Driving When The Truck Is Overweight

Topic 20924 | Page 1

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Firehog's Comment
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Trainer wants me to drive 1700 miles and 600lbs over steering axle. Says it's ok.

Recommendations!!!

LDRSHIP's Comment
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If you get ticketed it is on you. If the trainer thinks it is all good, have him drive and take the risk. Granted, some places are more lenient than others. But, if the DOT officer wants it very easily a ticketable offense. Overweight tickets are not cheap. The trainer doesn't care because it is not his wallet on the line. If you are driving, the ticket will go to you!

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.

Firehog's Comment
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Patric Thanks for info. Place loaded is 1-1/2 hours away. But has several locations in state. I recommended going to another and shifting load back since we have plenty room. But he not interested in that.

ACO476's Comment
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I’ve been green lighted for that much over on the steers. Make sure your tires are rated for the weight. You’ll be in more trouble if your tires aren’t rated for the weight on the front (I’m guessing you’re fine though).

Full fuel tanks? That makes a difference as well. When I drove an international, all of the fuel weight was at the front of the truck.

Your call in the end. You’re the captain of your ship and you’ll be on the hook for the citation, if it comes to that. If it were me, I’d roll with it.

Brett Aquila's Comment
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The steers are interesting because different states make different allowances. Have you checked the reference section in the Rand McNally to see what the weight limits are for the states you're running in? You might be good to 20,000 pounds.

Figuring a conservative 6 miles per gallon fuel mileage it's going to take you 450 miles to burn off 600 pounds of fuel.

Patrick is right, though. If you get ticketed for being overweight, that's on you.

Firehog's Comment
member avatar

Brett, thanks. Yes it's tires we are 400 over total. Versus 600 over on axle.

Thanks for information. I knew I would be on the hook for it. Scaled at shipper ok then at cat scale 100 miles away even with lower fuel CAT has us over. being new how accurate are CAT scales at loves

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.

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”

Cat Scales:

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”

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Brett, thanks. Yes it's tires we are 400 over total. Versus 600 over on axle.

Thanks for information. I knew I would be on the hook for it. Scaled at shipper ok then at cat scale 100 miles away even with lower fuel CAT has us over. being new how accurate are CAT scales at loves

Do you have any open notches available to move your 5th wheel back (towards the rear)? Two notches probably makes it "right".

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.

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”

Cat Scales:

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”

Firehog's Comment
member avatar

G-town

Yes 5th wheel allway back. We added 497 lbs fuel and scaled before and after. That 497 puts an extra 630 lbs moved from trailer to tractor after fueling . 1117 total now more on tractor is that even possible. That's what it says comparing the two tickets.

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

CAT scales are accurate because they're calibrated regularly. It's the scales you'll find at customers that are normally inaccurate. Always trust a CAT scale above all else.

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”

Cat Scales:

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”

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

G-town

Yes 5th wheel allway back. We added 497 lbs fuel and scaled before and after. That 497 puts an extra 630 lbs moved from trailer to tractor after fueling . 1117 total now more on tractor is that even possible. That's what it says comparing the two tickets.

Make sure you're centered properly on the scale. Also, do not apply your parking brakes or your foot brake while you're on the scale and in the proper position. The scale is level. You're not going to roll anywhere. If you pull the parking brake you can put tension on different axles, and you might be dropping the airbags if the system is set up that way.

So make sure you're well centered and that no brakes are being applied.

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