I Feel Like A Mean Person!

This is the first time I have ever demanded a rework of my freight. With my tandems slid close to (I have maybe 2 holes to play with) max bridge laws for the states I am traveling to/thru. I am currently 9k difference between my drives vs tandems. Drives are at: 26,720 and tandems at 35,740. I am heading to Green Bay. I could get my tandems legal, but with heading into below freezing temps I do not feel comfortable with that weight difference.

What is everybody thoughts? Am I being overly cautious? Should I just have slid my tandems those 2 holes and sucked it up?

Are you sure you could have actually gotten it legal? You said you had two holes to play with (ba-dum-tsh!) but you're 1700 lbs over...idk. If you could actually get it legal it wouldn't be too bad--only 5,000 lbs difference between drives and tandems. I probably wouldn't mind a 5,000 lb difference, but if you know there's snow coming I don't think it hurts to be a little extra cautious.

I could of probably gotten away with 1 hole past technically legal.

After the rework, and tandems set at maximum bridge, my weights are as follows: steers: 11,900; drives: 29,440; tandems: 32,960. Not ideal, but I am more comfortable with it.

I could of probably gotten away with 1 hole past technically legal.

After the rework, and tandems set at maximum bridge, my weights are as follows: steers: 11,900; drives: 29,440; tandems: 32,960. Not ideal, but I am more comfortable with it.

"Bridge law"...you talking about state tandem laws? Yeah thats alot better after the rework. Do you prefer to be heavier on the drives or tandems if you can't get them even?

I'd have slammed on my brakes a few times to slide that freight forward hahaha. Well depending on whats in the box anyway, but yeah I've had to demand loads be reworked. No apologies or feel bads. If they loaded it correctly to begin with, it would never have been an issue.

Patrick wrote:

I could of probably gotten away with 1 hole past technically legal.

After the rework, and tandems set at maximum bridge, my weights are as follows: steers: 11,900; drives: 29,440; tandems: 32,960. Not ideal, but I am more comfortable with it.

Good Grief Man, sounds like the "Dog's Breakfast" kind of grocery load I get to pull. I do not think you were mean, or hyper cautious or any of those things. You did your job. Once you leave the shipper , it's all you. You did the right thing insisting they "reshuffle the deck" for you. Never question your better judgment and instincts when it comes to safety. Good for you for standing your ground on this, hold them accountable to do their job, so you can safely do yours! I like what you did here Patrick. You'd be shocked at the number of drivers who would have just run with it.

I deal with weight swings like that all the time (yip-ee). When fully loaded my goal is obviously to achieve balance whenever possible and if I can't, stay within a 3k swing once legal on the drives and tandems. Considering you are probably stretched out (guessing the 11 hole?) and you have a really good weight amount on your steers, I think you will be okay. Just be really careful on curvy, down hill sections of your route (if there are any) in the snow. The trailer will have more weight to push you and it may bounce you around a more than usual. You should have some time to get the feel for it before you get into the snowy conditions, which will help you considerable. In snowy conditions I like to be a little more heavy (500lbs) on the drives than on the tandems, but that's not going to happen in this case considering state kingpin law. If I were you, I'd pull back one more hole to slide a bit more weight to the drives. But again that's me, I know my territory and what they enforce and where. I will run Max in the 12 hole if necessary, but not beyond, especially in North-Central NJ.

Good luck and safe travels.

I could of probably gotten away with 1 hole past technically legal.

After the rework, and tandems set at maximum bridge, my weights are as follows: steers: 11,900; drives: 29,440; tandems: 32,960. Not ideal, but I am more comfortable with it.

"Bridge law"...you talking about state tandem laws? Yeah thats alot better after the rework. Do you prefer to be heavier on the drives or tandems if you can't get them even?

I prefer to be heavier on my drives by 500-1000 lbs. I think it is a more comfortable ride and I prefer how it "feels". Everybody has what they prefer. That is mine. I especially hate being heavy on my tandems when going into potentially slick conditions. It "feels" like I am getting pushed around more.

Yes as far as "bridge law" I am referring to the length from kingpin to x. (Rear axle, center of rear axle group, etc...). Illinois is 42.5 ft. Wisconsin has 41 ft for 48 ft trailers, but I prefer to set mine at 41' as well when in Wisconsin. Better safe than dealing with the hassle.

You are mean to me all the time. Why do you care about being mean to the shipper?

Mean in jest to someone I consider a friend and mean to a stranger are 2 wildly different things. Best way to tell if I consider someone on friendly terms is I will joke, jest, and pick. Those I don't care for get benign neglect.

Mean in jest to someone I consider a friend and mean to a stranger are 2 wildly different things. Best way to tell if I consider someone on friendly terms is I will joke, jest, and pick. Those I don't care for get benign neglect.

I know. I was teasing ;P

So you benignly neglected the shipper then. Hahahahah

Hugs n kisses