Don't Be This Person !!
Topic 22007 | Page 1
I observe this kind of thing several times per month. Totally agree with everything Diver Driver stated...
If you are unsure of the weight or as is the case here no knowledge of the weight, scale the load. Don't guess like the original driver did. And also know the Kingpin Laws for the states along your route. Setting the tandems to the rearmost setting isn't legal in many states, especially in the east.
One last thought on this...I use the trailer trolley brake (Johnson Bar) exclusively when moving the tandems. I can get technical as to "why", but suffice it to say this method has far better holding power because it utilizes/invokes the service brake system at full 100% application as opposed to relying solely on the spring brakes.
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".
My first pass thru the weight station, and the truck 2 ahead of my weighed in at 34700 on the tandems. They had him pull over to the back area. I figure it’s gonna cost him a bit more than scaling. And he appeared to be a veteran driver.
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".
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So today I shut down, and get contacted by dispatch.
D: "Hey, are you shutting down?"
Me: "Yes sir."
D: "can you help us out with a repower? We have a produce load that needs to be delivered in the am. "
M: Sure thing.
So now I wait for 2 hrs for the load to show up, and when it does.... Geeze O Pete's what a mess.
Other driver: "This trailer has me all flustered. It's heavy as hell, and I had to slide the tandems all the way back to make it legal. (No weight on the bol)
I politely ask. "I don't mean to get in your business, but how long have you been driving ?"
"With Prime, since March. (So almost a year with us) Politely advise about the tandems being illegal for the state we were in, and about the nice placard on our trailers advising of min. / max. Axle positions
We exchange paperwork and they are off...
This new trailer.... Picked up from BFE A.K.A. Mexico.....
Trailer tails: broken. Ok, no biggie. Tandems: slid ALL THE WAY to the rear. (Illegal where I'm at, and where were going. )
Try to slide tandems, and the brakes on the trailer won't set.
Spend 4hrs, working on getting the brake issue straight.
Right weigh system on the trailer (all Prime trailers have these) is WAY out of calibration. In fact, no one ever calibrated it. After getting the load scaled, it's just fine.
So in short, don't be a lazy steering wheel holder. At 1 yr., you should well know about doing a proper pre-trip on trailers you're picking up. You should also know about tandem sliding, and proper weight.
IF the weight is not legal, don't accept the load. If you have questions, get it scaled. Scale tickets are cheap, and are reimbursed. (If not, I'd think about changing companies) It is your license.
I guess just don't be a "Blue Falcon"!
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".