Tanker Trailer With Too Many Axles

[ditcherman]

Yeah you see a TON of those in Canada and Michigan

its a long complicated reason. But because of frozen ground under roads, they often have insanely low axle loading laws in Canada and Northern states. Plus some screwy Ontario bridge limit laws, and different (much heavier) load limits in Canada.

So to enable normal loads, they just load them full of axles.

Maps - Seasonal Load Limits - MnDOT

Maps display the six frost zones in Minnesota and the routes which have load restrictions (5 or 7 tons) during Spring Load Restrictions (SLR). In addition, dates for Winter Load Increases (WLI), Middle-Weight Permits and Full-Summer Permits are shown as soon as they are available.

www.dot.state.mn.us

Why do tractor trailers from Canada have so many more tires on them?

Answer (1 of 29): You will find a manufacturing phenomenon in even northern US states like Michigan and Minnesota where they have a fair amount of population and truck travel, but also a real winter. You notice trucks operating in some provinces in Canada and US states/regions have several more a...

www.quora.com

Is it the frozen ground that’s limiting? I always assumed it was the thawing that was the problem.

Kind of like it’s not the falling that hurts, it’s the landing.

 

[BigMoose]

Is it the frozen ground that’s limiting? I always assumed it was the thawing that was the problem.

Kind of like it’s not the falling that hurts, it’s the landing.

Im not sure. Actually. Not a road engineer.

But I know that some placed reduce axle weights by 35% during certain colder months.

 

[jake blue]

You'll see these in Michigan and Northern Indiana. As BigTanker said and knows firsthand, fuel, milk, fertilizer, any number of bulk commodities that can exceed typical maximum weight capacity. Indiana recently upped the weight limit but may not have been statewide or else just not as common once you get into central and southern Indiana. I have started seeing more tridem trailers than I recall before so even hoppers, vans and reefers are probably benefitting from higher weight limits. The big question - will they put more money towards highway maintenance or are they just going to continue letting our highways deteriorate until we're absolutely worst roads in the nation.

 

[Bigtanker]

Im not sure. Actually. Not a road engineer.

But I know that some placed reduce axle weights by 35% during certain colder months.

In Michigan, "Seasonal weigh restriction" aka Frost Laws are twice a year. When night temps dip under 30° and day temps say above 40. So it's usually only a month of so in early winter and early spring.

It is the freezing/thawing that ruins the roads.

 

[Bigtanker]

Indiana recently upped the weight limit but may not have been statewide or else just not as common once you get into central and southern Indiana.

From what I understand, just about any state road can be permitted. The permit is per route, per truck, per year. It costs $20.

We were down in the Indy area making sure the trucks can fit into some of the terminals and stations.

And as to not seeing many 80,000+ pound capable trailers, equipment is a major issue. The trailers are very expensive and take about a while to build.

 

[Butch627]

Like this?

View attachment 199128

I'm guessing you spotted a milk tanker leaving Fair Oaks headed to Coopersville, MI. They have a few more axles, usually 9 on the trailer, than what I drive above. In Michigan, they max out at 170,000ish IIRC. I'm not sure what their permitted weight is in Indiana. We are maxed at 120,000 pounds under the new weight rules in IN.

Look close at my picture. You'll see the trailer axles #1, 2 and 6 are off of the ground. They are tag/liftable axles. When we turn anything over an on ramp, they are lifted.

We still have tire scrub, enough that was can't run re-caps on those axles, but not as bad as you'd think.

It was all axles with either the same or a bit smaller gap between the front trailer axle and the rear truck axle. It was on the far north end of I65 and he exited 1 stop before getting on the toll road. FWIW it looked to me in the few seconds I was looking that all the axles were on the ground.

 

[ditcherman]

It was all axles with either the same or a bit smaller gap between the front trailer axle and the rear truck axle. It was on the far north end of I65 and he exited 1 stop before getting on the toll road. FWIW it looked to me in the few seconds I was looking that all the axles were on the ground.

I’ve seen something like what your describing in the Monon Reynolds area, a few more axles than BT’s picture. We met at a RR crossing and it was just a solid line of axles crossing.

 

[Frosty]

more when it stops raining.

you forgot purple…

 

[ditcherman]

you forgot purple…

Not sure where you’re coming from on that, there will be a lot more 28 moving when we can get in the fields and do something. Local co ops only have so much storage and if a guy depends on 28 for his complete nitrogen needs they’ll apply probably 50 gallons per acre. That’s around a semi load for every 90-125 acres. That’s a lot of trucks.

 

[Frosty]

Not sure where you’re coming from on that, there will be a lot more 28 moving when we can get in the fields and do something. Local co ops only have so much storage and if a guy depends on 28 for his complete nitrogen needs they’ll apply probably 50 gallons per acre. That’s around a semi load for every 90-125 acres. That’s a lot of trucks.

No I understand that part, my reference was the the “stop raining” part cause I’m starting to wonder if it’s ever going to stop!

 

[Bigtanker]

It was all axles with either the same or a bit smaller gap between the front trailer axle and the rear truck axle. It was on the far north end of I65 and he exited 1 stop before getting on the toll road. FWIW it looked to me in the few seconds I was looking that all the axles were on the ground.

Most likely a milk hauler.

We were running out of Rensselaer and up 65 to 94 into Michigan

 

[Bugzilla]

Were you near Michigan? Michigan is slightly (in)famous for their "caterpillar trucks". Large number of axles to minimize road surface loading.

Michigan Special Kenworth Trucks

Michigan Special Kenworth Trucks are the world's best trucks for the state of Michigan's unique rules and regulations on axle weight. Find out why...

www.csmtruck.com

And their roads still suck.