Does DOT allow for fuel weight

I would like to add that my calculations include how far I need to go for the first scale. If I can add an additional 50 gallons and burn that off by the time I roll a scale I will add that extra fuel.

When I was a dock banging door swinger at Swift I remember one load of baking soda I picked up in Wyoming and took to Laredo. I picked up the load with 1/4 tanks. After scaling the load I determined I could be legal with 1/2 tanks. I looked the scales I needed to cross, looked at the miles versus average fuel mileage, and took on enough fuel to burn until the Colorado border. Then the next scale was Limon, then Lamar, etc. I stayed under 1/2 tanks for every weigh station until Texas.

With Swift this meant reoptimizing the fuel plan several times during that trip. The computer generated fuel plan doesn't take into account the fact you are loaded heavy.

 

True that. But if you work for a company that has customers that give you a service failure if you arrive with anything more than 1/2 tanks, you do what you have to do. Those days are behind me. I have air guages in the truck and pull a spread axle.

 

I had an Idaho scale master (Pocatello) come out and check my tire metric and axle rating in the door jamb when I was 13,500 on my steer a year ago.

 

IMHO, it's good practice to never be over on an axle weight. Never, ever. Reasoning? You roll on a scale over on an axle weight, then invited inside to discuss your transgression....what's your reasoning for being overweight? Sorry friendly DOT officer, I didn't weigh this load because I was hoping all the scales on my route were closed and couldn't be bothered. Wrong answer. Sorry friendly DOT officer, I weighed this load, knew I was overweight, and decided to roll hoping that if I got caught that the friendly DOT officer would cut me some slack. Probably the wrong answer as well.

Bottom line, it's a dangerous game to try and guess what allowance over your gross/axle weight you might get from the DOT. It's like speeding...the sign says XXmph is the limit, and you're going 5 over. You get pulled over, and given a ticket for 5 over. What's your defense? That you knew you were breaking the law and still chose to break it? Try that defense in court..

Know your truck weight. Know your load weight. It's the professional thing to do.

 

What about: "Sorry Mr. DOT officer I'm currently on my way to the NEAREST scale to do just that" ?

I have heard about people being in a zone where they have to go past a scale house in order to get to a scale. Don't think it happens often but it is a possibility.

 

They won't issue a permit for multiple pieces. So no permit unless it's on big piece. It depend on how much over axle and which state you are in.

 

I picked up some plywood out of a place in Georgiana,Al The guy said you won't be over weight so I didn't think about it I had just enough hours to get to a truck stop an park for the night so the next day I stopped in Ga to get fuel I scaled it sure enough I was 81350 the only scale I had to worry about was the Knoxville,Tn I40 scale the company told me to roll with it if I got a ticket they'd pay for it got up there the scale was closed thankfully lol

 

I picked up many a load of water in Cabazon, CA bound for parts north. The problem is if you head west on I-10 you hit the infamous Banning scales right away. The water facility had an axle by axle scale, but I didn't trust it and by company regulation had to have a CAT scale ticket before being able to hand off a load to another driver.

The solution was to drive east on I-10 to the Pilot in Palm Springs. If I couldn't balance the load I headed to the shipper to rework it.

The forklift drivers at the shipper would always put up a fuss when I came back with a CAT scale ticket, usually over on the trailer axles. Finally I made them photocopy my cheat sheet on weights, and showed them the 40' marks inside my dry van. "THAT'S the LAST pallet!"

The problem was the mouth breathing forklift drivers were used to loading all those split axle trailers in their yard. After I showed the shipping manager the 40' California rule on the inside of my trailer and explained the difference between a tandem and split axle I never had a problem out of that shipper. I hoist a shot of tequila to that man. He was aware enough to do his job.