Bridge law and my truck

going by the bridge law table, drive tandem 34k
spread axles with a spread of more than 8' but less than 9', 38k,

and with a total length of 36'10', the FHA calculator says the max is 71k
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/brdgcalc/calc_page.htm

 

an obvious shakedown of truck drivers and small companies

 

bridge is measured from center of front axle to center of rear axle. if you have a drop axle in front of drives. that's your front axle measure to trailer rearmost axle.

you don't have that listed.

need to know how many axles you got on drive. and how many on trailer. and distance from front axle to rear axle. in order to give accurate information as to what you can haul on the trailer. plus 12k on the steers.

Tlea is correct on trailer. 8 ft spread or leass is 34. above 8 is 38. 9 is 39 and 10 feet is 40.

 

the atlas states distance between the extremes of 2 sets or more of tires.

the information printed doesn't take into consideration steer tire and total length of vehicle.

 

that is why I went to the calculator for the "outside bridge"

Federal law states that two or more consecutive axles may not exceed the weight computed by the Bridge Formula even though single axles, tandem axles, and gross vehicle weights are within legal limits. As a result, the axle group that includes the entire truck—sometimes called the "outer bridge" group—must comply with the Bridge Formula. Interior combinations of axles, such as the "tractor bridge" (axles 1, 2, and 3) and "trailer bridge" (axles 2, 3, 4, and 5) must also comply with weights computed by the Bridge Formula (see figure)

 

Stay off the interstate and you should still be only dealing with any over axel weight on that fine schedule. We had this same problem when we ran dump wagons. Bridge Law can only be enforced on an interstate. On a US or State route it's regular old axel weights. When GA went nuts enforcing bridge on the Bobby Jones (I-520) in Augusta (totally targeted dump wagons); we were getting $400 Bridge Law tickets. Same divers got stopped at the same place just off the BJE with the same loads and configurations and we got our usual $25 over axel tickets because they came in on US and State routes so all they could hit us for was axel weight. HELL of a lot cheaper than Bridge Weight ticket. We actually factored a $30 ticket into each load for axel weight so those were a wash for us and nothing at all on a driver's record. Just "paying the unofficial toll".

 

While this may be true in some places, if the state has codified the Federal bridge formula as a State formula as well, they absolutely can and will write bridge tickets off the interstate. If that is true, it will take 7 axles to get to 80k# @ 37', otherwise, the 71k# is the correct number for 5 axles. And with the short inner bridge, you're only allowed 57,500# on the drive and trailer axles, so you're looking at trying to get 13.5k# up on the steer to even get to 71k#. That'd be easy on my carhauler, no so easy on a tractor.

 

You know, you're right. If the State just adopts the Federal Code and fine schedule as State Law. they could write them big old Bridge Law tickets even on County roads. Plus they could keep all the fine money. South Carolina doesn't enforce Bridge Law (unless you are being a jerk to the officer), because the Feds changed the split percentage on the fines so they got most of it. It used to be a 50/50 split then it went to something like 85/15. The Governor went to DC and complained. Got nowhere so he came back and said OK we just won't enforce it. Told the Transport Police (our CMV Enforcement); Only write axel tickets. Screw the Feds. We get the same amount of money but they get NADA. Same with the 41 foot rule. SC doesn't enforce that either. Usually. Like I said; act like a jerk and the officer will write you for everything under the sun.

 

that's why i mentioned axles AND length.

max the weight on both axles and you'll be over the federal bridge.for most setups. and oregon bridge is even lower then federal.
i donated $300 to oregon coffers. to find that out.