Tandem/Weight Balancing
Topic 7709 | Page 1
The shipper has a single axle scale, so here are my weights:
Steers/Drives/Tandem/Total
11,950/ 32,580/ 31,740/ 76,270
Easily under the 80,000 limit, and the axles are less than 34,000.
My question is, is the 840 pounds difference worth moving the tandems?
I'll be traveling interstates through AL, MS, and MO. The weather should be fine.
I'm just thinking that in the time it took you to write this, you could have already had the tandems moved...Problem solved! 
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".
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
is the 840 pounds difference worth moving the tandems?
Nope. You're legal and good to go.
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".
A perfect load ... roll on !
I'm just thinking that in the time it took you to write this, you could have already had the tandems moved...Problem solved!
Anchor, after I posted this I did exactly that. Forward 2 holes:
CAT sez:
21,700/ 32,200/ 32,040/ 75,940
Hey, I'm new at this. I'm just checking to see just how tight the tolerances are.
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".
Probably wasn't worth the move - from a legal or load-balancing standpoint.
As the TT Tutorials teach - you're better off having the load a little MORE FORWARD of center - so the extra weigh on the drives isn't an issue here.
But - practice makes perfect. If you had to BATTLE THE SLIDER (as you have had to in the recent past), I wouldn't have bothered.
Rick
Hey, I'm new at this. I'm just checking to see just how tight the tolerances are.
Now what you do is look at the hole spacing. Measure it somehow for reference. You know you moved roughly 400 pounds when you went two holes, or 200 pounds per hole. But not all trailers may have the same hole spacing. You'll know if the spacing is say 4" between centers and your next trailer is 6" between centers that trailer will move 50% more weight or roughly 300 pounds per hole.
Your second scale figures are significantly lighter than your first also, especially on your steers, so you must have run a ways before scaling again or something. That's throwing off the numbers a bit.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
But not all trailers may have the same hole spacing. You'll know if the spacing is say 4" between centers and your next trailer is 6" between centers that trailer will move 50% more weight or roughly 300 pounds per hole.
I believe every Swift trailer in use has 4" holes.
Your second scale figures are significantly lighter than your first also, especially on your steers, so you must have run a ways before scaling again or something. That's throwing off the numbers a bit.
About 30 miles from shipper's scales to the nearest CAT. I suppose most company scales aren't as accurate as the guaranteed CATs. And better to think you're heavy and get a certified weigh instead of believing your light but you're not.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
And thank you all for your input. That's one way is rookies learn.
Errol, I happen to keep two CAT scale tickets w/me. And they both came w/ the same Trk/trl combination, different shipper and weight tho.
CAT1: 11520 / 33680 / 31280, with BOL claiming it weighs 40927lbs, half tank, 40' KTL; CAT2: 11720 / 33240 / 32220, BOL says 42260lbs, full tank(Trk & Ref), 42' KTL.
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”
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Equipment Questions First Solo Months On The Road Understanding The Laws
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
The shipper has a single axle scale, so here are my weights:
Steers/Drives/Tandem/Total
11,950/ 32,580/ 31,740/ 76,270
Easily under the 80,000 limit, and the axles are less than 34,000.
My question is, is the 840 pounds difference worth moving the tandems?
I'll be traveling interstates through AL, MS, and MO. The weather should be fine.
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".
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).