th hole and ran with it. I got a little nervous when I had to cross the scale in PA but it was good! Whew...

We are at our second drop now. We had to watch them unload and this is the most horrible pallet wrapping job I have ever seen!! Barely 2 times around.

I had a close call yesterday when I had to slam on the brakes. Some jerk waited until the various last second to merge in a construction zone and cut right in front of me with NO room to spare. I laid on the air horn and slammed on the brakes, just barely stopping in time.

As a result of the crappy wrapping job, half the boxes on the pallets are now on the floor. The whole stacks are leaning to the side.

My last drop is in Assonet Mass. Which means we have to cross the GW bridge again. Unless I can figure out how to route myself across the Tappen Zee instead. The way I'm planning on doing it, we will be crossing the bridge around 3-4 am so it shouldn't be too horrible.

That is if they ever finish unloading me...

Take i-80 to i-81n to i-84e to Conn 34 to i-95 North. It cuts out NYC all together. It does add some miles I'm not sure how many but that is the route my company sends me to avoid all the tolls. That was before Rhode island decided to put in tolls.