The Bridge Laws
Does anyone understand them? We had received a memo for the company on some of the changes in the way that different states are measuring and they also stated that it is an area that is misunderstood and that we need to make sure that we are complying. What they didn’t tell us is how you physically measure the tandem position to assure that you are complying. I have been to two schools and still don’t understand it. Lets take for example if you have a state that is measuring from the king pin to the center of the rear wheel and require a distance of 41 ft. I have a 53 ft trailer and the king pin measure about 3 ft from the front of the trailer. That leaves 50 ft to the rear so 41 ft would place it at 9 ft from the rear of the trailer to the center of the wheel. My questions are: Can this measurement be measured accurately enough to satisfy the state? Second is: If I need to adjust the tandem to bring in my weight within limits, is this the maximum distance back that I can go? We covered the bridge laws in both schools but I believe that few people really understand it.
I would like to hear form someone on how you go about measuring it. Our trailers don’t have the California mark on them. They are going to start adding them but that could be awhile before it happens.
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2 comments:
The 41 foot length is measured from the kingpin. Not the rear of the trailer. ever. no matter how much hangs over the rear.
I mark a line at the kingpin, on the rub rail, then measure from there. Even if the company has a California mark. It is still your
responsibility. Another thing to watch is don't let the shipper load past the 5.5 foot line in the trailer. If your trailer don't have the mark, just measure from the back, where the doors touch the bottom of the floor. If you do this and the shipper evens the load out, the bridge laws won't be a problem. Joe
The Bridge Formula Weights Calculator provides a convenient way to determine the maximum allowable weight that any set of axles on a motor vehicle may carry on the Interstate highway system.
Congress enacted the Bridge Formula in 1975 to limit the weight-to-length ratio of a vehicle crossing a bridge. This is accomplished either by spreading weight over additional axles or by increasing the distance between axles.
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/brdgcalc/calc_page.htm
Hope that helps
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