axle lift switch

I have seen a lot of discussion on this and the rule is this switch has to be out of reach when seated at the wheel . They don't want you to be able to drop the axle when you come up on a scale . I just went and checked my references on this . It's only a problem in a few states , mainly LA .

 

We have much the same rule over here on our tri axle rear end BUT we are able to have a switch to lift the axle for 20 seconds for tight turning.
Also I drove a Jap truck that had a tandem rear but single drive it had a air bag on top of the drive axle and a switch on the gear lever when pushed the air bag would inflate pushing the drive axle down for traction thats on a 80k lbs unit.

 

Not sure if I'm on the same page as you'll, but when I was working for a major oil company, we used tridum trailers with the front axle being the lift axle, to haul crude oil. The tractors were rigged with an electric switch on the dash panel near the light switches which triggered the electric/air solenoid that lifted the axle. It had to be within reach, in order to prevent damage to the tires, wheels, and other components during some of the extremely tight turns we had to make. After my departure from the company, they began purchasing trailers that had steerable lifts, that also sensed the need to lift, and automatically did so in a tight turn.

By the way Rick, this was in LA; once again, perhaps I'm not on the same page as you.

 

I know several O/O's with straight trucks that were fined $100 at the Shreveport scales for having the controls within reach .

 

Are y'all talking about a tag axle on the tractor?

 

Any tag axle with a lift control

 

GA. amonge others will bust your ##$ if they even think you dropped the lift axle before entering a scale. CA. has called the service truck out to lift the axle & weld chains under it so it couldn't be dropped. Was a real "case". Had 40,000 across 3 axles, one of them lift, that was illegal, but I could permit the same 40,000 om 2 axles. Welcome to the country of CA.

 

RickG I Have been pulling 3 axle trailer for 25 years in La. crossed every scale into and out of La. not saying your friend didn't get fined, but i have never been checked. I heard you can have the switch to lift the axle in the cab in reach but the pressure valve to adjust the air pressure could not be in reach, thats just hearsay. All the rock haulers i know have the switch to raise and lower on the dash. we are allowed 8000lb with single tire on that axle.

 

Rockhauler
That's also my understanding, kind of a puzzling deal.